Waterside News

Another month has passed by with the clocks going forward and the start of Spring.The daytime temperatures are creeping up slowly, but the nights still remain in single figures.Hopefully you were not caight out on April Fool jokes, like the addition to Mount Rushmore of Donald Trump's head amongst Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. Or the inflatable warships to expand our fleet.

The Season End match was fished at the beginning of March on the Abbey Lake with Adrian Loughton having a winning weight after a hard match, and there were no bonus fish to add to anyones bag. The end of March saw the start of the new match season, with Creed 1 being fished on Bramley Lake with the morning starting off with a frost. Ian Marrable started the season with a win comprising of Bream and Skimmers. The cold start made it hard going for some who had nothing to weigh at the close of play. This months matches are Creed 1 and 2 and the first of the OAP matches. Once again, please look out for changes on the notice boards.

We are approaching the start of a new season, commencing the 1st June 2026 and will run through until 31st May 2027. Membership renewals will commence during May ready for the new season, and as it has been mentioned on previous occasions, there is no reductions for a part season membership. We have had to refund membership fees with an incurred admin cost to some new members who tried to join in February/March. At this moment in time the fees remain at £160 for a season and £40 for Juniors, with under 12's costing £5. Our intention is to keep membership as simple as possible with no hidden extras.

Along with a new season comes a new gate code which be shown in your Clubmate app, again this will come into place on the 1st June. Please do not give this code away to non-members. Bailiff's etc. do not need the added harrassment of asking people to leave site as they are tresspassing.

Just a reminder to all of you that the AGM will take place at Alresford Village Hall at 8pm on Friday 24th April. There are notices on the Orchard and Alresford lakes also.

Litter on some of the lakes, although not massive, remains an irritation to those who have to pick it up. For the vast majority of you, give yourselves a pat on the back. For you in the minority, shape up and cross over to the bright-side.

With all the unrest at present in the world, a bit of quiet reflection and relaxation is the medicine of the day. With all the hustle and bustle of nature, to be alone or with friends, it is the best way to relax and focus on the important things in life and it is even better if you are catching fish to boot.

The leaning Ash tree in the Abbey car park has been removed and the continued repair of the swims carries on. The back woodland around Bramley has been opened out to enable light in for ground cover. The last of the tree clearing at Alresford has finished until winter. For all of you that took part and continue to, "thank you" for your help and assistance.

And finally, in 1983 on 14th April, the first cordless phone went on sale in Britain. The size of a house brick and just as heavy, the view was that it would never catch on. Oh yea of little faith. Happy feast day to St. George on the 23rd April.

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

Tight Lines