This Sunday, 6th June, and next Sunday, 13th June are two work party days to prepare the pegs on the river for the coming season. We will meet up at peg 2 in Cressage Meadow for 0900 Hrs and allocate sections to those members present. Please bring spades, strimmers, scythes and any timber that can be used as peg markers with you. Also remember to bring something to eat and drink.

REMEMBER - THE MORE OF US THAT TURN UP THE LESS TIME IT WILL TAKE. IT'S YOUR RIVER, SO COME AND PUT THE EFFORT IN TO ENSURE WE CAN ALL START THE SEASON WELL.

As members may be aware, there is an Environment Agency consultation exercise going on at present about proposed restrictions on salmon fishing on the River Severn. I have been taking part in many video conferences over the past 3 months on this subject, because there is a great deal of disquiet about the way this consultation is being undertaken. Eventually, i wrote to my MP to ask him to contact DEFRA on my behalf to get some assurance that this process was being carried out fairly. I attach the response I received today for all salmon anglers information. The second link is the submission the group of Severn Angling Clubs has collectively submitted to DEFRA and the EA. Please click on these links to read this important information BEFORE you go salmon angling, as you don't want to get caught out by the changing rules.

Salmon Fishing On The River Severn.pdf (100.51 kb)

SFG Submission to EA and Defra (Final).pdf (2.05 mb)

As the pandemic will not allow a "physical" meeting I propose to hold the AGM this Saturday 13th February over zoom.

All members are welcome to join the meeting, so please email me berniecjones@hotmail.com and I will send you the link to join the meeting.

Hope to "see" you there.

THIS MEETING IS NOW POSTPONED INDEFINITELY AS I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM FROM ANY MEMBERS

Bernie

I have been informed that some members are driving round Cressage Meadow whilst it is obviously very muddy. Our Riparian Owner, Malcolm Corrie, gets fined by the Environment Agency for driving over the 14m grass strip from the edge of the crop to the river. This strip acts as a filter that stops any chemicals used on the crop from leaching back into the river when any flood water runs off. The EA use a helicopter to video this strip and if they see ruts, Malcolm gets fined. He has threatened before to close this section to vehicles if anglers persist in causing him to get fined. If this goes on much longer it will inevitably result in our elderly and disabled members not being able to fish the river. SO PLEASE DON'T DO IT EVEN IF YOU OWN A 4X4 VEHICLE.

Now that the country is in full lockdown for the third time, the Government originally said that there would be no fishing allowed at all. Now, thanks to the Angling Trust, some fishing can take place. But there are restrictions which must be followed. The single most important thing we can all do to protect the NHS and save lives is to Stay at Home.
 
In England, fishing is permissible as your once-a-day exercise with the following restrictions:

• Waters are to open from 6am to 10pm unless other restrictions apply (LAS rules are dawm to dusk) (Close seasons/SWR’s etc). No Overnight Fishing
• Fish Locally - you can travel a short distance within your area
• Fish Alone, with your household (or support bubble) or one other person

 
Click here for Government guidance on travel. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#travel
 
In Wales fishing is not specifically prohibited but the following restrictions apply:

• You may only walk or cycle to fish. The need to carry tackle is not a justification for driving.
• Waters are to open from 6am to 10pm unless other restrictions apply (Close seasons/SWR’s etc).
• Fish alone or with your household (support bubble)

 
Click here for Welsh Government guidance on sport, exercise and outdoor activity.
https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions#section-58322
 
Always observe Social Distancing – including with other anglers on the bank. Carry hand sanitizer and use disposable gloves where necessary.
 
All members should think carefully about what is the most sensible thing to do to protect your family, friends and your community, rather than thinking about what the law allows you to do.
 

There were two errors in the January Newsletter. Firstly, the specimen Roach should have been Steve Oliver's fish of 1 Lb 10 Ozs. Sorry about that Steve. Secondly, the date of the AGM should have read Saturday 13th February 2021, not 14th February.

Of course, now that we are back in Lockdown, it may have to be AGM via zoom, so watch this website for further information nearer the time if you want to take part.

I have had a few queries of late asking me about membership renewal for 2021. Around the 28th of December you will receive either an email from me (if you have let me have your address) or a letter through the Royal Mail. This letter will detail what you need to do to renew your membership. All current members will have the opportunity to renew their subscriptions before I offer any memberships not taken up to those on the waiting list. The cut off point is the end of March, when I have to pay the water rents, so please pay as soon as posssible to avoid disappointment.

All members please note that access to pegs 71 to 105 through Peter Taylor's farm can only be on foot at present. This is because the track leading down to the car park has become so muddy now that it is impassible for cars - Peter almost managed to get his tractor stuck in the mud! So, PLEASE tell any members you know who are not on the Internet about this.

Our extremely busy Match Secretary finally managed to make time to get the result of the tenth and final Summer League match to me to post here. The 25th October was fine and dry, with just a gentle breeze. The river had been up, but had dropped nicely and was carrying a good colour. As well as being the final match of the summer series, this was also our pairs match, which just adds a bit more interest to the result. I'm very pleased to say that John Parsons and I won the pairs match with a combined weight of 30 Lbs 12 Ozs. This was made up of 17 Lbs 6 Ozs from John from peg 6 (3 barbel taken on the feeder) and 13 Lbs 6 Ozs from me taken from peg 103 (chub, roach and dace taken on the whip). But the individual winner on the day was Graham Jones with 25 Lbs exactly, second was Ken Arnold with 22 Lbs 8 Ozs and third was John Parsons with 17 Lbs 6 Ozs. Therefore the winner of the League this year with 55 points is Jason Owen, with Paul Styche second, who gave him a very close run for his money right up to this last match, on 47 points and Paul Harrison third on 41. Please click on the link to see the full result.

Match 10 - 2020.pdf (37.67 kb)

It is with great sadness that I have to report the sudden and unexpected death of Tim Breeze. Tim has been a Bailiff on the Leighton waters for many years and was always on hand to deal with any trouble makers that tried to illegally fish our waters. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him. A much larger than life and jolly character, who was really just a gentle giant of a man. Here is the obitury that appeared in the Shropshire Star:

BREEZE Timothy (Tim) Of Buildwas, Telford. Passed away peacefully at home with his Family by his side on November 3, 2020. Aged 59 years. Loving Husband of Jayne, Stepdad of Stephanie and Anthony. Private Funeral Service.

Rest in Peace.