Waterside News

Welcome everybody to 2026. A new year and a clean slate to prepare for the forthcoming season. To dream about the months ahead, putting into practice changes in bait and tackle that will guarantee success with every cast. Lessons learnt from 2025 when it was too hot, too cold, the wind was in the wrong direction and the air pressure was wrong. Bait was too big, too small or not the right colour, flavour or just not right. Or none of the above, the fish just weren't hungry or in the swim you chose. Whatever new bits of kit you got for Christmas, hopefully they will be put to good use and add to the buzz when you put a baited hook in the water for the first time this year.

After the announcement by the Government that they want to bring into law changes that could effect outdoor pursuits, this is a timely reminder that this club is a member of Angling Trust and Fish Legal and would advise you as individual members to join also. They are a voice that has your interests at heart and have been very vocal in cases concerning pollution, fish stocks and general wellbeing of all the country's coastal waters, lakes and rivers. As an individual angler, you are a lone participant in a sport undertaken by thousands. So it makes sense to be united.

This time of year, leading up to March, the clearing of dead vegetation and opening up of wooded spaces takes place. The woodland around Bramley lake will be thinned out to encourage wildlife to proliferate. Sections will be thinned out, but not all in one go. This will encourage nesting birds etc. and is done under the advice of the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid. Anybody with a few hours to spare on a Wednesday morning, their help would be greatly appreciated. Or Thursday mornings over at Alresford Lake

Decembers matches passed off successfully. The first of which was the Fur and Feather match fished on Cox Lake. This was won by Nick Austin with a weight of 54lb 12oz, beating Graham Claridge whose Carp net was overweight by 4lb 12oz and this was knocked back to 50lb. Next followed two Sweepstake matches. The first was fished on Worcester Lake and was won by Graham Claridge, with a weight of 32lb 1oz, comprising of mostly F1's. The second was fished on Cox Lake and was hard going with several anglers not weighing in. It was won by John Popkin with a weight of 29lb 0oz and no winning weights came from the island pegs. This months matches will be ther Winter 2 which will be held on the 25th January instead of the 4th January, but still at Worcester and the Ron Tickner Feeder match fished on Cox Lake on 18th January.

A "thank you" goes out to those members who have been clearing up litter left behind by others, especially drinks cans , plastic bottles and styro-foam food containers in the top car-park at Alresford Lake. Can all members please shut the top haul road gate at this lake outside of working hours.

And finally to end on a bit of trivia. A pamphlet entitled "Common Sense" was published in 1776 and sold 500,000 copies. It influenced, among other countries throughout Europe, the authors of the American Declaration of Independance. Sadly it seems to be out of print these days.

As always, stay safe, look after one another and enjoy your fishing.

Tight Lines