News

February 2010

24 February

The leases for all the three new waters for 2010, Crag Lough - Rothley Lake East - Low Grange Farm, have now been completed. The four new boats and associated equipment to be used on Crag Lough have been ordered and delivery should be some time in April. We were due to open Crag Lough to the membership on April 15th but having examined the local bye laws for brown trout fisheries with the Environmental Agency it appears that the season will commence on the 1st May and the season will end on 31st October so we lose at the start but gain at the end of the season.

Rothley Lake will also come on line for members within a few weeks as will Low Grange Farm but as we are still in the process of preparing the maps and fishing rules then there may be a delay in supplying the details to the membership although we do hope to have a newsletter issued within the next two weeks. With the current weather we are experiencing we can advise that Crag Lough and Rothley Lake are actually frozen over so there is no rush at the moment.

The first stocking of Thornton Steward Reservoir (TSR) takes place this Saturday and we usually close the reservoir for the first week in order to let the fish settle in a bit. As we do not have time at present to send out the newsletter to advise mmbers we will keep it open for the membership this year. We have been informed by our agent for TSR, Joan Hainsworth, that due to family commitments she will not be available to sell day tickets on our behalf in the future. We are very sorry that Joan has taken this decision but fully accept her reasons as she has been a real stalwart for the club in promoting the reservoir on the clubs behalf. Club Secretary Dave Wilson and Committee member Fred Richardson presented Joan with  a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the club on Monday the 22nd February. Alternative arrangements for selling day tickets are alread in hand.

The first salmon of the season have been caught on both the Tyne and Coquet on the 1st February. Whilst this is not earth shattering news for the Tyne it is hoped that this is a good omen for the Coquet as the first fish of the season on 2009 was not caught until May. Hope Springs Eternal come to mind.

There is only one rod available now out of our two for members wishing to fish the river Garry for week commencing 12th June.

04 February

On the 3rd February, the night of the AGM, I was having a light tea as we were having a buffet at the meeting. In comes my darling wife at ten past six to say "have you seen the snow"?, no I said. Two minutes later in comes my loving daughter "dad have you seen the snow"? again I said no. What are we going to do if it continues to snow and we have to cancel the meeting for the first time in our history. Not to worry thankfully as the snow stopped and it only left a light covering. Off to the meeting expecting only a handful of the members having already taken some calls that evening from some members to put in apologies because of the snow. Come 8.00 pm and the start of the meeting and low and behold we had 40 members present. The committee were, to say the least, gob smacked at such an excellent turn out considering the forecast. That to us is real membership. The following is a brief synopsis of the meeting

Previous minutes from 2009 AGM accepted and no matters arising. Report from myself, rather boring probably, but it has to be done. Reports from Brian, membership secretary, Dave, head bailiff, and the financial report from Jerry, assistant treasurer. Membership is at a very good level and we only have a few vacancies available but these could be filled within a few days as Brian already has some prospective members in the pipe line. It is expected that a waiting list will have to be created. Nothing serious to mention from Dave on the bailiffing side but he did ask that members, as always, be vigilant when out and about on club waters and when visiting any club water would they ensure that they place their club sticker on display in their vehicle. If it is not displayed then Dave can end up walking the full beat to find that it is a members car and not a potential poacher.  Financially we are in a very healthy position for this time of the year and wait to see what, if any, water/s become available in 2010. It was therefore proposed by the committee and unanimously accepted by the members that there will no increase in fees for 2010.

Members present were supplied with a copy of the 2010 catch returns and although down on last year it seemed what everybody was expecting with the low river levels throughout the summer and fewer fish entering the rivers. The fish runs were down some 23% on the Tyne and 37% down on the Wear. Sadly due to the problems with the fish counters on the Coquet at Warkworth we do not have any comparison for the previous year which in itself was bad enough. Stocking levels will be the same for 2010 on Thornton Steward Reservoir which had a very good 3.97 fish per rod per day throughout the season. A stocking of brown trout will also be carried out on the river Rede at a date yet to be agreed.

All bailiffs have agreed to continue this year with several more members willing to assist the club.  We had a bailiffing course for members to attend last year and three times it was cancelled. We are looking to see if we can have our own course for our own members but don't hold your breath. Gerald Farnell has agreed to be club auditor again for 2010 and was pleased to agree our financial report put to the members.

The Doug Handyside award for the heaviest sea trout caught on the fly went to Geoff Horrill for a 10.5lb fish caught on the Tyne and the Jim Irving trophy for the heaviest salmon caught by any legal method went to Alan Horner for his superb fish of 26lb caught and safely returned on the river Wear.

There were no nominations for a place on the committee and all current 7 members of the committee were re-elected in their current positions.

There were 6 recommendations from the membership for working parties that included the Till, The Hauxty and Peters Hole beats on the Bellingham water, the top of the Keepershield beat, a stretch on the Coquet and a stretch on the Wear. The committee will look at all the requests from the membership and venues and dates for the the working parties will be provided  to the membership in the near future.

Under Any Other Business the members were informed that on the 17th April we will be hosting a visit from the Hirst Park Trout Ticklers at Thornton Steward Reservoir. This is a club that tries to encourage youngsters into the sport and we have offered them the opportunity to visit the reservoir on this date so they can see how we stock the reservoir and then for them to hold a short competition. As well the stocking on this date there will also be  BBQ so bring your own and we will cook it for you.

The clubs constitution is now outdated what with the new venues below to be added and several changes to the constitution about guest permits to be amended. The committee are in the process of renewing the constitution into a new version in the form of a loose leaf folder. This will in future allow any new amendments or additions to be supplied to the membership and they in turn will be able to simply add or replace the page in the folder.

This leaves me to end up the evenings meeting by announcing the three  new venues that had been announced to the members earlier in the evening.

Venue 1 - Low Grange Farm. This is a one mile stretch on the river Wear which is on the opposite bank to the lower end of our current Frankland Farm Beat. It offers excellent fly fishing for the salmon and sea trout angler as well as excellent parking and location to the river.

Venue 2 - Rothley Lake East. This is a 5 acre lake near Scots Gap in Northumberland. In the past this has been used as a coarse fishery and along with the owner we are looking to turn this lake into a rainbow trout fishery. This is a long term venture and the first year will be to carry out fishing trips to the lake to try and ascertain the type and numbers of coarse fish in the lake. Then it is intended to have the coarse fish removed, legally, and hopefully sold on to a coarse fishing club. Then onto year two when it is intended to start stocking with rainbow trout. Discussions about a new car park and the provision of a fishing hut are ongoing.

Venue 3 - Crag Lough. This is an excellent 18 acre Lough, again in Northumberland, being leased from the National Trust. This again is a long term venture in co-operation with the NT. Situated in the shadow of Hadrians Wall it is located in stunning country side. It has been stocked in the past with rainbow trout but no further rainbow trout will be allowed to be stocked. This will become a brown trout fishery with the intention, over a ten year period between the NT and the club, to turn the lake into a natural wild brown trout fishery. We have been granted permission to stock with brown trout by the NT and the first stocking will take place on the 14th April with members allowed access to the Lough from the 15th April 2010. Fishing will be by boat only and will need to be booked in advance through secretary Dave Wilson. We are currently in discussions with several companies for the provision of new boats for this venue and do expect everything to be ready for opening day.

Full details will be issued to members in the near future.

On other venues we could not come to agreement with a riparian owner over two syndicate rods for the river Eden, we declined to put in an offer for a lake in Northumberland and lost out to a higher bid for a 1.5 mile stretch on the river Wear. Whilst disappointed at these results we are more than happy at the three new additions to our port folio for the membership.

Discussions are ongoing with a riparian owner over two day ticket rods for a stretch on the Coquet and hopefully we will be able to announce the result shortly.

Members can expect more full details of the above in a newsletter in the very near future.

We know the river Garry is another venue that members love to fish on holiday and it does need to be booked in advanced. The following dates have already been booked by two members, 24th April to 1st May 2010, and are closed to other members.

29 January

Are any members interested in a weeks fishing on the river Gaula in Norway this year. Member Steve Kettlewell is organising a couple of trips, as in previous years, and has asked us to let the membership know of the trips. Dates currently available are 20th to 27th June or 25th July to 01st August. Cost per rod per week is £1600 and covers all transfers, flights, rental, licenses, food and fishing. If you are interested then let us know via the website and we will put you in touch with Steve

28 January

The season gets underway on all our rivers next Monday 1st February. Probably the river to start the season off will be the Till where sea trout should be around although in small numbers. Members are reminded that this river is fly only until the 15th February.

A brief newsletter has been sent, correctly, to all members to advise of the AGM next Wednesday 3rd February at Birtley Golf Club commencing at 8.00 pm. and the club house will be open from 7.30 pm. At the AGM members will be advised of three new venues for the coming season. A buffet will be provided as usual so please make every effort to attend.

Discussions are ongoing with the Post Office over the problems of the first newsletter that included the badge to mark our 25th anniversary. We have several households where we have more than one member residing and one member has received the first letter without any problem and the other member at the same household has had to pay extra postage, unbelievable really.

11 January

Following the posting of the newsletter we have received calls from some members stating they have had to go to their Post Office collection office and pay a surcharge to collect their newsletter. The committee apologise for this error on the cost of the postage and state that it was purely an administration error. We do recommend  that you you pay the surcharge, approx £1, as not only does it have the details of the AGM but it also has your lapel badge marking the 25th anniversary of the club.

08January

Following the very adverse weather conditions we have suffered in the northeast since 18th December the committee for the first time in the 26 year history  of the club failed to have an organised meeting on the 6th January. This has not prevented us issuing the latest newsletter to the membership with the details of the upcoming AGM in February and depending on the weather and the post you should have all details in the next day or two. Details were posted on the 7th January and all letters included a 25th anniversary badge for the members. It is hoped the weather will eventually improve as we head towards the AGM and look for as many members as possible to attend because it is after all your club and the committee only run it on your behalf.

Once again we wish all our Members and visitors a Happy and Peaceful New Year as we start a fresh NEWS page for our 26th season.

Hopefully conditions will offer good sport for all our members throughout 2010. Please remember we want to hear from you, whether it be text, still photos or video clips - please send them in or bring them to the AGM on 3rd February 2010 in Birtley Golf Club.

We are gradually building an archive of the Club's development on the site and your help will be appreciated.

The next update on this page is most likely to be a résumé of the AGM (unless there is something extra special to report).