2019 Members Newsletter
Welcome to the nineteenth Bainton Fisheries Newsletter, which is designed to keep you informed about the Fishery, in terms of news during the last season, future events and issues.
Membership 2018 – 2019
All permits for 2018/19 were sold last year, the demand for dawn to dusk tickets has decreased again, with 24 hour tickets being sought after. All dawn to dusk permits were sold by mid June 2018. New members will only be accepted in place of existing members who do not renew by the deadline. Membership numbers will be fixed again for the coming season.
Members should only refer another member if they can personally vouch for their character and confirm they have not been asked to leave other fisheries. Referrals should also be sent back promptly to avoid disappointment.
Operating profits have been spent on the usual running costs in 18/19; insurance, bank costs, bailiffing, contract labour, plant hire, aggregate, swim building materials, postage and accountancy costs. 80% of renewals were by online bank transfer and 15% by card payment on-line, very few people paid via cheque.
It has been necessary to raise costs in 19/20, please see later for an explanation.
For 2019 – 2020 the prices are:-
- Non-fishing Permit: – £22.50
- Dawn to Dusk Permit: – £300.00
- 24-Hour Permit: – £515.00
- Keys will remain at £10.00
The renewal deadline is 14th May 2019.
Fishery Maintenance and Development
Last year a working party weekend was held on the 28th and 29th April. Work was to create parking spaces inside the Otter Fence along the South Bank of the L Shape, spray excessive reed growth with Roundup from a boat and general gardening, clearing vegetation within 2 metres of the outside of the otter fence. Attendance was very poor on both days and only the otters gates parking spaces and some high level tree trimming was achieved. There was also some spreading of pea gravel along the main track.
Feedback from Members Meeting
The nineteenth members’ meeting was held at the Tallington Lakeside Bar on 27th March 2019. Attendance was about 35 members.
- There was an update on membership. There had been no stocking prior to the members meeting mainly because all expenditure had been directed towards laying a new track and plant hire for working parties and the new stock pond.
- The otter fence was discussed, the owner stated so far there had been no otter breaches noted and that as long as members kept the gates secured and that no trees breached the fence it seemed to be working. However constant vigilance was required as there had been deliberate vandalism along the L Shape footpath breaking brank bracket fixings. The double gates on the main track had been moved to everyone’s delight. The plan to repay the fence over seven years still looks viable, now five years to go!
- From the floor a question was raised as to whether the gate just before the Bailey Bridge, could be removed. The members agreed that it served no purpose so it will be either removed or pegged open.
The main track again was discussed, the owner had stated that the implementation had not been totally successful and potholes still continue to be a problem. There was a lengthy discussion about further attempts and potential solutions and costs. The owner felt that if members potholed then it would keep the situation at bay short term. He invited members who worked in the trade to suggest plans and costs if they could so that he could budget for them in future years. However felt that this year membership fees should be directed at some stocking as very little had happened in the last two years.
The owner wanted to have a discussion about the future of working parties going forward as the attendees had been steadily dropping year on year meaning work plans for maintenance were not being achieved. This discussion took up a significant part of the meeting but the ultimate conclusion was that the situation was unlikely to improve and that the current model of closing for a weekend once a year and relying on voluntary labour was unlikely to recover in a positive way. The membership was often far flung, often had work or family commitments on a fixed date and ultimately many people did not want to do the work and would rather pay someone else to do it. The owner said therefore as an experiment the fishery would not have a 2019 formal working party where the fishery is closed for one weekend and would look to retain the services of a group of people or contractors who could undertake work in the week on a price per job basis. Setting a budget of approximately £4,000 a year for labour, plant and materials. It was agreed that £25 per member would create this budget in return for an extra weekends fishing per year and no formal working party. There may however be occasions when a hand would be needed for certain fishery tasks but these could be arranged via the Facebook closed group.
The other major item for discussion was fish stocks. It was felt that the Bailey Bridge pit needed an overhaul and the L shape because of its low tench density could take a higher carp stock to extend the fishing season into the cooler months and have a higher catch rate.
It was agreed that anglers fishing the Orchid Pit only could move small tench below 4lb into the Bailey Bridge pit, but this must be prior approved by the owner and evidenced by a photo message. As the exact numbers and size moved must be controlled. The owner would then close this operation after a number of fish were moved for the year. The Bailey Bridge Pit would also have more cover vegetation planted such as water lilies to try and create a pool type atmosphere.
Approximately £3000 of carp would be ordered for the L Shape pit but they would be of a strain that were English Carp and not of the “in vogue” Croatian strain of small heads big bodies so often being discounted via online forums. The owner wanted to keep the feel of Carp in Bainton with a more traditional appearance.
Selling tench was also discussed but the owner was not supportive of this option as it was a mixed fishery ultimately. Rules were discussed and no rule changes were proposed but some clarifications were made with regards to swim opening and fishing in close proximity to snags. It was confirmed that the rule book already covered these and that it was a compliancy issue.
There will be no note from the bird ringer as Chris Hughes has now retired. We all wish him well for the future and thank him for his valuable contribution every year.
And Finally…….
Remember the Bainton Philosophy is for conservation minded anglers who care about the environment they fish in.
Ian Wakeford