14th March 2024 Members Meeting
- The owner started the meeting with a personal statement about now being able to undertake much more maintenance work in the week due to now only working 2 days a week in paid employment.
- The owner reconfirmed that Bainton Fisheries continued to be licensed by Natural England for the control of Cormorants and Greylag Geese. The former was for fish stock predation and damage and the latter was for water quality issues. The strategy is very much to harass these birds to not attend the fishery so that they eventually become very nervous of people and cars as they associate them with shotgun use.
- The other main threat to the fishery continued to be otters. This was exasperated by the otter fence being leveraged open during the autumn of 2023 in a consistent pattern. It was pulled so hard it caused the wire to snap in some cases. It is unlikely that this is an animal and is a human trying to create access points into the fishery. An electric fence was installed along the areas where external public access was greatest along Maxey Cut and the Kings Street and the damage now seems to have stopped. Small juvenile otters were able to access the fishery during this period, but it would appear that they have probably left us or are keeping a very low profile. A gap of 7cm is all that is required for a juvenile otter to squeeze under a gate or through a wire. The situation is actively monitored by trail cams, no fence is 100% and the winter river flooding has meant that otters have been trying extra hard to break into the fishery all winter. A wooden ramp to easily exit the fishery from inside the fishery is in place along with a firewall gate on the main track to prevent a large area being available should an incursion occur. History would dictate that once spring arrives otters usually return to rivers, to breed and feed on normal river levels. But there is always another winter and always more otters.
- The fishery had also been supporting the work of the Waterlife Recovery Trust, who are trying to eradicate the American Mink from the UK. So far 6 mink had been trapped and since 2nd January 2024 no more have been seen. Mink do predate quite heavily on the fishery, they do eat a lot of rodents, including the endangered water vole but also do kill a lot of waterfowl. It is hoped that native species such as the weasel which is also present on site will now expand to prevent any rat problems.
- Ticket type was an item that had been requested to be discussed, there was a request for the membership to consider a Winter ticket. The assumption that this was for primarily pike fishing and would run from 1st November until the 14th March. After much discussion it was felt that a winter ticket would be hard to bailiff, members would have keys all year tempting access outside of the winter, it would allow an upgrade to a full ticket during renewal time and therefore become another route to gain membership via the back door. The pike anglers felt that increasing the number of pike anglers would not benefit the pike fishing for them or the fish. In conclusion there was no support for the proposal and as it has been discussed now for two years running without agreement, it would now stand as a decision not to be revisited in the foreseeable future.
- Sleeper tickets were discussed, the owner confirm that 13 tickets had been issued and that approximately half of those expect to return to a full ticket in 2024/25. These tickets must take priority over sponsored new members should vacancies arise. Sleeper tickets would be kept for 2024/5 as so far it seems to be working well.
- The new online process for renewing and joining the fishery was reported to be working well with very few issues from members, it had reduced the post and stationary costs by about £500 a year and the new ID cards helped bailiffing enormously. There had also been no reported concerns of non-members gaining access to the fishery via permit sharing. It would be kept for 2024/5.
- There had been a request to look at the inconsistency between a dawn til dusk ticket versus the sunrise / sunset time the fishery uses. It would appear that they are two entirely different things and that the permit is sold on the basis of dawn til dusk. Until recently this has always been if its too dark to set up and pack up without using a torch, you should not be at the fishery. However to define a precise time that members can enter and leave the fishery this is now defined via this web link using the Civil twilight begins (Dawn) and Civil twilight end (dusk).
- The owner had wanted to discuss drones, partly because some drone use had been reported to the owner, for which Bainton Fisheries has no rules. The status had always been drones would be tolerated unless it becomes a problem. However there are now recent control mechanisms that have come into place into close vicinity of what is called Critical National Infrastructure, of which Bainton Fisheries has plenty; namely power lines and railway tracks. The owner had looked at the Civil Aviation Authority code of conduct, and also the National grid, Network Rail policy on the matter plus had contacted RAF Wittering. In conclusion it would appear that 50m seems to be the distance between a drone and critical national infrastructure permitted. RAF Wittering confirmed that they performed no low level flights in the area but they also stated that National Grid does fly low level helicopter flights along the power lines and they had to avoid these lines. The MOD felt that this should be a matter of concern the fishery should seek to address. CAA guidance also states that drones should not fly closer to people than 50m. In summary it is difficult to find areas that drones can operate in and before drones start to become a common place addition to fishing tools it is better for the membership to consider the future of drones. The membership concluded that drones used by anglers would not be permitted and the rules changed to reflect that.
- Notification of fish spawning was also raised, it was clarified that it was for the owner to decide to close a lake and for how long and that spawning was not an exact science as carp in particular appeared to spawn many times in different groups. In summary if spawning was taking place pack up and leave them to it, there are other lakes to fish and it usually only lasts a few weeks across the fishery. If you see spawning message the owner.
- The trees that are at risk of falling onto the fishery onto the L shape lake are now entering it’s sixth year of discussion with National Grid. In January 2024 a small arborist team attended to the worst branches over the fishery and felled a few trees. They are awaiting a felling license from the Forestry Commission to take more drastic action so that trees are either felled or pollarded within the falling range of the dyke and track alongside the L shape South bank. It is hoped that during 2024 this work will take place and it will require the track alongside the South bank of the L Shape to be closed on occasions to anglers due to the risk of a tree being felled in a Northerly direction. The closures will be notified via Facebook, but if you hear chainsaws check with the arborists or the owner if you have not seen a message. In the short term if winds are forecast gust to over 40mph and in a Southerly or Westerly direction the L Shape south bank will be closed during this period of high wind. Anglers planning to fish this bank should check the weather beforehand to avoid being asked to leave for their own safety.
- The condition of the main track was discussed between the L shape and Orchid. It had been mainly underwater since the new year and that meant the surface layer of pea gravel was very susceptible to damage. On the 22nd and 23rd February 2024 the EA requested access to the fishery so a 15 tonne digger with tree shears could remove willow trees from Maxey Cut. The trees in Maxey Cut had not been maintained by the EA and now there was a big risk of flooding due to the buildup of debris in flood conditions. Access was initially refused due to the damage it would cause the track but with assurances from the EA that they would reinstate the track under the Water Resources Act of 1991 they could issue notice they were coming in anyway. The track surface was loosened and with EA van traffic and returning angler traffic as water levels subsided the track started to break up. What was a few small potholes and puddles has deteriorated to such a state that the track is beyond potholing and needs to be re-laid. This is an active discussion now with the EA over what is a “fair and reasonable” restoration.
- The cost of permits for 2024/25 would only reflect inflationary costs for the fishery. Costs will be as follows. 24 Hours Ticket £630, Dawn til Dusk Ticket £355, Sleeper Permit remains at £100, Non Fishing Permit £25.00. Keys for new members will remain at a £50 deposit, refundable upon surrender.
- The fishery will invite members to renew their ticket via email only. This email will be sent at 9am on the 1st April 2024. Members have until the 30th April 2024 to renew. That email will also contain a link to invite other potential anglers to join the fishery via a referral process.
Therefore the process is as follows:-
a. Existing members can elect to renew their permit and permit type, in 2024/25. If an angler wishes a break from the fishery for 12 months they can buy a sleeper ticket, they must however renew the following year or leave the fishery.
b. Once members have renewed and the known number of spare permits is known then the owner will have the opportunity to have referred anglers applications considered.
c. Once referred members have been accommodated with any spare tickets then open applications will then be allowed. - The owner stated that the last padlock change was 2023, there were no plans to change the pattern in 2024, if keys after persistent chasing were not being retuned then in 2025 they would be. The cost of changing 21 padlock barrels and over 200 keys is over £3,000, which ultimately adds to permit prices.
- The meeting closed at 10.30pm.