Biennial General Meeting

       Biennial General Meeting Minutes

Wheatsheaf Back Bar,  14th September 2024

Present:- Bill Clark – President, John Shea, Martin Winterbone, Phil Fordham, Jimmy Walsh, Gary Smith

Apologies:- Steve Bright, Chris Henton, Andy Ellis, Steve Thomas, David Longhurst, John Dix, Jon Linden

Presidents Address – Bill Clark

The President welcomed the members and thanked the committee for the work they carried out during the year, also giving special thanks to Jimmy Walsh for his reconstruction of the jetty earlier this year.

He said he was disappointed with the attendance with only two members attending.

He also informed the members that Ralph Youngs, one of our committee members passed away 3 weeks ago and his funeral is on Friday 20th September.

Minutes of meeting 08/02/22 were read and agreed with no mattersmatters outstanding

Finance and Membership – John Shea

The membership secretary reported on both 2023 and 2024.

In 2023 we had 44 members 22 for both coarse and trout, in 2024 we had 42 members 25 coarse and 17 trout.

In 2023 we had a small surplus from fishing of £902, this is after the club purchase a new brush cutter, and had some costly repairs to our lawn mower, this will be held in our reserves.

2024 is looking like we will just about break even as we still have to purchase fish for the second stocking, equip the 2nd boat to go on Willowmere, and purchase crushed concrete for car parking area and first two swims on Chasewater.

This being the case the committee feel that we can hold the fees for 2025 at their current level for another year.

Environmental Report – Martin Winterbone

Willowmere:

Has fished well most of the year with the obvious exception of the hot summer.

There has been one stocking so far this year.

The deepening of the lake by one and a half feet seems to have made a huge difference to the weed problem this year.

Also 6 bales of barley straw were put in in March to help with the algae bloom this year and that seems to have paid dividends.

We received reports of a mink on the water in late July early August. Traps were placed out on 12th August and one mink trapped on 15th August.

We are aware of the large numbers of cormorants on the water and are disrupting them as often as we can to deter them

Chasewater:

Has fished well, throughout the year. So please keep updating the WhatsApp group chat everyone.

Fly fishermen have enjoyed sport to this summer catching some nice carp on the fly, well done

If you identify any problems please report it to us. You are our eyes and ears.

Predators:

No mink have been found on Chasewater.

However the Chelmer and Wid do have a large number of Mink so the traps on both lakes will remain in place for at least 3 months.

Work parties:

Once again a big thank you to the regulars who turn up to these.

Overall though this year has had a very poor turnout for work parties.

How do we get more members to attend?

Come on it’s your club and you all benefit from those of us that do regularly turn up.

How do we encourage you to turn up?

I have had some great ideas already but more would be appreciated

They will continue next year on the first Saturday of each month commencing on 1st March 2025 till 4th October 2025 (inclusive).

Bird Flu (avian influenza):

There are no current outbreaks in this region.

The guidance states that dead wild birds should be reported as to Defra on 03459 335577.

If the following criteria is met:

One or more dead birds of prey

Three or more dead gulls or wild fowl(swans, geese and ducks)

Five or more dead birds of any species

Other matters

Some of the fly fishers will be aware that our boat on Willowmere has disappeared and the boat box was broken into. We suspect local juveniles. We hope the boat has been sunk and have a local diver prepared to do a search and hopefully recover it.

Chasewater to has had issues with clothing and towels left where they had obviously been swimming and some of the hardcore we put down being thrown into the lake.

The farm to has been affected by these miscreants with egg money stolen and eggs smashed.

So please challenge and people who you do not know on the lakes. There are no footpaths around either lake, so if they are there they should be a member or part of the farmers family.

There were no Submitted Items

Website

After several years we have the website up and running again www.willowmere.info

The committee would like to thank Andrew Lewis who has given up his time to help us create the website and get it launched to the internet.

We have found that is it has been  the best way of getting new members in the past and already we have seen enquiries coming in.

If any members have friends who would like to join please direct them to the website, where contact details and fees can be found.

THANKS AGAIN ANDREW

End of Meeting