Conservation of fish stocks during extended hot weather.

As you are well aware the weather of late has been exceptionally warm, and is forecast to remain unchanged for the coming weeks. The result of this is the low water levels and the increase in the weed growth in the river system.

While we all love to go fishing, we must try to limit any potential negative impact on fish stocks caused through angling. Therefore, we would urge our members and the wider angling community to seriously consider the possible risks to fish health from the current extended period of hot weather and its effect on reducing dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in our rivers to potentially, dangerously low levels.

Water has a specific level for D.O. (dissolved oxygen) it can hold. This level can be affected by several factors including water temperature, atmospheric pressure, salinity, aquatic vegetation etc. Given our current weather it is water temperature that is causing concern as at higher temperatures D.O. will fall considerably.

We must also remember that in rivers with substantial aquatic vegetation there is a daily cycle as plants photosynthesise which causes falls in D.O. during the night.

British rivers usually carry good levels of D.O. because of our temperate climate. While some of our native freshwater species like Salmonoids have evolved to require these higher levels of D.O. than other species, in these conditions these fish can have difficulty recovering from being caught at low D.O. levels.

This is because at low D.O. levels fish can’t quickly replenish Oxygen in their bloodstream. Given this we must be responsible and ensure that D.O. levels are suitable for not just the fishes everyday survival but for their full recovery after being caught by an angler.

As we see water temperatures pushing beyond 20°C the margin of safety between the minimum D.O. requirements for full recovery of these species and the level available in the water is dramatically reduced and the physical exertion of the fight can lead to fish mortalities even after appearing to be recovered and swimming away.

Therefore, we would ask all our fellow anglers to please be aware and fully consider this if you are planning fishing for these types of fish, and whether it may be best for fish safety and conservation to avoid the risk until such time as we get a significant change in the weather conditions.

Remember him from last year? And the year before?

Who will prize the prize ( The Dr Chesters Senior Trophy Sponsored by Angler’s Lodge at Jubilee Lakes) away  from Trevor? It could be you !

Trevor Conway is seen here receiving the Dr Chesters Trophy from club secretary Shaun O’Dowd.

Well done Trevor.

Do you think you can topple Trevor?

Why not give it a go? 1st Sunday of July 2018 from 3:00 to 8:00pm, just turn up at Jubilee Car park this Sunday for 2;30 pm ready to register and fish from 3:00pm. Anyone could win so come along and do your best to make sure it’s not three in a row for the defending champ.

Sorry Trevor.

Remember Sunday July 1st 2018. 3:00pm to 8:00pm. meet at the Jubilee Bridge car park. 

 

Our warm congratulations to Seth Johnson who once again weighed in a superb fish over 2lbs to win the Junior Competition.

The competition was fish on Sunday afternoon and the weigh in was very much a family affair with Seth weighing in a 2lb 3 0z fish while in second place Tommy presented a lovely 1lb trout.

You may recognise Seth as a previous winner and a young angler who has a habit of catching big fish.

Well done to both lads who we can be sure will be great anglers of the future.

Cancelled due to bad weather but now booked for May 19th from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. It’s a great day to visit us.

Angler’s Lodge at Jubilee Lakes has a new date for the open day, for more information follow the link below :

Anglers Lodge Open Day

A member has lost a small scoop net at the riverside.

If you have found a net please contact the club, by e-mail , phone or reply here and hopefully we can re-unite member and net.

Thankyou

We are introducing Guest Tickets on a trial basis.

The aim is to add a little extra value to your membership by allowing each member two guest tickets per season and so allowing the opportunity to take a friend fishing on our waters.

We imagine that some of these visitors may join the club in due course but it will give everyone the chance to treat a friend or two.

We will review the scheme at the end of the season and all being well at the AGM we will look at continuing in the future.

For full details of how to use the scheme please go to the membership page,

The new Trout season is almost here. Has your new licence arrived yet? If you paid for it on line or with a recurring direct debit it should be arriving any time now.

If not your current licence is normally valid until March 31st.

Did you remember to send off your membership renewal. It’s not too late but hurry get your renewal, or new application, off to the secretary today.

The waters have been running high and will be running cold but the fishing Gods have promised all will be well and we will enjoy another cracking start to another cracking season.

W&DAC wishes you a fantastic season.

Tight lines.

 

 

It’s almost here . The new Trout season and our new club season will open in just a couple of weeks.

Please don’t forget to get your membership renewal in in good time for the club to get it back to you. Remember this needs to be with the secretary by March 21st (we really do not wish to make funds from late renewal fees).

Your membership takes you right through to March 2019 enabling you to fish the full Salmon season from February and of course the winter Grayling season on top of your Trout fishing thought the summer.

Please be sure to include an S.A.E large enough for a A6 booklet and key ring with sufficient postage to cover that cost.

If this seasons opens anything like last year we’re in for a cracking spring.

Tight Lines

Membership renewals and new applications are now being taken for the 2018/19 season.

Please send your renewal slip (from your membership book) to the secretary with an appropriate S.A.E. and payment.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE TAKE CARE THAT THE STAMPS ON YOUR S.A.E. ARE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE POSTAGE. (1 x 2nd class is not sufficient). 

Remember, this is a busy time, the secretary is handling a number of applications and will look to get your book back to you as quickly as possible, but as ever, the earlier your renewal is received the earlier it can be returned.

The start of the 2018 Trout Season is very close, please don’t leave this to the last minute.

Last year we asked anglers to display a small card in your windscreen to let the bailiffs know who was fishing. Feedback has been that members were not comfortable with this. The club has listened and has withdrawn these for the coming season.

 

We are introducing a new tool to help bailiffs on the river bank; anglers will receive a key-ring style tab which we are asking you to wear on the outside of your jacket. Bailiffs will then be able to recognise members without the need to disturb your fishing and ask you to search through your pockets for your membership book. Your cooperation with this request will be very helpful and very much appreciated. Thank you. 

 

 

The club AGM took place earlier this month, an overview of the main pints is provided here.

There will be no increase in the membership fees, therefore the fees for the upcoming 2018 season can be viewed in the Membership section of this site;

A change was made to junior fees in the hope that we can help to attract and retain more young anglers.

Juniors under age of 11 years – NO FEE however they must be registered with the club and accompanied by a senior member.

Juniors aged 11 to 16 years – £10

Juniors aged 16 to 18 years

Fees will be taken at the Willington Cricket Club on Tuesday 6th March, between 7:15pm and 9:30pm. Alternatively by post to the above address. Please enclose a stamped addressed 8”x6” envelope, plus a cheque or postal order made payable to Willington and District Angling Club. There will be a £5 late payment fee. This will be applied to ALL existing members not renewing on or before 22nd March 2018. New members will still be subject to a £10 joining fee.

Members are reminded that to complete the renewal slip which can be found in the 2017 membership book , any changes of details to be accompanied by a completed application for to allow club to update its records.

Please try to avoid house calls for permits. In the event that members are unable to contact the secretary regarding membership etc, please contact the treasurer.

The Officials and Committee were re-elected unopposed.

Club trophies – it has been decided to house all trophies in one venue this is to avoid losing trophies when members leave the club or fail to return them.

Key Ring/Fob – The club is to introduce a key ring /fob to all members, the idea is for this to be worn on a jacket/ vest to assist in identifying members. It will match the colour of the current rule book and should reduce the need to club bailiffs to be constantly checking permits.

The club is also looking to hold an open day in order to generate additional interest in the club and prospective new members, further details of this will be posted on the club website once finalised.

Clarification of Rules: to avoid confusion the wording of Rule 16a to be amended.

Rule 16a Maximum of ONE shank with a maximum of 3 hook points will be permitted when spinning this is to include Rapala type lures. AT ALL TIMES (i.e ONE hook per lure which maybe a one treble hook or one double hook or one single hook).

The club is also looking for volunteers for bank work. Any member willing to assist in future works please contact the Secretary. Please visit the clubs website for up to date information throughout the year.

Dates for the Diary. Dr. Chesters Trophy Senior Competition – 1st Sunday in July. See Page 7 of the Rule Book. This will again be sponsored by the Anglers Lodge at Jubilee Lakes. K.D. Johnson Trophy – To be provisionally held at Tunstall Reservoir, providing the venue is available, Fly Only Sunday 19th August 2017, from 8am to 5pm. However should the venue be unavailable an alternative will be arranged and details posted on the clubs website. See Page 8 of the Rule Book. please inform the Secretary if you intend to fish this competition, or require further information. Junior Competition – 2nd Sunday in May. See Page 8 of the Rule Book. Please mark these dates in your Diary.

Stocking: The club is to again restock the river with 500 10” to 12” Brown Trout. (Again these fish will be Triploids to conform to the EA ruling.) These fish will be marked with a clipped adipose fin to assist in identification. We would encourage members who wish to take any fish to only keep the fish identified with the clipped adipose fin and where possible return all fish that are not marked to try and preserve the breeding stocks of the river.

Will club members also please fill in their catch returns, this is a valuable source of information for the club and assists in the monitoring of fish stocks. This includes Trout, Sea Trout, Salmon and Grayling. Also any members who are fishing any of the ponds, catch reports for these would also be welcome