REPORT OF WADA GAME SECTION MEETING 2018
Held at British Legion Corfe Mullen Tuesday 27-02-2018
20 members were in attendance
1. Welcome to those attending from Club Chairman Mike Hirsh
2. Apologies from:
Paul Baker, Mike Slater, Tony Teuber, Phil Houghton, David Duncombe, John Dawson, Graham Fisher
3. Review of 2017 Accounts and Catch Reports
It was encouraging to see, compared with 2016, a large increase in the number of trout tickets bought (34%) and the number of fish caught (37%). The quality of the fish from Iwerne Springs has been excellent and stocking has been carried out in line with the Game Section Stocking Policy. Also regular Lake Reports and stocking notifications have taken place.
The catch rate this year was slightly up, being 75% compared with 73% in 2016.
(Figures of tickets sold, fish caught and fish stocked were circulated).
Due to increased ticket sales the Section showed a surplus at the end of 2017, and the decision was taken to invest this money in extra fish in December before a price rise took effect in January 2018. Thus we began the 2018 season with Zelston fully stocked and the fish already paid for. Also the Club will use some of this surplus to buy some larger fish and to tag a few fish at Rawlsbury. Anyone catching a tagged fish will be entitled to a free 3 fish ticket at Rawlsbury.
The number of anglers who fished the Club's trout waters increased in 2017 by 20%.
Later in the season we will be stocking
Viners, the catch and release lake at Rawlsbury, with more brown trout.
All in all, 2017 was a good year for the Game Section.
4. Works carried out and equipment purchased.
Firstly we must thank Stuart Hitchman (Club Secretary) for obtaining the grant money from the Angling Trust. Mowers, stimmers, multitools, and rakes have all been bought to help work parties maintain a good fishing environment. Also, the synthetic decking used to renew the three jetties at Zelston was bought with AT grant money. A flat pack storage container has been bought for the storage of the Club's equipment at Zelston and we hope to have this in place shortly. 2 disabled parking bays are still to be created at Zelston and the west bank needs reinforcing.
The Club would be pleased to receive help from any volunteers who feel able to help out.
5. Increase in trout ticket prices.
As from 1st April there will be an increase in the price of trout tickets. This will equate to 50p per fish. We now pay our retail outlets a small commission for selling our tickets, as we do with Paypal, and with an increase in the buying price of trout and the plan to try and stock some larger fish, our projected buying price per fish will be just over £7.00. So a price of £7.50 per fish would seem sensible. A show of hands was taken which showed that those in attendance were in agreement.
6. Cormorant control.
The Club is indebted to Stuart Davison who, along with Mike Hirsh, has now obtained a licence to shoot a small number of cormorants on the Stour. (4 is the present allowance). 3 have already been shot. Planning is in place to apply for an area licence which would apply to all the Club's waters. With regard to the trout lakes, we have been in touch with the land owner at Rawlsbury, Justin Langham, and he has agreed to put forward the details of his game keeper onto our licence. Having Justin's support is a big step forward as we have regularly seen evidence of damaged fish and sighted a cormorant on the water.
Can members please log any sightings of cormorants on the website. This action will help us to retain our yearly licence.
We've also been informed that an otter has been seen on the complex at Rawlsbury. As you are aware, no action can be taken to protect the fishery against otter predation.
7. Canada geese at WinterborneZelston.
The Club will formulate a plan to scare the Canada geese when they arrive next summer. It is important to inform and gain the support of the local residents who live close to the lake, especially if we intend to do any shooting. Also signage will be needed on the day. Any local queries should be directed to the Committee. There is a health risk with these geese as reports show around 20% carry diseases, such as e-coli, worms, etc. So anglers need to be aware. The faeces also raise the levels of nitrates in the water which in turn promote the growth of weed in the summer, making the fishing more difficult. Whilst some of these geese will invariably have to be shot, experience shows that after a while just the noise generated by a shot gun will scare the birds off.
8. 2017 work parties and maintenance.
In 2017 a good deal of maintenance was achieved, despite variable weather. Six work parties had been planned for Rawlsbury, but three of these were rained off. Despite that, mowing, strimming, pruning and swim clearance was achieved. This meant that fishing was usually possible from most swims throughout the season. There were some weed issues at the end of the summer, but Chapmans was always fishable.
Work progressed at Zelston in various ways. Gordon Moss mowed and strimmed around the lake on an almost weekly basis. A group of members got involved in weed cutting and clearing. And, of course, three of the jetties were totally refurbished. The south jetty being especially difficult.
9. Goals for fishery work in 2018
At Rawlsbury there is much tree and bush work that needs doing around the upper lakes of Cowlease and Viners. The usual routine work of swim clearance, mowing, etc, will continue and hopefully we'll be able to do some lodge maintenance. The land owner has very helpfully cleared all the brambles and small bushes from the down bank of the dam on Chapmans and this will make a huge difference to the work load later in the season.
At WinterborneZelston the storage unit will need installing along with the planting of specified bushes, to give a screening effect to the unit for the local residents, in line with the planning permission. More weed clearing and removal is planned. There is a fallen tree to remove from the outlet stream. This was blown over in the winter gales. And work needs doing on the hut and the lean-to. There is a need to try and clear the giant hog weed which has taken hold on most of the banks.
As always, the Club asks if members are available, could they please help in the maintenance of their fisheries.
10. Club rivers.
We possess at Edmondsham a small river called the Crane. Electro fishing ( done during some research work ) has shown there to be a good head of small brown trout. Some light trimming and pruning will need to be done this season. Anyone wishing to fish the Crane please contact the Game Secretary in advance.
The Club's stretch of the River Stour above Julian's Bridge ( Netherwood ) holds many species of fish which can be caught on the fly. The brown trout season locally starts on 1st April and is well worth a try. Several of our members fish there regularly.
11. AOB
Catch and release was discussed and last year's vote was mentioned.
When fishing at Zelston please be aware of the rabbit holes, especially around the hut area.
Stock levels at Zelston were discussed and the fact that sometimes fishing is very easy and sometimes quite hard. Unlike commercial fisheries, stocking cannot be done on a weekly basis so ease of fishing will vary at different times in the stocking cycle.
The meeting closed at approximately 9.45pm.
Paul Nicholls
Game Secretary