Club News

Next Working Party	Sunday 8th December 2024 - 9:30 am
Quarterly Committee Meetings	Monday 13th January 2025 - 7:30 pm (TBC)

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 below 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. 

Although fishing has concluded for the year the Work Parties continue fortnightly. 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 Work Party originally scheduled for Sunday 24th November has been cancelled due to Storm Bert and the resulting very high river level and flood warning. The next Work Party is scheduled for Sunday 8th December at 9:30. It would be very good to see some more new faces then.

 

Fishing on our waters finished for the calendar year on Saturday 30th November. I hope members enjoyed their time on the river. In a year disrupted by high water levels the latest flood resulting from the snow and then Storm Bert caused significant additional erosion and damage to the river banks. Sean Barlow (Treasurer) has produced a report of this on the Forum which should be of interest to all. An assessment of what remedial works might be required to ensure safe access to the river bank will be carried out in the New Year.

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 8th December is the next scheduled Work Party and we will meet just downstream of Llay Road Bridge at 9:30 am.

David Meadows (Chairman)

 

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

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