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| Rowley Lake | Catch Reports | |
| Did you know? | Do's and Don'ts | |
| Club "Wear" | ||
From The Chair
This has been a very good year for our Society formed in 1937, I have been a member since 1981 and have seen a massive transformation in my time. The basics have stayed the same apart from the loss of Langley. My biggest regret is the failure of the Society to obtain a good stretch of river. Our membership has shown a sharp decline since 1990 and hit rock bottom in 2002, but is now showing good signs of recovery year on year. This is linked to the decline in Anglers and the massive increase in fishing facility, especially from the overstocked, expensive and often over crowded commercial fisheries.
Our Society has tried to retain the unique benefits of a pleasant peaceful environment that is not too expensive and not too overcrowded, and many still say there are not enough people fishing! There is no pleasing everybody.
We have in the last couple of seasons extensively restocked our waters and the fishing is very good all round. This transformation has been achieved by hard work by your Committee. The Secretary Terry Skelton ensures the organisation keeps running, negotiating with our landlords and the other bodies which we come in contact with. Our Treasurer John Barnes is the financial wizard behind the Society and has that essential attribute that all good money men have, that he treats the Societies money like it is his own, and manages it excellently. Paul Kempthorne the Membership Secretary continues to do a great job and his willingness to be contacted via the Societies mobile has led the Society to its highest number of members for six years.
We have a new Editor Dave Cargill who foolishly volunteered to take on the task of producing this newsletter, and I can safely say even before its been published how great it is, and at least that is a job I don't have to do! It is the fishery managers that have the most visible impact on the enjoyment of our sport, they are the ones that ensure that our waters are kept in the peak of condition and have the task of planning for the future. You must be patient and not always jump to complain but look to the future before moaning about there actions, my thanks to Larry, Steve, Les, Ian and John for all there work.
My thanks to all the other members of the Committee for their work and contribution. A big thank you to our bailiffs for there work and there bravery. A very big thank you and good luck to Dave Pitt who is leaving us to move to pastures new.
The HAS website continues apace, and I thank all of those who visit it and contribute to it, we have had our problems this year but I am gradually turning them around, so if you have not yet visited it please go to www.harrowangling.co.uk
It is of course you the members who really make the Society, your contributions and your help on working parties, and your promotion of the Society. It is your tolerance and your adherence to the only rule that I think should be in the rule book: 'the principles of fair angling and sportsmanlike conduct', this rule encapsulates what our Society is all about.
It would be great to see you all come to our members meeting on the evening of 26th November at Ruislip Manor Sports and Social Club at 8pm so we can put faces to names and who knows, you might even win something on the tackle raffle.
Vince Sutton
Membership News
Membership has progressed very well throughout the season and has only dwindled in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully we can retain our new members into the new season and early indications are that people have been pleasantly surprised by the good quality of the fishing and friendly nature of the existing members.
This has been born out of the vast amounts of emails sent to myself and Vince. The database is working well and we are continually improving. I would like to remind everyone to check all there details when memberships are sent out and put as much information on them as possible. I have received no complaints about the membership cards so we will continue with this set up next year. If people have any ideas on how we can improve please let me know as we are here to serve the membership and to make fishing as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Good Luck, Paul
Fishery Manager's Reports Harefield Pit 1
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Bailiffs on Harefield No.1 for their efforts so far this season. We would also like to thank Dave Pitt for all his help over the last few years as he has now retired from the job and will be sorely missed. Dave Rojewski has now taken his place as Bailiff.
We thank all those who turned up to the work parties in the last closed season, and hope to see them all again at the next work parties.
The fishing has been affected by the unusually hot weather and the lack of water in the lake. However, there has been a moderate catch of Carp from 13lb to 21lb, several Tench have been caught including a male Tench of 6lb 4oz caught by Andrew Kempster, Bream ranging from 6lb to 8lb, silver fish very poor. The shallow end of the lake was very heavily weeded due to the hot weather.
On a less pleasant note, we still to have a problem with people leaving human waste on the footpaths covered in loo paper. It makes us wonder if people do the same thing at home instead of using the toilet. We take a very dim view of this and if caught this will not be taken lightly. The litter has got worse this year. Please remember to take your rubbish home. It helps us to keep a nice place for us all to enjoy fishing.
There have been 2 incidents of members taking air rifles on to the lake, the culprits concerned have been disciplined. On no circumstances are members allowed to bring firearms on any of our lakes.
Thank you to all the members that use and continue to use the dip tanks. Many thanks
Steve & Larry
Harefield Pit 2
The 'big pit' of Harrow Angling Society has been fishing very well this season. All the usual faces in residence with the odd overnighters also trying there luck. A few more anglers may put a few more fish on the bank.
Weed has reared its ugly head once again but once you get to grips with it its not too much of a problem.
Over 80 Carp have been reported from 18lb up to 30lb 12oz.
Its not just carp anglers that are getting results either, fish of all species are getting caught. Perch to 2lb 12oz, Loads of Roach to 1lb 3oz, Pike to 18lb, Loads of Bream including a NEW LAKE RECORD of 12lb 9oz and a few Tench to 6lb 6oz reported.
Poor turnout at the working parties. This is a big lake and does need a fair bit of maintenance to keep nature under control. So a few more bodies would make light work and it gives everyone a chance to meet new people and find out a bit about the place. We want to do a lot of work on the peat bank next year so please help.
Kids are being the usual pain during the summer holidays, dismantling swims, swimming in the lake and annoying anglers. Do not rise to provocation, Let the sailing base deal with them. The sailing base telephone number is: 01895 824171, ask for Duty Officer.
We must stress the importance of hygiene around the lake. We are having a lot of trouble with 'human waste' and it really is unnecessary with a bit of effort. Litter must be taken home.
The Fishery Management team is off on another trip to France in November. An article on the trip will be included in the next newsletter.
Ian and Les
Rowley Lake
Well that's that then. In the blink of an eye the Summers gone and Winter is upon us.
Thanks to the good weather we've seen the lake fish well for all species; but now the hot and sticky stuff has gone we should see it fish even better. Indeed Rowley continues to produce through the Winter just as long as the temperatures stay on the mild side. However it's worth persevering even through the coldest weather. I have had Carp and Tench when the lake has been almost covered in ice.
I had promised myself a go for the Rowley Perch this Autumn, time permitting. With fish between 2 and 3 pounds known to inhabit the lake I am convinced better fish can be found with the right approach. After all it's produced fish to 41/2 pounds before now, albeit some time ago.
Good to see folk just pleasure fishing over there more and more. I myself hung up the carp rods for the first 3 months of the season and went back to good old float fishing - hoping to catch some of the Rowley Tench. I failed but caught piles of Bream, the odd reasonable Roach, the odd unreasonable eel, even Pike and bumped off the occasional Carp. Great fun, you actually catch fish. True you have to work at it but it can be so much more rewarding than sitting behind a matched pair blanking for carp.
I have had no reports of Mink about the place and the last one I saw was back in May during a working party. However, a whole family of Geese (2 adults and 5 goslings) were wiped out early Summer so I would suggest they are still around. Please keep your eyes peeled for the little buggers; during the Winter they can be easier to spot, there being less cover for them and with food more scarce they tend to be bolder and more active during the day. Give me a call if you see one.
Now that the foliage is dying down any litter that was surreptitiously hidden will be more obvious. Please pick up and take away all litter even if it's not yours. This incidentally is a club rule and if you are found with litter in your swim it will be deemed to be yours and action taken accordingly.
Litter kills and loses fishing - both totally unacceptable and something that the committee and, thankfully, most members treat with zero tolerance. No excuses.
Please also note that there is no right of way across the field from the car park. The only access is through the gate into the woods and via the woodland path. Please ensure you shut all gates and lock all padlocks before you leave.
Well I'm off to swat up on how to catch big Perch - all tips most welcome.
Good Luck John Miles
Catch Reports
Rowley Lake has been fishing pretty well with loads of Bream and Tench being caught and a good few Carp as well. An Eel of 1lb 8oz made it on to the bank as well.
Bream have been reported in droves up to 6lb 3oz. Tench have also been coming out in numbers both on float tackle and by the carp anglers and a male Tench of 6lb 14oz was recorded on the website, just how big will these Tench get?
Carp fishing has also been good with several fish going over the 20lb mark with the largest of 22lb 4 oz being reported although bigger fish have been verbally reported. Following up the twenties is a good number of high doubles of both commons and mirrors.
Letter from Eric Skidmore
Dear Terry, I was so surprised at the meeting to hear that you had made me an Honourable Member. I felt really honoured!
I've always loved the Society I have such great memories of being on the waters and of course meeting so many lovely people over the years. I hope life will be kind to me and I will be able to enjoy many more happy years fishing.
Many thanks to the Committee and members. It made my night, I'll never forget it.
Best Wishes, Eric Skidmore.
Obituary
Terry Gibson Sadly we must report that Terry passed away recently after a long struggle with poor health. The Society were represented at his cremation by Larry Wood and Steve Roberts, where they were advised that Terry's mother was to donate a 'Carp' cup to the Society. With her agreement, the Committee proposes to award it annually for the most Carp caught in one season.
Terry had been a staunch supporter of the Society for many years, particularly in the role of Membership Secretary. Whilst he could be obstinate and abrasive once he got his teeth into a subject, there was never any doubting his dedication, even by those who has the dubious privilege of getting on his wrong side. This further dedication showed in his enthusiasm in playing a full part in Working Parties at the lakes. This led him into many scrapes including an incident where, during the recovery of fish from Rowley during one of the pollution incidents, he ended up in the lake fully clothed in his attempt to save one of his beloved carp.
Our condolences have been passed to his family.
Did you know?
Over 4 million people take part in fishing in one form or another in the UK and is the biggest participant sport in the world!!
Do's and Don'ts
Dip tanks. The use of dip tanks is essential to prevent the pollution of our waters and stop the spread of harmful diseases. They are provided at all of our fisheries and must be used before commencing fishing. · Litter. This is one thing we have to keep reminding everybody about. The dropping of litter is unacceptable. It's not hard to take home your rubbish is it? I know I don't want to fish amongst old fishing line and crisp packets, and it's also dangerous to wildlife. So put a rubbish bag in your tackle bag.
H.A.S. Club "Wear"
H.A.S. Club "wear" As some of you who have visited the lake or who went to the last AGM may have noticed we have has some top quality clothing made up for us with the HAS logo on. These were done for us by Harefield embroidery. Polo shorts £13.50 and hooded sweatshirts £19.00. Harefield Embroidery can be contacted by telephone on 01895 471720 or on the web at www.embroiderycompany.co.uk.