Special General Meeting of the 2nd November
Unfortunatly due to insufficent attendance the rule changes proposed for the purposes of becomming CASC registered and to introduce a rolling yearly membership could not be approved. General discussion showed that a significant majority were in favour of these changes. The rule changes were proposed again at the January General Meeting and were carried - membership now runs from the beginning of the month of joining.

  Shooting days
On occasion it has been necessary to close access to some of our waters on the Somerley Estate and at Folds farm due to shooting. This year Somerley estate have advised that whilst there will be duck shooting it does not need to restrict access at any time.
There will also be number of "rough walk-up" days on the Somerley estate when the Guns may walk through the meadows and close to the river, again access is not restricted. Dates are:
Friday 19th October - shoot day
Friday 26th October - shoot day
Friday 2nd November - shoot day
Friday 16th November - shoot day
Tuesday 27th November - rough walk-up day
Friday 30th November - shoot day
Saturday 8th December - shoot day
Tuesday 11th December - rough walk-up day
Friday 14th December - shoot day
Wednesday 2nd January - rough walk-up day
Friday 4th January - shoot day
Tuesday 15th January - rough walk-up day
Friday 18th January - shoot day
Tuesday 22nd January - rough walk-up day
Thursday 31st January - Final walk-up day

Folds Farm will be closed to fishing on the following Saturdays:
13th October, from 9am for half the day
27th October, from 9am for half the day
10th November, all day
24th November, all day
1st December, all day
15th December, all day
29th December, all day
5th January 2008, all day
19th January 2008, all day
26th January 2008, all day

Reported today (13th Sept)
"The police at Alderbury Police station have retrieved some stolen tackle. If it may be yours contact Alderbury Police Station and ask for PCSO 6140, Jon Trounson, with full description"

New Fishery Management Officer
It is with regret to announce that after over 14 year in the job Fred Cleere has retired as our Fishery Management officer. In that time Fred has put in an enormous amount of hard work and has gathered together a hard working band of helpers. Fred recongises that he is not getting and younger and with more home commitments he feels it is time to give someone else a chance. Having said that, Fred has requested he is still involved with the work parties, especially on the Somerley estate, where we know he enjoys most of his fishing. I'm sure I and the committee speak for the whole club in thanking him for all he has done in the past and in wishing Fred all the best for the future.
As assistant to Fred (all be it for a short time) Steve Gibson has been co-opted as Fishery Management Officer. This leaves the post of Assistant Fishery Manager as vacant.

Assistant Fishery Manager
For those who could not make it, at the AGM in June there was much discussion about the need for an assistant to the Fishery Management Officer. The meeting generally agreed that maintaining our waters was an essential part of the club's responsibilities. Unfortunatly Fred could not attend the meeting, but at previous committee meetings Fred had also agreed there was a need for such a position. Steve Gibson and Alan Seward both put themselves forward. Following lengthy discussion the meeting came to the decision that the committee did not need another position. Following the success of the works at Holtwood, Wainsford and other fisheries managed by Steve, and the feeling at the AGM that such a post was necessary, Steve Gibson has taken the post of Assistant Fishery Manager. In line with the decisions at the AGM no new committee position has been made, but in accordance with the current club rules such a post can be taken as deemed necessary by any existing general committee member. With the ever increasing pressures on our waters and the need to liase with more and more external agencies we can be confident that Steve will be a valuable assistant to Fred and allow Fred to continue with the sterling work he has done for many years now.

  Member has had tackle stolen, if you see or are offered any of this please contact via webmaster asap.
Gear stolen:
3 x Harrison Torrix 12ft 3.25lb tc rods, with Fuji low rider rings and carbon butt grips. They are marked 'Handbuilt by Chris Orme'. There's a small amount of green whipping in place to denote rod 1, 2, and 3. In Aqua/Trakker sleeves. Unique rods.
2 x Harrison Trebuchet 13ft carp rods. Carbon butt grips, and marked 'Handbuilt by Chris Orme'. He's only built three sets, so they're very rare. In Aqua/Trakker sleeves.
3 x Daiwa Tournament ISO reels loaded with 20lb Ultima F1 (not your normal carp line, so quite distinctive)
2 x Shimano Ultegra 10000 reels. One with yellow mono, and the other with a 6000 shallow spool filled with braid. Quite distinctive.
2 x Daiwa Emblem Excelers loaded with green mono.
Angling Intelligence Airframe Brolly with a slight rip in the mozzi mesh at the base.
Aqua/Trakker 6 rod sling
 
Car vandalised and property stolen
A member writes
"While fishing with a friend at Somerley Estate on Sunday 1st July 2007 my car was broken into while parked in the Ellingham bridge car park, the driver's side door lock was drilled in an attempt to gain entry causing substantial damage, when this proved unsuccessful they used a crowbar(?) on the passenger side windscreen pillar causing extensive damage and finally smashed the passenger window and took a small suitcase and a holdall, thankfully leaving a barbel trotting rod and a centre pin reel.........obviously not fishermen!"

The police are aware and report that such theft is rife in the Forest. Please be extra vigilent and look out for any suspcious persons.
 
Wessex Salmon & Rivers Trust projects.
Last year Committee agreed to help fund two WSRT projects:
(1) excavation of fry refuges at Somerley last summer.
This involved the enlargement of two overgrown and silted backwaters downstream of Ellingham. They were used by thousands of fry this spring to shelter from the strong main river flow when the river dropped back within its banks. It is intended that the Avon roach, in particular, will benefit from such shelter in their first winter. Allied to this, some roach spawning mats are being tested in Crowe Pool this spring.
(2) CAC also supported the Avon salmon egg-box trial that resulted in the successful release of 2,200 salmon fry from around 2,400 eggs, a very good survival rate. The fate of these fry will be monitored in late summer. News and background information on both these projects are available on the WSRT website http://www.wsrt.org.uk/.