Spring 2000
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Editorial
Welcome to the March 2000 Issue of your news magazine, a special warm welcome to all our new Members.
I trust everyone saw in the new millennium in style, as I sure did (well being cramped like a sardine on Blackfriars Bridge was not my idea of fun, but I was too drunk to care! At least the fireworks were spectacular). I hope the new year has started well for you and I hope once again that the fishing has been up to a good standard.
Well it has been over a year since the last issue of the Harrow Angling Society News Magazine, and to some this has been too long a wait, especially as I stated at the members meeting it would come out in October! I feel must offer some explanation for the delay and hope it does not sound too much like a weak excuse, and forgive me this time as the same problems should not reoccur. As I have been getting more and more familiar with my desktop publishing package I have been trying to stretch the format and quality on offer each time an make sure it is an improvement on past issues. Some of you were aware that I had been on the bankside with my newly purchased digital camera, I even managed to snap a dodgy looking bunch of lads whilst they were fishing near Dews Farm (Harefield No2 ), and one of our fishery Managers knocking out the Bream at Rowley.
However my efforts to include them in the HAS Mag. proved to be my undoing, as when I sent my master copy to the printers I was elated with what I had achieved, but when I received the 200 copies back, all of the pictures were almost reproduced eligible! Despite going back to the printers and arguing for them to be reprinted, a number of weeks were lost and I found myself in a stalemate as I would not pay and they would not reprint.
After threatening to take the issue further the printers gave in finally agreed to print my magazine, as long as it did not have any photos in it! I have therefore spent the last couple of months putting together a completely revised magazine without photos. Needless to say I will no longer be using my existing printers and I have already found another printer who has already shown they are competent. So I will be trying again to add in a selection of photos into the next Mag.
Due to the delay in the production of this Mag. I took the opportunity of including all of the articles I have received to date from a very small but extremely able and willing group of members, this meant that I could also give it a festive look just in time for Xmas. It was at this time that disaster struck again! The PC which has my desktop editing software crashed and after weeks of trying to find what the problem was it was established that I needed a new system board from IBM. Now if any of you have dealt with IBM you will perhaps appreciate how long I had to wait to get a replacement system board. Well all that is in the past and so I have been burning the midnight oil to get this issue of the magazine out to you.
I hope the long wait has been rewarded with what I regard as a bumper issue full of excellent letters and articles from the members for your enjoyment. Please accept my apologies again for the long delay. Please, please, please continue to send me letters jokes, photos or pictures (which I will return) stories, memoirs, suggestions, anything which would be of amusement or interest to others who share your passion for angling.
Tight Lines
Warren
Committee Issues
Committee meeting are usually held monthly or bi-monthly and a number of issues which affect the facilities on offer are discussed and agreed. I have detailed most of the relevant issues below which directly affect you the club member. I have also been asked by the committee to enforce some of our rules not just as a reminder but also to raise awareness that some of the issues which affect our fishing have not gone away. Dip Tanks: In response to the carp deaths seen in the Colne Valley earlier this summer, HAS will again take steps in the new season to protect our fish as far as possible from the continued threat of disease.
Dip tanks will be placed on our lakes from the start of the new season. Please note the following locations:
- In Harefield No1 Dip tanks will be located in both car parks.
- In Harefield No2 Dip tanks will be located in the following areas:
- On the path leading from the "workings" down to the "Peat bank"
- By the pylon on the "Canal bank". In the car park near the Railway Viaduct
- Dews Farms at the gate entrance to the lake.
- At Rowley the dip tanks will be placed at the end of the path just before the lake.
Please ensure you dip all nets (inclusive of landing nets, keepnets, weigh slings and unhooking mats) before you commence fishing. It is up to you to ensure you don't put at risks our valuable fish stocks and so ensure we continue to build on the excellent fishing which is on offer.
Reminder of the some key HAS Rules
Barbless Hooks: The Committee would again like to remind the members as to the use of barbless hooks in all our lakes, you may of course continue to crush the barbs on your favourite hook patterns. This enforcement of the rule is due once again to the mistreating of our fish and the continued use by some of barbed hooks, especially where there are weedy or snaggy swims. There has been a few reports of damaged fish which appear to be caused by barbed books, I am sure we would all like to see this kind of practice discontinued. Our bailiffs will be on the lookout for anyone persisting in the use of barbed hooks.
Carp Sacks: You are also reminded that carp sacks are not permitted to be used on HAS waters.
Associate Member ticket: Wives / Partners of members may only fish on an Associate Member ticket. Children of Members may fish without a ticket up to Junior Member age provided they are accompanied the Member. Children are not allowed at Rowley.
Dogs: No Member may bring a dog onto the Fisheries.
Bivvy's: The Membership are reminded that no "Domes" are allowed on any of the HAS Fisheries and that all Bivvy's must be based around a fishing brolly. (This has now been changed)
Night Tickets: Please call Terry Gibson if you have any reason to cancel a night ticket booked in your name, especially if you are fishing Rowley where the demand for night tickets is high. Members do often request tickets last minute so any "cancelled" tickets will be utilised. It has been noted by the committee that Members who have requested night tickets and have been turned down, have turned up at Rowley early, only to find no one there and feeling frustrated that they could of night fished after all. Please note that you cannot apply for a night ticket greater than 3 weeks in advance of the date you wish to fish, and no consecutive weekends can be fished on the same lake subject to availability.
Fish Report forms: Please, please, please continue to send in reports of your fishing, even if you have had a bad day. Without the first hand knowledge of you the Member, it is sometimes hard for the fishery managers to establish exactly how well our lakes are fishing, if we only receive a handful of reports. This particularly applies to Harefield Nol where a great deal of investment into new stock fish has been and continues to take place. If we don't know how well it is fishing the decision to add more fish at a later date becomes that much harder to make. Remember the Member who sends in the most reports could be eligible for a seasons free fishing!!
New Members / Membership Renewals: You will notice that included in this issue of the magazine is your membership renewals form (Blue) and a copy of a "New Members" form (green). The committee had decided this year to send the forms out in December, but due to the problems I had with the publication of the HAS Magazine this opportunity was lost. The early distribution of membership joining forms would have hopefully encouraged more new members to join our club before the end of the current season. I can only apologies once again for missing this opportunity. New membership forms will also be printed and placed in all local tackle shops to try and increase the capture zone for new members.
Unfortunately the committee has been forced this year to raise the membership joining fee for the 2000/01 season to cover increasing charges and meet the aspirations of the membership. The Full Membership fee has been increased by £2 to £42, The Juniors and OAP fee has increased by £1 to £21 all other fees remain unchanged.
Included on the forms this year is a space to fill in either your home or office e-mail address (that's assuming you have one! This additional information will enable the committee to contact the membership "on mass" should the need arise. There is also a possibility that we could send out the HAS News Magazine via the e-mail thus reducing our cost to produce and distribute the magazine.
Don't forget to send in a stamped addressed envelope with your forms!
Night Season Ticket The committee has agreed to trial for initially one season, a "Night Season Ticket scheme, similar to the scheme in place on Pit 3 (Gerrards Cross). The scheme is essentially a night ticket issued for the complete season (for a maximum of 72 hours for each visit) thus removing the need to apply for individual night tickets for each session as is the current practice. Members who hold a "Night Season Ticket"' and wish to fish longer than 72 hours will still have to apply to the Membership Secretary for a regular night ticket. The existing night ticket application process will continue to run in parallel to this trial, so any member without the new Night Season Ticket can still apply for a regular night ticket in the normal fashion. This scheme is seen by the committee as an additional revenue earning opportunity, as each Night Season Ticket Issued, will cost an additional £30 and is only open to HAS full members, but sadly not to Juniors members. This scheme will be on trial on Harefield No2 only. There will be no limit to the number of members who wish to apply and who will subsequently receive the ticket. It must be stressed that this is a trial for the 1st year, and any abuse of the Night Season Ticket (i.e. "Swim hogging" or "fishing rotas) will see the scheme being withdrawn next season. Common sense shall apply to the use of this ticket and the bailiffs will be aware of anyone misusing the privilege of the Night Season Ticket.
Bailiffs: Please note that we now have two new bailiff's:- Keith Hunt, who has joined the team at Rowley alongside Larry Wood & Paul Collyer, and Richard Kemp who has joined Brian Watts on Harefield No2, as Nigel Stirrett has stepped down from this role. One would expect that many of you have already had the pleasure of meeting both Keith and Richard at our fisheries as they have been club members for long time and have been in there new roles a number of months. The committee welcomes both Keith and Richard to their new role, and hope that all the members will give them the support they require as they carry out the tasks set before them. If you do get asked for your membership card by any of our Bailiffs, please don't get frustrated as I am sure you would want them to identify any "unwanted visitors".
Committee & Bailiffs Fishing Match: The Committee decide it would be a good idea to hold a match on Harefield No1 for Committee members and Bailiffs accompanied by a another member or a guest. The idea was to see if could establish exactly how well the fishing had improved "the proof in the pudding" as it were. The match was held on Sunday. 5th of September and was very well attended and kicked off at 08:00 hrs with £2 per head going in the kitty for the winner who had the combined heaviest weight of fish. The match was scheduled to end at 14:00 hrs and the fishing was slow for some (i.e. me!) but everyone was catching fish from the decent Rudd and Roach that are now in plenty in the lake, to the very good specimens of Tench and Bream and the new arrivals of the Carp. The highlights of the day were Steve Roberts and his guest weighing in a catch of 91b 8oz, John Miles weighing in 6lb 12oz which included a nice Bream, Derek "Superstar" (or "Scat) Hart who weighed in with a haul of 8lb 12oz, but the honours went to Mick (the jammy B*-$*#d) Grice who weighed a nice haul of 9lb 3oz which included an absolutely splendid Tench of 6lb 9oz. The match was definitely seen as a success and I am sure the fishing will continue to improve in the next season.
Fishery Reports
Harefield No1
Working Parties:- all dates will be combined with Harefield No2 and they are as follows: April 16th, May 14th and June 4th.
Car Park:- Work will begin shortly on improving the ground conditions of the car park to prevent cars being "bogged" down. It is hoped that a layer of hard-core can be applied shortly.
Stocking:- 600 Tench approx. 6 - 8" long are still due to be stocked into Not as promised previously to the membership. The fishery management will purchase the fish when market conditions are favourable. It is still the intention fishery management to remove the Carp stocked into No1 last year when they have reached double figures. These will be transferred to No2.
It is likely that further fish stocks will be purchased and stocked into No1 as the Carp are removed.
Colin Chambers has written to the Chairman on the subject of the introduction of Carp into Harefield No1. A number of key issues have been raised in his letter and his comments are being reviewed and addressed by the fishery management team. A copy of the letter is included in this issue of the magazine for your information.
Please forward any views you may have on this issue for inclusion into the next issue of the magazine. As always all thoughts and comments are welcome and will be published.
Harefield No2
Working Parties:- all dates will be combined with Harefield No1 and they are as follows: April 16th, May 14th and June 4th
Weed:- approximately £1,500 was spent on weed killing agents and proved very successful in killing the weed, unfortunately not many Members decided to take advantage of the clear water and fish it. The committee will be considering seriously the benefit of any further application of weed killing agents due to their high costs
Reports:- plenty of Carp have been know to have been caught from No2 including a fine Carp of 241b, believed to be one of the original fish, Common Carp recorded at 15, 18 and 201b. Bream to 1 01b 9oz Tench 71b + and an Eel 51b +
Rowley
Working Parties:- dates have been set for: May 7th, May 21st and June 11th
It was bought to the Committee's attention that some members were seen wading on the shallows at Rowley to bait up and possibly place their terminal tackle amongst the pads. Whilst there is no rule ( at the moment ) prohibiting this it should be discouraged as it is a nuisance to other Members and could lead to unwanted violent confrontation. Given the size of the lake there really is no need to wade out - all points being accessible from the bank.
Ian Thomas has written to John Miles on the subject of controlling the growth of the lilies in Rowley. The correspondences have been included in this issue of the magazine for your information.
Langley
Many of you may remember the past when we enjoyed excellent sport on the lake in Langley park. I am pleased to announce that communications have been re-established with Bucks County Council and the future looks promising for HAS. Our goal of course is for the reintroduction of fishing on the lake for the HAS. Many you will also remember the sensitivity that surrounded us using the lake, so you will I appreciate that we wish to be "careful" in our bid to regain the fishing rights and ask you to be patient whilst negotiations are ongoing.
Rowley Lake
Letter to John Miles - Hon Fishery Manager From Ian Thomas - Letter dated 23rd June 1999
I am writing to express the dismay I felt when visiting Rowley Lane on the 19th June and seeing that once again the lily beds have been removed. I was also disappointed that you were not present at this year's AGM, as this would have allowed members the opportunity to express their opinions about this course of action.
I presume you remove the lily beds in the interest of fish conservation, to prevent hooked fish being lost and subsequently being hung- up by trailing line? However, I believe that this is a flawed argument whose advantages are outweighed by its disadvantages. I also believe that even if there is a problem, other more logical alternatives are available or at least deserve trying before the drastic action you have undertaken.
So the first question must be, 'is there a genuine problem (as opposed to a perceived one) caused by the lily beds?' I have been a member of quite a few clubs around the country in the 25 odd years I have been fishing and I can say without fear of correction, that I have never seen the removal of lily beds to protect the fish. Indeed when I first became a member of HAS in 1978, I don't recall this action being necessary then, so why now? I would be greatly interested in knowing what evidence there is that fish are getting hung up in the pads and particularly the numbers we are talking about? In the last Newsletter you gave a story of the 18lb fish being caught up in 'the Bush'. That maybe fair comment, but what actual proof is there that this fish or any others caught up in the pads was hooked and lost where they were subsequently found? Could it not occur that a fish lost in open water and trailing terminal tackle, then gets caught up elsewhere? If this is a possibility, where do we draw line with what bankside cover or weed beds we remove? As far as I can see, if there is an argument for removing the lilies then there are a lot of trees and bushes for the 'chop' as well!
The following I suggest are valid disadvantages of removing the lily beds.
- 1) Valuable cover is lost for small fry, fish spawn and insect life, all of which provide food for fish and other wildlife.
- 2) The pads provide natural cover for fish. Removing them may lead to more fish being 'holed' up in less areas with the obvious consequence of intense angling pressure occurring. Surely this is not in the fishes best interests? (It may also lead to most of the lake being barren so that unhealthy competition for the 'best' swims then occurs).
- 3) More open areas positively encourage longer casting in an attempt to find fish. Large leads will be deployed and across the lake, lines will stretch from one bank to another. Indeed there will be no sanctuary for the angler wanting a peaceful session, let alone the fish. It will also lead to more tackle losses, (casting to and playing fish at distance is naturally harder than at close range) and may lead to disagreements between members as to who is fishing what swim.
- 4) The root systems of the pads, which I understand remain after the leaves are destroyed, now become a much greater problem as anglers do not know where they are to avoid them when casting or playing fish. Again, more tackle and fish losses seem likely.
- 5) The beauty of Rowley is its make up and surroundings and the lily beds area major part of this. They are both visually pleasing and confidence inspiring when fishing in their vicinity. Whilst our fish are also precious, surely the surroundings of where we fish is equally if not more important. In the last Newsletter Rowley was referred to as our Jewel in the Crown'. Well if this is so, some of the gems are certainly missing now!
- 6) Although I have used the word fish throughout this letter, let's be honest, this is all about carp and carp fisherman, of which I am one. What of the other fish which may suffer from the pads removal and why should those who angle for them have their fishing pleasure reduced by another man's sport. Might we just find our membership start to decline particularly as there is now controversy surrounding the stocking of carp into Harefield No1 contrary to previous assurances to the contrary.
So, what alternatives are there?
- 1) We could ban carp fishing!
- 2) If, as I suspect, the alleged problem is believed to be exaggerated by night fishing and particularly anglers 'sleeping on their rods', we could ban night fishing. I suspect there aren't many who actually use this facility if the truth is known. Or, we could ban bivvies to deter the sleeping angler. Alternatively, we could designate certain swims away from any hazard for night fishing, a bit like no night fishing in the Bush but from a different perspective.
- 3) Minimum (and indeed maximum if you so wish) line strength and hook sizes could be implemented so that a sensible compromise between losing fish and fish standing a chance of freeing themselves can be reached.
- 4) Selective control of the pads could be undertaken on a much reduced scale than has occurred so far again to try and reach a compromise to appease the majority.
These are just four possible alternatives, I am sure there must be others worth considering. I have copied this letter to the Editorial Secretary requesting publication and to the Club Secretary asking that this matter is discussed at the next Committee Meeting. Whilst I speak only for myself in this letter, I do believe from bankside conversations that my views are those of the majority of anglers who fish at Rowley and thus deserve consideration.
I thank you for reading this communication. It is not intended as a personal criticism of you as I am sure your actions are well intentioned. However, I do feel they are contrary to the wishes of the members you represent and nor do I feel they are beneficial to the welfare of one of our waters.
From John Miles -Letter dated 23rd July, 1999
Thank you for your letter of 23 June. It is good to get some feedback whatever the tone. I will try to take the points raised in your letter one by one:
- 1) The lilies have not all been removed. Indeed if you have visited the lake recently you will see that the treatment was not totally affective and re-growth has started. The proliferation of the plants being slowed down as intended.
- 2) I, too, was disappointed not to be at the AGM to put the record straight. Hopefully, I can do it through this letter. As it happened my 5 year old daughter was taken into hospital with a ruptured appendix that evening, so you will appreciate the HAS was not exactly uppermost in my thoughts.
- 3) Reason for 'removing the lily beds' - two reasons. For sure in the interests of fish conservation. Fish, and hence anglers, are naturally attracted to weed beds. Unfortunately, anglers will insist on sleeping on their rods, wandering off, using inadequate tackle, not paying attention etc., etc., whilst fishing tight to the lily beds.
- The end result being fish lost in the pads and trailing line. In most cases the fish eventually shed the hook but the line and end tackle remain within the pads. This loose line adds to the snag problem and as fish continue to be lost, and I include other species in this, more fish can be potentially hung up.
- In the winter when the pads die away the line remains, presenting a permanent danger to fish, wildlife and angler alike. Prior to the treatment of the pads in 1998 there was so much line in the water that when carrying out the liming during the close season of I997, the boat's outboard was continually being clogged up by loose nylon. And we are talking yards and yards of the stuff not the odd length here and there.
- Secondly, this particular type of White Water Lily is very invasive and if left unchecked would, in a comparatively short lime, take over the lake and render it useless for fishing.
- If you have been a member since 1978 you will remember that in 1980 we had a problem with the very invasive yellow water lily, Nymphoidese Peltate, (the small leaved type growing on the shallows at the moment and currently being left alone). At the time the plant spread to all corners of the lake and after preceding years of conventional treatment (raking, black plastic, etc.) the decision was taken to treat with weed killer. Unfortunately, the herbicide used at the time was too effective and almost all the lilies in the lake were eradicated. It was a couple of years later the present White Water Lilies were planted.
- The current treatment is intended to merely 'knock back' the plants so that they do not take over large areas of the lake. Plants will be allowed to grow in strategic areas of the lake in an effort to afford fish cover all around the lake and not just in one or two concentrated areas.
- It should be said at this time that both weed killer treatments were carried out after lengthy consultation with the relevant expects in this held.
- 4) You say you have been fishing for 25 years, myself in excess of 30 years. But it is comparatively recently (during the last 10 years) that weed in general has become a problems in fisheries. All the gravel pits in the Colne Valley have major weed problems and most clubs at some time have resorted to the use of weed killer as the only effective option.
- 5) The saga of the 'Bush is a separate issue. The Committee and the Rowley regulars were aware that one or two anglers were fishing a certain method with certain tackle within or around the bush. The fish found tethered had this kind of tackle attached to it. Sure, some fish get lost in open water, but from the antics of anglers I have seen with my own eyes or had reliably reported to me, I am sure the majority of fish are lost in the pads.
- 6) Valuable cover? - White Water Lilies do not provide good cover for fry nor a good medium for spawning and invertebrate life. The structure of the plant below the surface is too open. What appears a dense area of dinner plate leaves oil tile surface, is a collection of sparsely spaced thin steins below. Ironically, one of the best mediums for fry, spawning, invertebrates etc., is Canadian Pondweed, the scourge of the Colne Valley.
- 7) The pads do provide cover, for fish and, as I have said, the pads will remain and, indeed, be encouraged to grow in areas that are currently devoid of pads.
- 8) The problems of long casting have been and always will be a product of carp fishing particularly on small waters. Rowley has had its fair share of incidents over the years with or without pads. It is up to the anglers themselves to make clear where they are fishing should an interference situation arise and sort it accordingly.
- 9) The root system of the pads breaks down entirely when the plant dies and even with healthy pads the rhizomes are buried beneath the silt.
- 10) I am the first to agree with you that Rowley is a beautiful place and is indeed our jewel in the Crown'. Like it or not, it is the way it is because it has been sympathetically managed over a good number of years. We should extend thanks to Eric Skidmore before me and Eric Cooke before him. If nature were left to take its course, where now lies a gentle balance of open water, marginal reeds, emergent lilies, willows, Alder and an abundance of flora and fauna would be a weed choked swamp. If this sounds like I am blowing my own trumpet - then why not, its about time. I have had a love affair with this lake through the HAS since 1973 and used to fish it before that as a spotty teenager at risk of being shot at and having my bike confiscated. For some years now as Fishery Manager, I have been charged with trying to maintain a happy medium between providing good fishing for a fee paying membership and balanced 'natural' environment.
- 11) Alternatives?
- Ban Carp Fishing - l am all for it: most problems we encounter are due to carp anglers. But let's get real ~ we have to provide facilities for all anglers, specialist and pleasure alike.
Ban Night Fishing - Again, why not? Same as above applies but night fishing is an important part of the Carp fishing ethos. There is also a large contingent amongst the membership who night fish for other species.
Minimum and maximum line strengths and any other tackle restrictions are difficult to police and are impractical. Low line strengths mean larger potential for fish losses in snags. High line strengths mean more damage to fish due to heave ho tactics etc. Line strengths obviously vary depending on what species you are fishing for and what method you are using. It all boils down to common sense. Know the size of the fish you expect to catch and fish accordingly, adjust tackle to suit conditions (snags, open water etc.) and fish properly (watch your rods, float etc., don't fish light line in the pads, use barbless hooks and lead safety rigs etc.).
I have tried to appease your obvious concerns by giving some background to decisions made at Committee level. Believe me, the decision to use chemicals is not taken lightly. I would much prefer a less 'drastic action' as you put it. But weighing up all the options available the use of herbicides is the most effective, least labour intensive and, provided the right herbicide is used, gives the user a high degree of control over what he wants to achieve.
You refer to the so-called controversy into the stocking of Carp into No. 1. The Committee it seems is accused of going against the wishes of the membership in this regard. Let's be quite clear. At the AGM in 1997 I asked for a show of hands as an indication to the line we should take with restocking No1. There was not a vote, there was nothing specific proposed and, therefore, no motion carried.
I advised the meeting that it was not the intention of the Committee to turn No. 1 into a Carp fishery and that hasn't changed. I suggested general stocking of crucians and silverfish and that the stocking programme would be ongoing with the view to attracting new members. The membership being generally in decline.
Subsequent to this meeting, a number of the Committee were approached by various members requesting the introduction of small carp as these are considered as prolific feeders, provide good sport and are generally considered easy to catch. In view of this, and the success of other fisheries with a similar policy, the decision was made to go ahead. Allied with the hoped for improvement in the fishing and bolstering of the membership is the facility to relocate carp into No. 2 as they approach double figures. I would remind those members who call for a bivvy ban on No. 1, to presumably, dissuade carp anglers, that we had exactly the same thing in the early to mid 80s when Tench were the fashionable fish.
To close, I do not consider your comments as personal criticism as all actions carried out on our waters are discussed and approved at Committee level and if necessary referred to the relevant experts.
What does brass me off is that those who would spread rumour and disquiet throughout the membership do so without any knowledge or background to what they are whinging about, relying merely on hearsay and untruths.
I thank you for taking the time to write to me and voicing your concerns in an open and honest manner. Much better this than empty Chinese whispers.
Please be assured that the Rowley pads will not be eradicated. They are already bouncing back and will be left alone until such time that they need further attention. …..end…..
Letter to John Miles Fishery Manager From Ian Thomas - Letter dated 5th August, 1999
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to reply to my recent letter. Please also accept that I sincerely hope your daughter has fully recovered form her illness. Whilst I am sure that you have better things to do than engaging in repeated correspondence with me, I would be grateful for the opportunity to make the following points.
- 1) Your experiences caused by loose line, (e.g. hung up fish and clogged outboards) highlight what I have long suspected is true, namely that there is a good deal of educating of anglers needed. I am afraid I do not think it is right to accept that anglers will, 'insist on sleeping on their rods, wander off, (which is against club rules), use inadequate tackle etc., and I am sure you must think likewise or else the Bush swim wouldn't have been made 'non night fishing?' I'll put my neck out and suggest that fishing up to lily pads with the correct tackle and methods should not result in any lost fish because as you state, the structure of these plants is such that actually under the surface the water is relatively clear. However, if people insist and are allowed to cast into lily beds using heavy leads to plummet through the surface leaves and then climb into a sleeping bag inside a bivvy to fall asleep, then fish will be lost and line left trailing in the water. I note and agree with what you say about preventing areas becoming unfishable, but there is a big difference between a 'weed choked swamp' and the state Rowley has been in on opening day for the last two years. Yes, you do have to provide facilities for all anglers, but my point was and is, it should not be for the minority to the detriment of the majorities enjoyment. The point I am trying to make is that I do not believe the pads should be treated as they have because of bad angling practices, rather those practices themselves should be addressed. This I suggest, is a valid point for the Committee to consider? This said, I am pleased to hear that the pads will not be eradicated and will be left alone until needing further treatment. Thank you for your assurance.
- 2) Whether or not a vote took place on the restocking of No.1 with carp, the Committee does appear to have gone against the members wishes in this regard. This seems a particular shame especially in light of continuing disease problems within the Colne Valley carp population. No. 1 must have been virtually unique in this area being 'carp -free' (bar Vince's 10 pounder of course!) and I share others concerns with this introduction particularly as being prolific feeders (and breeders) carp have a habit of taking over fisheries. The only type of water I know where stocking with small carp is successful are man made instant fisheries run on a commercial basis. As there are plenty of these waters about for those who enjoy this 'style' why couldn't we retain what we have and why wasn't your sensible suggestion of stocking with silver fish and crucains followed?
Harefield No1
Letter to Vince From Colin Chambers - Letter dated 26th April, 1999 re:
Regrettably, domestic duties mean that I will be unable to make the meeting on Wednesday. However, I would be please if you would ensure that the main points of this letter are included in a debate which, after Stuart's letter, I feel will take place. I would also be grateful if you would pass this letter to Warren for inclusion into the next magazine, together with I hope, a response form the Committee: I am very concerned about the carp which have been place in Harefield No. 1 and support Stuart Verity's letter on the matter. Slowly, but surely, carp are spreading like an epidemic through the Colne Valley to the detriment of the native species of fish. We seem to have a strange approach to wildlife management. We all know that introducing non-native species into the environment is not good for the well being of the indigenous stock: grey squirrels displaced the reds, signal crayfish have infected our native ones with crayfish plague, mink are damaging all forms of aquatic life, so why would we think that carp and native species are going to live happily together? My understanding is like Stuart's i.e. No 1 was to be left as a non carp water and irrespective of whether or not this is so, as members, we should have been given the opportunity to consider the matter before any stocking took place. We are given to understand that carp have been placed into No. 1 so that they can grow on and stock No. 2, a once good general fishery now handed over to carp angling. What is missing from the report is how and when this is to be achieved. Even if we assume this transfer of fish is possible, I would question the wisdom of the whole idea. The effect of all these carp may quickly have a detrimental effect on the fishery: Once 40% of the gross weight of fish is Carp, the remaining 60% will go into a steady decline. The amount of food which Carp consume will put the food chain under stress. The feeding habits of Carp cloud the water which in turn inhibits the weed growth which gives home to the natural food, thereby putting even further stress on food supplies. Not to mention reducing cover for fish both young and mature. I have nothing but appreciation for all the work our fishery managers undertake with often precious little thanks from us members. However, Fisheries Management is a profession in its own right and not something that should be undertaken without proven expertise or professional guidance. Pouring expensive fish in at one end of the lake is not the way to manage or create a sustainable fishery. I would be pleased if the Committee would publish answers to the following points: What type of fishery is No. 1 supposed to be, i.e., what are we aiming for, how are we going to achieve that aim and can we expect to see a management plan covering the next five years. Exactly how many carp have been placed in No. 1 how and when are they going to be removed
Lastly, can I add my congratulations to Warren for the excellent magazine production.
From: Captive Dragon
- Catch and Release - A conservation motion that happens most often right before the local Fish and Game officer pulls over a boat that has caught over it's limit.
- Hook - (1) A curved piece of metal used to catch fish.
- (2) A clever advertisement to entice a fisherman to spend his life savings on a new rod and reel.
- (3) The punch administered by said fisherman's wife after he spends their life savings (see also. Right Hook, Left Hook).
- Line - Something you give your co-workers when they ask on Monday how your fishing went the past weekend.
- Lure - An object that is semi-enticing to fish, but will drive an angler into such a frenzy that he will charge his credit card to the limit before exiting the tackle shop.
- Reel - A weighted object that causes a rod to sink quickly when dropped overboard.
- Rod - An attractively painted length of fibreglass that keeps an angler from ever getting too close to a fish.
- School - A grouping in which fish are taught to avoid your $29.99 lures and hold out for spam instead.
- Tackle - What your last catch did to you as you reeled him in, but just before he wrestled free and jumped back overboard.
- Tackle Box - A box shaped alarmingly like your comprehensive first aid kit. Only a tackle box contains many sharp objects, so that when you reach in the wrong box blindly to get a Band Aid, you soon find that you need more than one.
- Test - (1) The amount of strength a fishing line affords an *angler when fighting fish in a specific weight range.
- (2) A measure of your creativity in blaming that darn line" for once
COLD FEET
A couple of season's ago we had a real hard winter with nearly all the water in the valley being frozen for at least a month maybe two. Both our lakes Pit 1 and Pit 2 were both a no go area if you wanted to get a line wet. Not being put off by the weather and with the desire to still spend our weekends fishing myself and my fishing companions went in hunt for somewhere to fish. 'We spent the best part of a cold Saturday morning finding the ideal place to fish, this being a small stretch of fast flowing river open to those brave enough to fish it. To reach what we shall call our pike place you first have to negotiate fifty yards or so of swamp to reach the access point to the river. Once there the funs not over yet as to fish the river to it's full potential you have to wade to the centre of the river and fish from here, this in itself can be fun as the river bed is constantly changing depending on how much water is flowing through. Once you reach the middle of the river where the water is shallow enough to set up here you need to try and get comfortable. It's actually hard work standing in freezing water all day so a little comfort goes a long way. Tackle has to be scaled down to the bare essentials with rods already made up and taking another set or two of snap tackle in a waistcoat or small bag, no colemans for food and drink just a flask of coffee and a hip flask of brandy tops it all off. With the water being shallow enough we put up our chair's with the legs extended as far possible these doubles for unhooking mats when folded forward.
We found small baits to be the best bait hooked head first so it looked like a small roach swimming against the current. As usual I had had a heavy Saturday night it was well past ten by the time I raise from my pit. I quickly change and headed of to see how things were going. Upon arrival Dave informed me that he had landed three fish and it was going off. He actually landed another whilst I was there I didn't need any more encouragement to go and get my own tackle. Within half an hour I was back from the van and ready to go. Dave was set up to the right of the swim with both rods on the pod with one being fished on the bottom and the other set up on the float. I can't now remember to what rods fish had fell.
My first cast must have set my luck up for the rest of the day, being a bit excited I cast straight up a tree with everything looking rather messy and lost. All was put right with a gentle pull with me retrieving everything including the bait and branded a jammy b*****d" by Dave. Second cast was a bit better and I let the bait go with the flow, this soon resulted in a take. With the current fighting fish in the river was a lot different from in the lakes and this all added to the fun. I've found that a few of the lake fish I've caught on a very cold winter's morning have hardly put up any fight and come to the net with ease. But these river fish they only have to turn sideways to catch there breath and they go from feeling like upper singles to feeling like twenty's. (But soon the net was under a fish of about 8lb photos taken and the fish released. Dave again was soon into another nice size fish taking his to total to five for the morning with a couple going over the 101b mark After sitting there for a while I decided to start working my bait around the swim rather than just leaving it holding in the flow.
Second take this one again only around the seven pound mark not the biggest pike in the world but fighting the fish and the current these proved great sport. The third take was strange I had reeled in to have a little chat with Dave. Whist talking to Dave I held my rod pointing downwards with my bait dangling in the water no more than two foot from my rod tip. All of a sudden a mighty splash and a pike crash out from the depths and took my bait I think I was surprised more than anything as I struck I didn't connect and the fish slipped away. We now knew the fish were coming right up under our feet so again I Started to work the bait round the swim, Another interesting point is that when ever we went a while without a bite we would kick up the bottom before dropping the bait into the clouded water this somehow also attracted the fish. I went onto have another fish that day again putting up a very good scrap, none of these fish were monsters but for the two of us to have - NINE fish in one day between us we couldn't knock it. About three o'clock we went home, why? Because if you ever get a booty in the middle of winter go straight home, that's what I did.
Baity
In Days Gone By
I may not now be one of the youngest in the club but I am certainly not the oldest so it may seem strange that someone like me can write about days gone by. But it all started like this. I first started fishing when I was very young in my summer holidays fishing the Grand Union Canal down by the Horse and Barge Harefield. I was a lucky youngster living so close and who had a great many friends with whom to spend those fun filled days with building camps in the woods, building ramps to jump our bikes on, and doing stuff that young kids do. For a couple of years every school holiday was spent fishing. It was all float fishing with a pint of maggots that three or four of us had chipped in to buy. Vast catches kept us interested as it was at times a fish a cast. Now we're not talking match winning bags of 10lb upwards but enough to keep a bunch thirteen year old lads off the streets and out of trouble.
It all went quiet soon after those two summers as I got older and my attention was elsewhere. I left school and got myself a reasonable job and no more thoughts of fishing clouded my head. The fishing interest was rekindled one early morning whilst passing my brother on my way in from an evenings partying. "Where you off to at this time in the morning" I asked "Pike fishing" came the reply. 'After agreeing to let me keep him company on this cold winters morning I was quickly changed and was ready to go. Now my brother had fished for years and had been a member of Harrow for quite some time and after those couple of years in the canal I wondered why people would want to spend all their spare time fishing, that soon changed. Harefield Pit 1 would be our hunting ground on this frosty November morning hunting for those monsters of the deep. After being introduced to my brothers angling friends we set about setting up. These fishing friends of my brothers soon became my friends as we all had a passion to catch fish.
At first things went slow and nothing really happened with the fishing so we started chatting and drinking coffee. My brother went on to spend the whole morning reliving phenomenal tench and bream sessions had in the past summer. Different tactics baits and set ups he had used. How he had watched the club change aver the six or seven years he has been in the club and much more. There was a fish caught and this added to everything I was again captured, I had hung on his every word that morning I again wanted to fish.
The following season I join up a brought myself some tackle. Things were very much the same as the grand union canal as I would turn up with a pint of maggots and catch small fish all day long. It wasn't long before again all I wanted to do was fish. The girlfriend took second place and non fishing mates third, every spare moment was spent fishing. I thought I was the business banging out two inch roach and perch all day but that was all to change. One summers day my brother suggested that I finally get the ledger rod out the bag and put it to good use. He talked me through the setting up of it a told me what to do. 'Find a bit of clear bit of bottom and slowly trickle the bait in over our hook bait were his instructions. So armed with a large tin of sweet corn and his spare bite alarm I set off for my first days tench fishing. It went slow from my swim and the tench rod, nothing graced my net. Still I was lucky I had the float rod to keep me amused I did wander round to see how my brother was getting on and was lucky enough to see him catch a nice size tench that had put up a good scrap. Seeing the fish on the bank made me want to catch one more than ever. Our second tench fishing trip was to be an over nighter on pit one, swims were chosen we then sat and talked tactics for a moment, this was to be a turning point in our approach to fishing. Someone produced what was to be our secret bait for the rest of that season (unfortunately that bait remains a secret). That night I had a fair few bites and managing to land a few of them, the other two also had similar results for that season we cracked it bagging up left right and centre.
I still fished on my own fishing with my float and another particular day stands out from most. I was fishing the last swim on the point on a scotching hot summers day. The water level was down quite a lot so I was sitting out on the gravel that becomes exposed Armed with my trusty pint of maggots I spent all day pulling the roach out like there was no tomorrow. As usual I cast out for the for what felt like the one hundredth time expecting the float to go under within a few second as per the norm but this time it didn't. First it bobbed up and down and then slowly slid away I struck from the off I knew this wasn't a two inch roach. After a short fight I slid my landing net under this fish and it was as big as the net. My first bream I was well chuffed to say the least but a bit gutted there was no one to share my joy with. I went on to catch three more bream until it all went quiet. Later in the day the float again acted funny before I struck but this was no bream this time it was off like a rocket. I pulled one way the fish went the other I gained line the fish took line but it wasn't long before she was mine. A nice tench again I was well chuffed. Things didn't stop there as the day was pushing five o'clock I was reeling in what felt like my 1000th roach and to tell the truth after a few bream and tench I was getting a fed up with them when a mighty pike came from the depths a stole my fish. With that I packed up and went home and as I put my tackle away I noticed my brothers pike tackle. Now I wasn't supposed to touch any of my brothers gear but I thought what the heck I grabbed the rod and a small sardine from the freezer a net and ran quickly back to the lake. 'First cast the pike took the bait this was a proper scrap but again I triumphed. So looking back on that day now as I sit in my office typing this article up I can recall the enjoyment that the lake gave me days gone by, loads of roach, a few nice bream, a decent tench, and the pike, not a bad mixture and a great days fishing.
Now we have had carp stocked into what I think many in the club would call a pleasure angling lake. So are the days gone when I can turn up with my pint of maggots and small float rod. Will I be able to get a swim? "Will I need big stiff rods? Will I get smashed up whilst for roach? Now don't get me wrong I've nothing against the stocking of these fish in fact I'm very much a carp fisherman, but when it comes to these fish being moved when they reach a given weight will it be done? And can we be guaranteed that it will be done? What weight will they be moved? Were these fish put in pit one to take the pressure of the Rowley carp? Maybe as an answer to these question we could have it agreed by all club members at what weight the fish should be moved And hold twenty four / twelve hour(s) carp matches to move the fish under the proper supervision. I do also think that this move like all good arguments has two sides. It is good that some fish have been stocked into a water that according to the members of this club needed fish. The lake will now be fished on a more regular basis by people who wouldn't have fished there in the past. More people on the lake will deter the poachers. But and there's always a but will the lake become and ugly eyesore with all the natura1beauty of the place being ruined by swims being made big enough for two bivvies. All the natural features being butchered i.e. fallen branches removed from the marina bank or the islands. But most importantly will we lose members if people don't want to fish for carp. At the last AGM it was said that you can keep some people happy some of the time but you cant keep everyone happy all of the time with this my parting thought would be to say "do what makes you Happy.
Baity
One Man Swim
I like to fish for many reasons but one of the most enjoyable parts of fishing for me is the fact that you can get away from it all. On many occasions I fish with friends who's company I enjoy or at least travel to and from the lake with and take time out during the day to go and that a chat about what's gone on been seen etc. There is nothing more enjoyable than banking a nice fish with the help of those around you. Someone you trust netting the beast and a camera in the hands of those who you know can take a good photo. In many sports and hobbies that people have the enjoyment can all hinge on a result achieved but with fishing it sometimes comes down to just being there but of course having a result makes it that bit sweeter.
Another of my most enjoyable fishing sessions was a days fishing on Rowley Farm lake. I was at a loose end with nothing really to do on a Saturday morning late August a couple of years ago. I had spent the early part of the morning doing all the important stuff like tidy the house and take the girlfriend to get her hair done when I found myself with a few hours spare. I grabbed the basics out the shed and headed off to the lake. Upon arrival I saw at least five cars in the car park so I felt that my chances wouldn't be that good as five cars means at least five anglers and that means a busy lake if everyone is spread out. I looked across to the lake from car park into a strong cold wind that had suddenly picked up on the journey from Harefield and was pleased with what I saw. Three anglers bivvied up on the island and a couple down the car park bank. There's a small swim that always attracts me when the lake is busy and it was towards this that I headed. I usually go and have a chat with people especially if they've done the night in hope that they've been up all morning and can tell me what's been going on but today there was no time for that straight to my swim.
In one of the monthly carp magazine there is a regular feature about the favourite swims of the big name fishermen. There faces appear month in month out so this could be compared to that article. The swim I was heading for is the first small swim on the farm bank not the one behind the island but the next one along. Why is it a favourite swim of mine let me explain. First if the winds blowing across the field you put your brolly up and that's it even though you virtually fishing on the path you very much cut off from anyone walking up the path. This comes in handy as I like to fish the small set of lilies that are to the left hand side of the swim and no more than ten yards out. Fishing close in and not wanting to much bankside disturbance I put the brolly up even when its not windy. Second as it's not a popular swim you can turn up and fish it even when the lakes busy or an evening or for a couple of hours when stalking the Albert Romp way. Third there are plenty of features to fish to as when the lilies haven't been killed or have come up for a second time and they seem to grow in horse shoe shapes so you can safely cast in to the middle of them. My only complaint is that there is a big branch that stops me casting further to the left, but that may have changed as I've not been to the lake since late December and haven't been able to attend any working parties as per doctors orders after a major operation mid May.
Anyway back to the day in question. I set about getting the rods out so first the right hand rod which I would be casting to the lilies at about twenty yards, usual set up for the situation 15lb main line 15lb nylon hook link hook bait etc. Accurate cast and about twenty freebies all clipped up tight. As I set about getting the second rod ready the other rods ripped off. I struck fish on seconds later fish off, gutted and a few choice words later I was back to getting the rods ready. After getting both rods out I finally settle back and watch the world go by, A few minutes later one of the blokes fishing the island has had enough and is on his way back to his car with his first load of gear. He stops for a quick chat and informs me that him and his mates have done two nights without a liner or beep between them. This fills me some of the confidence I lost when that fish decided to spit out my hook so I chuck out a few more freebies. Not bad I thought to myself I've been here no more than an hour with my bait in the water less and I've already had a take. The rest of the afternoon was pretty much uneventful the blokes on the island all went home as I sat and waited it out.
Around five I had to start getting thing's together to do the off when again the right hand rod was off. I struck and was in this time the hook held and after a good scrap I lifted the net around a small plump mirror. I was well pleased the fish went l0lb 6oz not the biggest fish in the world but the only fish caught that weekend. Moral of this story "try something different"
Baity
Funny Stories
Over the years some funny things have happened while fishing on HAS waters, some funny, some not so funny. Some weird and some just unbelievable. I once knocked my brother in-law out cold when the weight on the end of my landing net came off while I was swinging it round to dry it and hit him on the head. He went down like a lead Zeppelin.
An old member Keith Dimmock was Pike fishing on the peat bank one winter, he'd just hooked what seemed to be a decent fish, he played it to the net and as he slipped the net under the Pike, another Pike around the same size swam into the net with it. One rod, Two Pike - 11lbs each, that swim on the peat bank must have something going for it.
Some years ago, I was fishing it, and just up the bank Barry Webb and Les Skidmore were fishing, I had just caught a tench of about 41/21bs and put it back and a few minutes later, Les had a bite, it may have been Barry, I can't remember now. He landed the fish and it turned out to be the fish I had just put back, easily recognised because of the W shaped scar on its left flank.
Mick Read our President, once cast his second rod into the lake and then accused someone else of hiding it. Mick had lifted his rod over his head for an overhead cast and without realising it, hooked his other rod and cast it into the lake. A process of deduction, led him to realise what had happened and the following morning he had a cast around and managed to fish out his other rod.
On another occasion, this time on No. 2, I was woken in the dead of night by a pair of mating badgers. The noise was horrendous and frightening. They soon ran off when they were interrupted by me shining a torch on them. Talking on interruption, John Barns (our Treasurer) once came across a very similar thing.
Vince Sutton and Steve Williams once had an encounter with a very angry and wild fox on the railway bank on No. 2. After their evening meal, the pots and pans were put to one side and a hungry fox decided to lick the plates clean. Despite boilies being fired at him, he carried on eating, bearing his teeth and growling when hit. The No. 2 wildlife don't seem to be bothered by anglers.
I once woke up after a night fishing the workings only to find a heron sitting between the two rods. It startled me, I startled it. We both jumped. It took off and nearly took all three of my rods with it!
Ten or more years ago, Terry Gibson bought a new beechcaster and during the close season, took it to No. 1 to give it a work out (no hook or bait, so I'm told). With just a weight and a reel full of line cast out s lead and while reeling the head back, a Pike took it and Terry managed to play and land a 221b Pike with just the weight and no hook or bait. Lucky Terry!!!
One freezing Sunday in February, I was Pike fishing along the canal bank on No. 2. Fishing with sprat as bait and a small weight, I cast out into the lake, after about 10 seconds I thought the line had snapped because the bait hadn't hit the water yet, another snap tackle, lead and bait lost I thought. So I closed the bail arm ready to reel in and a seagull made a nose dive for the water. It turned out I'd cast across its back just as it flew past. Absolutely true!!!
There's been a few embarrassing moments too, like the couple who thought they'd partake in a little sexual activity one night after closing time in a car parked above the ramp along the boat yard bank, facing the water but with its lights left on. After a few minutes the lights were bouncing up and down across the water. Very embarrassing for the member concerned as he was confronted by a couple of members who were fishing the viaduct car park.
Another couple decided to partake in some nookie in the middle of the afternoon (she kneeling)!!! This occurred in the workings and three anglers on the canal bank had a fight because they only had one pair of binoculars between them.
There's loads of tales of people falling into the lake, it happened to me at Rowley, not while fishing, but while on a close season netting to remove small fish. I was on the island at the head of seven or eight other anglers pulling the net in when I lost my footing and fell - not into the lake, but in the net full of slimy 21b bream. You know what your net smells like when you get it home, well that's what I smelt like.
Once I was fishing at Dews Farm on No. 2 when a large bird took off from between some trees, I caught sight of it for a split second, I thought "That's a Pelican, No, it can't be", it must have been a Heron. Then some weeks later, I met AJ and Trev over on the viaduct car park for a bacon sarnie, and Trev said to me, "Guess what we saw the other week?" "Don't know, I give up", I said. "We only saw a @-*&ing Pelican!" "Thank God for that, I said, I thought I was going mad".
Earlier, I was talking about embarrassing moments, I had a friend who had a lazy eye. One eye looked forward and the other looked to one side. We'd arrived at the lake and were in the process of setting up the tackle when I noticed that Mick's rod was twisted and the rings did not line up. So I told him, "Hey, Micky, line your eyes up!" and back came the reply, "Are you taking the piss?!?"
That's it, I can't think of any more unusual things that have happened, apart from me catching a fish!
Steve Jenner
We Slaughtered Em - Part 2 - The Return
In the mid eighties, I ran a series of matches on all the lakes. These were a pairs match and the rules were dead simple. You didn't have to stay in the same swim, you could wonder around the lake and the idea was to catch as many different species as possible, with points awarded for each species caught and bonus points for the largest fish, heaviest weight and for the species most difficult to catch from the water, ie. Carp from No1 (not any more); Rudd or Carp from No. 2, Grass Carp from Langley; Crucians from Rowley, and two Pike matches in the winter on No. 1 and No. 2.
Mick Grice and me were partners. Chris Taylor and his brother made a pair. Dougie and Melvin Brown spent nine months moaning and accusing others of cheating, again. (They are not members any more, so they are probably not reading this)! Chris Taylor got the bonus points for a 15lb Carp from Rowley caught on a centerpin and 5lb line. No one got any bonus points for Grass Carp from Langley, there could that been some mega bonus points to be won if somebody had caught a Catfish from No2, as there were 25 Cats were stocked in No2 in 1981. (allegedly)
On the No. 2 match, I caught Roach, Perch, Skimmers, Gudgeon, I small Tench from the workings and then I moved to the sailing base (you could fish there then) and caught 6 Rudd. I didn't win the match with overall weight, but the points picked up with the Gudgeon and Rudd put me and Mick in second place. This was in September, so there were only the two Pike matches left, both Mick and I caught Pike on the No. 1 match, but we were still in second place despite pre-baiting with fish head and tails from the local fishmonger, a friend of Mick's.
With only the February match left to go, Mick and I had to win convincingly to stand any chance. Once the cold weather set in, Mick and I fished No. 2 every weekend throughout the winter as we had done for a number of years. Mick's best Pike from No. 2 was 25lbs and mine was 22lbs, so we had a good track record on the day of the match we wanted to fish the workings, but as it was a walk off match someone else got there before us, so we settled for the pylon swim on the peat bank, fishing towards the sailing base (NOW OUT OF BOUNDS!) We set up our tackle, 2 rods each spread out over a wide area, we originally wanted the workings swim because it was full of small fish and where there's small fish, there's usually Pike. The pylon was our second choice, but due to the cold conditions, it turned out to be a good second choice and the right one. When the weather was very cold, to the point of where the lake was about to freeze over, I believe that this part of the lake has a underwater spring keeping the water moving. We had our first fish about ten minutes it went 9lbs. At one point, we were each playing a fish at the same time. We had a total of 9 Pike that morning, up to 17lbs and Mick lost one bigger one under the canoe slalom poles. The 2lb 12oz Perch that I caught didn't count.
We won the match and the overall all points tally all in all a good mornings fishing. As for the No. 2 Cats, the Langley Grass Carp and the Rowley Crucians, none were caught, but are there still Cats in No. 2 ........
Steve Jenner
The Fishing Trip From Hell
I was thinking about what I could write for this issue of the magazine and it occurred to me that some of you might be fed up reading about that smarmy git Jenner catching all those fish, so here's a story that should redress the balance. My brother-in-law and I decided we'd go on a fishing holiday in Ireland. So we booked it, a nice farmhouse, bed and breakfast in Cavan town, the third week in May. We were staying at Swellan Farm with Kitty and Pierce Prior. 100 yards from the back door was a 20 acre lake full of tench.
Nearly time to go, check the oil in the car, water, air, the bait was ordered months ago, 112 lbs of white crumb, 56 lbs of brown crumb, 4 gallons of maggots in assorted colours. The trusty MK 111 Cortina was loaded to the gunnels with fishing tackle, and because I'd been to Ireland before, loads of wet weather clothing and a bag of sand in the boot to stop the car going sideways on roundabouts. Picked up the M l at Junction 5, on our way to Liverpool to catch the ferry, we nearly didn't make it because the first disaster struck at Junction 9. A stone hit the windscreen, it shattered, I put my fist through it. Only an hour into the holiday and I had a broken windscreen, cut hand and a bill for £55.00.
So we were on our way after our stop off at Luton for a new windscreen. On our way again, but only as far as Stafford. We came across a traffic jam, I had to brake quite hard to avoid hitting the car in front, but the card behind me didn't manage to do the same and he drove straight into the back of my car. So far, so good, four hours into the holiday and I've had a broken windscreen and a smashed up rear end of the trusty Cortina.
We arrived in Liverpool to catch the ferry with only minutes to spare. We arrived in Dublin in the early hours of the morning, had a good look at the map and saw it was one long road from Dublin to Cavan, the N4. We thought 'great', 'A' roads all the way. The 'A' road turned out to be a 60 mile long dirt track. We made it to Swellan Farm. We were up at the crack of dawn every morning trying to catch the elusive tench, all we caught were small roach and rudd. Every time we caught one of these, the fanner's dog, 'Captain' tried to grab it from the hook while I was swinging it to land. It rained - did it bloody rain!!! Non stop for six of the seven days we were there, and the tench didn't turn up till the last day. We caught a dozen tench between us, although not large fish, they were in very good condition and we took some photos which would turn out very nice. Rock strewn bankside, with the lake in the background, the dog at my side, holding a golden brown tench - they should have turned out OK!
With the holiday over, it was time to drive back to Dublin to catch the ferry home. While we were fishing in the South of Ireland, Maggie Thatcher was getting tough with IRA inmates in the North. There were a few prisoners on hunger strike, and on the day we drove back to Dublin, one of them died. They say that there isn't much support for the IRA in the rural South of Ireland, but on that drive from Cavan to Dublin, we must have seen a hundred black flags flying from peoples houses. When we arrived in Dublin, we drove down O'Connell Street, there was a 40ft flat back articulated lorry parked on the central reservation with ten piece Irish band on the back paying rebel songs.
With my accent, I wasn't about to walk the streets or visit the nearest pub. So I put the car in an underground car park, immobilised it and went to see a film. When I came out of the cinema I still had an hour and a half before I could board the ferry, so I visited a dockside pub for a pint or three, and when I came out, the car had been broken into, the radio and all the camera equipment was missing. So much for the lovely photos! We had to be on the boat by 7:30pm so no time to inform the Police. We boarded the ferry for the eight hour sail, found the bar, grabbed a pint and moaned about how hard done by we were. Six hours into the crossing, a very loud bell rang, then another, and then another. While the bells were sounding, I was reading the emergency procedure. The more bells, the greater the danger. When it got to the eighth bell, I thought "Christ", we're sinking!' Every passenger was up on desk in freezing rain, while the ship docked somewhere in North Wales, and the Police spent the next four hours searching the boat and finding nothing! - A HOAX!
We continued our journey to Liverpool where we got off the boat and headed for home. We looked back on the week and thought that nobody could have had luck as bad as ours. So far, we'd had a broken windscreen, a cut hand, a £50 bill, a severely dented car, lousy weather, poor fishing, the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands dying (very inconsiderate to do so while I'm on holiday), having the car broken into, the radio and camera stolen (no photos) and a bomb scare on the boat! We thought it couldn't get any worse, that was until we got to Watford. I started to brake coming up the slip road, there was a grinding metal sound, the brake shoes had worn down and was grinding metal to metal. Bugger!!!
Steve Jenner
Something for the Weekend?
A keen country lad applied for salesman's job at a city department store. In fact, it was the biggest store in the world - you could get anything there. The boss asked him, 'Have you ever been a salesman before?' 'Yes, I was a salesman in the country', said the lad. The boss liked the cut of him and said, 'You can start tomorrow and I'll come and see you when we close up.' The day was long and arduous for the young man, but finally 5 o'clock came around. The boss duly fronted up and asked, 'How many sales did you make today?' 'One, said the young salesman.' Only one? blurted the boss, Most of my staff make 20 or 30 5 sales in a day! 'How much was the sale worth?' `Two hundred and fifty-four thousand, three hundred and thirty four dollars, said the young man. How did you manage that?' asked the flabbergasted boss. 'Well, said the salesman, 'this man come in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium hook and finally a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one and huge big one. I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast. I said he would probably need a boat, so I took down to the Boat Department and sold him a twenty foot schooner with the twin engines. Then he said his Volkeswagen probably wouldn't be able to pull it, so I took him to the Car Department and sold him the new Deluxe Cruiser'. The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, *You sold all that to a guy who come in for a fish hook???' 'No… answered the salesman, he come in to buy a box of Tampons for his wife and I said to him, your weekend is shot, you may as well go fishing!
Ficking Fushing
- June the sixteenth came and went.
- New tackle brought some money spent.
- Down the lake ready the go.
- Out with the bait got a lot to throw.
- At the stroke of midnight we all cast out
- Going to catch one before morning, that's without a doubt
- Morning comes and the net is dry.
- I look to the heaven and ask him why?
- Days spent rolling getting the bait right.
- Wouldn't it be good to Catch at least one tonight.
- We carry on like men possessed.
- But after time I want to give it a rest.
- Days and weeks have gone by.
- But still no fish so harder I try.
- It's time to stop and have a think.
- I've been bitten burnt and the tackle stinks.
- I really must use my loaf,
- I've chucked it in, and now play golf.
Well Worth The Wait ........
For the last three/four years that I've fished Harrow waters I've always been a bit of a lake jumper. I might do a weekend on Rowley and evening on pit one and an overnighter on pit two, enjoying my fishing and never putting all my eggs in one basket so to speak. This season thing's were a little different. The first three weeks of the 1999 to 2000 season were as usual spent running from one lake to another (as you do) looking to get the first carp of the season under my belt. The first notch on this season's belt came during a beautiful afternoon, early July that saw me banking a common of thirteen pounds from Rowley. Right, bait works, rig works, confidence is high lets try pit two.
First let's turn back the clock to the close season. During the many hot day's and warm evening's spent walking around the lake with a couple of friends who had decided to fish the lake again for the up coming season, I was lucky on many occasions to witness large shoals of carp (sometimes twenty plus) Milling around in the margins and snag's (those who want to restock the lake you should witness this). Up and down trees like monkeys, working our way around the whole of the water we would just watch these fish trying to learn as much as we could. Late evening boshers would perform an amazing aerial display for those who were down there topping up there water craft (well the three of us anyway). These sights were enough to convince me that this lake, be it big and daunting, would be where l would like to spend most of my fishing time this season, as it appeared to hold a large head of carp. All this plus bait to be made, tackle to be brought, new line on the reels, rigs to tie, certainly made the close season busy busy busy (and a brief spell in hospital). Before we knew it the start was upon us and as is always the way the fish soon disappeared (as they do)..
Okay so now we're back to the beginning of July and I've decided to join the gang on number two. Those of you who know the regular's will also know if you find one more often than not you'll find the rest, as they (and now me) would fish if not together then at least the same bank. Many a weekend session would come to an end with myself feeling a little gutted as those around me would be tempting the odd fish out. On many occasions there would be four or five of us fishing the same bank, all fishing pretty much the same distance (or to the same features) and people either side of me would have takes and the odd fish whilst my buzzers sat silent. But press on I did through July with those around me still sneaking the odd fish out. Into and through August still saw me fishless. September came "we'll have an Indian summer" hear it every year and it never happens and I'm still fishless. By now the boys start to take pity on me. Anyone who's fished with me will know I'm a bit of a borrower (ponce in other words) but the lads were all to willing to offer advice as to where I was going wrong. Donations of bait and rigs were gladly received and used. But fishless I remained.
By now October was here with cold wet and windy weather to boot. Bait presentation and approach had all tweaked but to no avail. By now the social scene was in full swing with each of us taking a turn in whipping up a Saturday night feast fit for a king. Burgers the size of dinner plates, curry's that would put the local takeaway to shame, chilli's, casseroles, soups, mixed grill, rabbit stew, the list goes on and on. The usual pit two breakfast would see more food on one plate than most people would eat all weekend, couple this with some good friends, loads of laughs, and a great atmosphere going home on Sundays was always a bit of a drag. Oh and the odd fish still falling to someone else's rod.
By now we've seen off October and in the blink of an eye November was almost gone I was still pit two fishless. I did manage to sneak a well earned fish from Rowley on a day session right at the end of the month (231b, birthday weekend, so that was nice). December saw the fishing ease up a bit due to all the real life stuff one has to do. Shopping for present's, company bash, lunchtime drinks that somehow went on all night. Not a great deal of fishing done by yours truly.
As it was the festive season we thought we would get in on the act with a Pit Two Christmas social, and this would be the social of all socials (and set the stall for years to come). Food wise we went to town with prawn cocktail starters, a main course of roast turkey, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, roast onions, sausage meat balls, and sausages wrapped in bacon (all cooked in the old ladies cooker, she lives near the red gate). The mobile phone rings and the message was "put the veg on we'll be down in twenty minutes". Colemans fired up, on with the brussel sprouts, cabbage, more spuds for mash, peas, carrots. Kettle boiled to make the gravy. Up with the wallpaper pasting table and chairs arranged, all decorated with crackers and tinsel, it all looked excellent. Ten minutes later we have five plates piled with enough food to feed a small third world country. Five hungry anglers toast good health pull crackers, read corny jokes, on with the paper hats and dive in. A further fifteen minutes pass (silently as no one speaks whilst eating) and hey presto empty plates, a case of now you see it now you don't. The big question now is do we have cheesecake or crackers and cheese board (and a bottle of port just for good measure). Cheesecake won, so we'll save the cheese board for later. Oh well, out with the fishing game (a must for long winter evenings) on with radio and an evening of laughs, debates and piss taking, plus the cheese board washed down with large measures of port. We all slept well that night.
Back to the plot. January flew by and February was, as is always cold wet and windy but we pushed on only missing one weekend of the four due to a shopping trip to New York. By now we're nearing the end of February and plans needed to be made for the end of the season. The first weekend of March was spent fishing another club water in the valley. A couple of day's booked off work allowed me to fish the Saturday to the Tuesday and every effort would be made to put a pit two carp on the bank.
It was my turn to lay on the Saturday night grub, this was to be my now speciality chilli and jacket spuds (spot on). I arrived at the lake a little worse for wear due to a company bash the night before. Upon arrival plans were made as to where each of us was to fish (and a beer pushed in my hand, hair of the dog I was told). Up with the house out with the rods time to start dinner. The weather was lovely and once out of the wind I was able to sit back in a t shirt, sip a beer or four and spend the best part of the afternoon preparing dinner, five red chilli's, three red peppers, two green peppers, at least a kilo of mushrooms and six tomatoes, all chopped and added to a couple of kilo's of meat. I find that when cooking a chilli it's best to cook, let it cool and reheat just before serving this helps it thicken up, lovely jubbly. The night was spot on with plans being made for next season, memories of the season past, and of course the usual mickey taking.
Sunday the 12th saw me moving swim to where the fish had been seen jumping (yes jumping fish on pit two) but no action during the night. Monday the 13th of March and I had been up since 06.30 watching the water for signs of life. A recast a mine saw this long suffering angler on the edge of his seat twiddling his thumbs. Nine thirty and a two inch drop back. I pick up the rod, wind down a couple of times, the rod bends over and it's up with the cry "FISH ON". I felt a bit (a bit I was crapping it) uneasy shouting as the fish wasn't on the bank yet. My heart was trying it's best to burst out my chest, sweaty palms, erratic breathing. After a bit of to-ing and throwing and expert netting from Ian I soon saw the fish safe and sound in the folds of the net. They probably heard how happy I was on Savay . The rest of the gang came round to help with the photo's, weighing (261b 4oz) and offer congratulations (cheers lads, big thanks to Dave). Once the fish was released there was a lot of back slapping and hand shaking. So it's on with the kettle for a coffee to celebrate (someone slipped a large drop of brandy in mine, cheers mate). The rest of the morning I spent with my head in the clouds. July to March is quite some time to wait for a fish but when it came it was well worth it.
As a closing note I would like to say why are there people who for some unknown reason want to jeopardise the lives of the pit two fish by restocking. These fish are just starting to find there feet (or fins) after the last fish kill. Why don't these people go down there and they will see with there own eye's (as I did) that the lake actually does hold a large head of carp. Some may think seven months is a long time to wait, but like me put in some ground work, hard work, a lot of dedication and you'll put a pit two carp on the bank. To the powers that be please don't risk killing these fish by stocking. PLEASE REMEMBER what happened to most of the valley last year. To those anglers who want a club with a hole in the ground so they can catch ugly beaten up fish every cast GO JOIN A HOLE IN THE GROUND don't try to turn our club into one.
Baity
In Memory of Roy Wildley
It is with much sadness that we note the death of Roy in December following a period of illness. He had been a member of the Society for nearly 20 years, and had built up a circle of friends within the Club with his open manner and obvious interest in Angling, although his wife Edna had remarked that he would have been just as happy sitting by the water without a rod, just taking in Mother Nature at work. Roy's keen love of his sport had not been lost on his family his son Steve and wife Jane's touching floral tribute at his cremation at Breakspeare Crematorium on Monday 20th December last, was a fish fashioned from creamy white flowers.
He had been a good friend of Fred Cook, as demonstrated by the earnest support he provided for Fred when the latter's wife was ill. They were often to be seen fishing together, particularly for Pike during the winter. Fred's untimely death a little over a year before, must have been a sad loss for Roy.
Roy rarely missed a Member's Meeting nor a Working Party his enthusiasm to do his share of the work belied his years, and he entered into the tasks with great gusto there is a report that so keen was he to get on with the job, he had been known to saw trees down even when there were people still in them. I am not sure if we will ever hear what was behind that story! At meetings he was never short of an opinion, and was quick to express it however provocative it might be, very important to the successful management of the Society.
Whilst it was pleasing to note that he reported his 'best day's fishing on No. 1 Lake last year when he had an excellent bag of the new younger carp that had been recently added to the lake, it is sad that his obvious pleasure could not have been given longer to run. Maybe he would have added to the list of good fish he had caught on our waters, amongst them a Bream of 101bs.
It will be a quieter place by our waters. Roy is now undoubtedly giving others the benefit of his views. We give our thanks to the contribution he has made in this life, and our wishes to his family that their mourning will swiftly be replaced by a feeling of gratitude that he had been an essential part of their lives.
Terry Skelton
Obituary
The Committee were very sad to learn of the death of one of our members, John Brown. John had been a member for over 10 years. Four of his nephews were members and his brother is one of the bailiffs for Harefield No1. John joined along with a number of his work colleagues and they had regular matches amongst themselves on No1. John will be sadly missed by his colleagues, members of the HAS and his family.
Steve Jenner