Club News


Dates for the Diary


Next Working Party Sunday 24th November 2024 - 9:30 am  
Quarterly Committee Meetings
 
Monday 13th January 2025 - 7:30 pm (TBC)  


Sunday Working Parties


The Work Party on Sunday 10th November was very successful. There were four willing members involved and the work focused on trees which were overhanging or blocking the river from the Water Treatment Works upstream to Gresford Weir. Sean wielded the pole saw while Kevin, Ceri and David removed a substantial amount of timber. The most recent flood has further undercut the footpath blelow Gresford Weir on the right hand bank just downstream of the stile. The footpath has been directed further inland for the second time this season. Please be careful in this area. Fishing for for grayling is allowed on our waters until Saturday 30th November inclusive.
Although the trout season has ended the Work Parties continue fortnightly all year The Club is dependent upon volunteers giving up their time to assist otherwise the river will soon become overgrown and unfishable. There is a lot of work to be done - at least 3 pools are currently obstructed by large trees, footsteps into the river require repair and there is judicious pruning to be done. More help is always welcome on a Sunday morning - specialist skills are not required!

The next Work Party is scheduled for Sunday 24th November at 9:30. It would be very good to see some more new faces then.

 


2024 Season

There have been a few members out fishing recently and they have had some success in their pursuit of grayling. The river has fallen to 0.349 on the Pont Y Capel gauge so is certainly at a fishable height. Monday 11th November was a glorious sunny autumn day and at least two club members were out in almost perfect conditions.
The latest flood on Wednesday 16th October which peaked at 1.287 on the Pont Y Capel gauge resulted in some quite dramatic changes to the river. The large willow above Llay Road Bridge which as previously reported was partially in the river is now fully down and has caused a large debris blockage. The water here is deep and dangerous and the right hand bank by the bench below the tree is seriously undercut. The island at this point has gone and been replaced by a large gravel bank which has pushed all of the flow to the right hand bank. It has also been reported that the right hand bank and footpath below Gresford Weir is badly undercut. Please be very careful in these areas. 

 Fishing for grayling is permitted until the end of November (Saturday 30th November inclusive) but please remember that Catch Returns are required on the Forum. I do hope members get a chance to enjoy the second year of autumn grayling fishing on our waters.

Please keep a close eye on the river for any signs of possible pollution or changes that do not seem to be normal. I was out fishing on Monday 2nd September and while enjoying a break on the bench below the Straight Cut noticed a definite change to the river and it quickly became a muddy brown colour with no rise in river level. I walked on upstream to Kingfisher Corner and the river had become unfishable. I reported this event to NRW via their online Report an incident system which is very simple to use. I received a confirmation that my Incident Report had been received and then 2 further follow up emails asking for further information and feeding back on what NRW were doing. You can also call NRW to report an incident on 0300 065 3000 which is a 24 hours a day number. This information is contained in the Club Rules and yet even when the river has been polluted and witnessed some members have seemed reluctant to report incidents. We all have a duty to report.
I contacted NRW again on Friday 13th September as I came across 3 men bait fishing about 200 metres upstream of Llay Road Bridge. The trio did move on but were well equipped for a long stay having large amounts of alcohol, chairs and even bags of firewood with them. We believe they have been on the river on other occasions. Please report any suspected poaching to NRW who do take these matters seriously.

Sunday 24th November is the next scheduled Work Party and we will meet just downstream of Llay Road Bridge at 9:30 am.

David Meadows (Chairman)


News from the Catchment

 

Recycle Hub

A Recycle Hub has been set up on the Club forum.

The purpose of the hub is for members to recycle any old fishing or fly-tying equipment that that might be useful to other members who are either just starting out or wanting to try something without having to commit to buying it new at full price; or just to generously pass on something that is no longer of use to someone who might benefit from it for a small donation.

Funds raised will be utilised at a later date to introduce some local young people to fly fishing, fly tying and the river itself.

The hub is for Club members only and registration is required in order to access the forum. Please contact us via the E-Mail us page for any forum registration queries.

Please read the “Welcome to the recycle hub.” thread on the forum.

The forum can be accessed here

Newsletters

The latest newsletter is available here