Club News
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August 08
June 09
Thameside Works Angling & Preservation Society
June 2009 NEWSLETTER
Dear Member,
Firstly, thanks to all of you who attended our AGM on 2nd April. Your new committee elected for 2009/10 is as follows:
| Chairman Treasurer Society Sec. Membership Sec. Match Sec. Head bailiff Asst. Head Bailiff Committee Members |
Dennis Hammond John Young Peter Huckstep Jeff Buxton Derek Graves John Trimmer Brian Potter Brian Glidden, Chris Harris, Stuart Harris, Barry Law, Keith Meager, Albert Murray, Barry Sims |
Albert Murray retired from the Treasurer's position after 27 years service and was made a life member. However they say you can't keep a good man down and Albert is still on the committee.
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Main Points from the AGM:
RULES & BYE LAWS UPDATE
Renewing members should remove all pages in
existing Rule Book covers and replace with the enclosed new set. New
members will receive an up to date set. To all members - Please
re-familiarise yourself with all rules and bye-laws.
COBHAM
Work continues on the bottom and middle lakes (tree crowing
and felling scheduled for mid May). Work on the top lake will start
when filming is completed later in the season. Please check the
notice board at the gate on all visits and please close the car park
gate after use. It may be that the top lake has to be closed to
anglers on a few occasions while filming is in progress. Bait
restrictions were eased on the Cobham fishery last season (as per
your rule book and as displayed on the notice board at the gate.)
Please do not obstruct pathways when fishing and use the platforms
where applicable.
SHORNE COUNTRY PARK
Is to be the subject of a fish population and
water quality survey any time now and the Committee will be renewing
its efforts to improve reed control which is currently a very manual
operation. Very strict bait restrictions apply as per your rule book
and this fishery remains closed until Saturday 30th May.
BLUE LAKE
Since the factory closed, the pumps have only been
running intermittently resulting in a significant rise in the water
level, virtually making the lake unfishable from existing swims.
This is out of our control and we will try to keep you informed as
the situation changes.
RIVER BEULT
The statutory close season applies - re-open on Tuesday 16th June.
ROTHER FISHERY ASSN WATERS
We (the club) are no longer affiliated
to the RFA but for a trial period (initially for the 2009/2010
season), any TWAPS member fishing the RFA stretches of the River
Rother or the Royal Military Canal on day-ticket can be reimbursed
by applying to the committee and enclosing the day-ticket.
Correspondence via our P.O.Box please. This matter will be reviewed
next at the 2010 AGM.
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MATCH CALENDAR 2009/2010
All members are welcome to attend all matches - you can even fish as a non-competitor on the day if you wish. We see it as a chance to fish some excellent commercial venues and use a keepnet to view your catch at the end of the day. However it is VERY IMPORTANT that you advise your intention to fish to the match secretary by 9pm on the Thursday preceding the match as bank space will be limited in some cases.
Many matches carry trophy awards as well as points towards the title of Champion Angler.Fish a minimum of 8 from 12 Points Matches to qualify for that title. In the event of any Points Matches being cancelled this will become 7 from 11, 6 from 10, 6 from 9, 6 from 8, 6 from 7 or 6 from 6.
The Chairman's Shield is being re-introduced this season but with a slight change to the format : Fished at Shorne C.P. on four Wednesday evenings 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th June Both lakes will be closed at 4pm in readiness for the match on each of the 4 dates Your best 3 results will count (so you can fish any three or all four). Draw is at 5.15pm fishing 6.00pm til 9pm.
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The 2009 Fur & Feather Competition 2009...
Will be held at Horsham Lakes at Upchurch on Sunday 13th December 2009, with the after-match function in the Upchurch Village Hall. Catering and a bar will be provided as usual. This is a user friendly commercial water and will be booked to Thameside WAPS. The Club will pay all Day Ticket costs, Hall Hire, Bar Licence & Staff, Catering & Prizes. It will only cost you Drinks and Bait. Traditionally for this match, advising your intention to fish has been waived but it would assist in the planning for catering etc if we have an idea of numbers nearer the date. More on this match will follow in a later newsletter including easy road directions.
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Why is there a 'P' in TWAPS?
Yes of course the P stands for preservation which refers to all aspects of our sport, the environment and all that lives within it. Concerns have been raised about the care, or lack of, being taken by a few of our members when unhooking fish. At this stage the committee has mixed opinions regarding the introduction of unhooking mats (which in themselves don't guarantee that the fish will be handled with all care possible). So just a few points for you to consider:
- Handle all fish as little as possible (wet hands are better than dry).
- When a landing net is used, unhook the fish while it is in the net. Depending on the size of the fish in question this can be done with the net frame suspended across the knees with the bottom of the net clear of the ground. The fish can then be offered back to the water direct from the net.
- If this is not practical or the fish is too large for this method to be used, then take the fish while it is still in the net to a grassed area or unhooking mat or similar soft surface, remove the hook and then offer the fish back to the water direct from the net.
- DO NOT lay any fish onto the wire-meshed fishing platforms or stony paths.
- Bailiffs will be monitoring the situation.
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TWAPS Website.(www.twaps.co.uk.)
The Committee invites contributions for the website - perhaps photos, articles, anecdotes etc. If you have something to contribute please make contact via the email facility on the site or via our P.O.Box.
That's all for now, so from your Committee, here's hoping that you enjoy a really successful season. We look forward to seeing you on our own waters, and at any or all of the planned matches.
Tight Lines
The Committee.
