The start of a new season and the plan to catch the elusive "big one" from all the waters' species is on many anglers' minds. There is also a group that just enjoy sitting by the waters edge and watching the world go by. Whichever group you fit into,welcome to Alresford Angling Asslociation. A special welcome to our new members and hopefully you will form a lasting history with us.

  May's matches are now all completed,with events taking place on Bramley,Cox,Worcester and Alresford  lakes. The first of the Westlake matches was fished along with the Norrington Cup on Bramley with most of the fish being landed in the top bay.Dave Pilsworth won the Norringtom match and Paul Barrell had an overwhelming win on Cox lake to take the Chinery Cup.The OAP matches were fished on Worcester and Alresford Lakes,the latter was hard going as the Bream decided not to play ball.

 The first of the 18hr Carp matches took place on Friday 2nd June with  anglers pigging out on sausages, bacon and eggs washed down with copious amounts of tea. With the more discerning member with epicurian tastes sticking to Pot Noodles. During the course of this banquet,a few Carp showed up with one making it to the bank. Well done Gordon for landing a 15lb Common.Hopefully,everyones Cholesterol level will have dropped ready for the next match on the 7th July.

 All the lakes have shown evidence of frenzied spawning and hopefully this will be a one-off event this season rather than stops and starts as have been the case during previous years. If you arrive at a lake and there is obvious evidence of spawning taking place,move away from the area or fish another lake.Despite the large numbers of fish that are visible,you will not catch them as they have other appetites to fill.

 Along with the ending of the 2022/2023 season the gate codes have been changed.As with other years,the gate code at the Alresford end of Bretts' haulroad  has a 5 digit combination.You will need to add a "0" at the start of the combination to open the lock. With all the clubs' waters gate locks, please spin the combination on closing the lock and check that it is locked properly before leaving.

 This is the first season where the club has offered the facility to join "on-line". For those of you that have undertaken this method "thank you",but please spread the word as this will be the future for the majority of you. As was expected, with any new venture there will be hiccups with the most obvious issues sailing under the radar.The issueing of the gate code and parking permits was one of them. Hopefully you are all in possesion of both,but if not, please contact Richard the Orchard Bailiff who will give you one to fill in, or me by e-mail and I will send you a blank permit where you can add your membership number after cutting off the gate code strip. Obviously, if your name is not on the current membership list you won't receive one. My e-mail address is mickandpenny@hotmail.co.uk .Next season we hope to supply membership cards plus parking permits to everyone who joins on-line and these will then be supplied ongoing as your membership is renewed. As has been stated before,anyone who does not have on-line facilities you will still be able to join by using the cash and cheque method.

The Clubmate link is:-

           http://alresfordanglingassociation.clubmate.co.uk/register

 The purchase of the Orchard complex has picked up momentum, with both parties' solicitors reaching agreement over outstanding "clauses". The club is now a registered company and is on the Companies House register as an Orginisation for Sports and Leisure. The next hurdle will be the Land Registry and then signing of the deeds. As has been mentioned before,we were hoping to be done and dusted by January this year but despite the delay we are still on course to complete the purchase.

 The repairs to pegs 9 and 10 at Alresford have been completed. There will be ongoing strimming and swim repairs on all the lakes and once again a "thank you" for all of you that give your time free of charge to keep the lakes in tip top condition. The damaged padlock at the Abbey will be replaced and once this is done could members try not to run over the new one on entry.

 Due to intense lobbying by anglers,the Angling Trust and Fish Legal, along with celebrities like Feargal Sharkey, Paul Whitehouse and Lee Mack and many other persons and groups who want the Water Companies to clean up their act, succes is now in order. The next task is to stop these companies passing on the costs of making our rivers,waterways and seas fit for purpose to its customers. The removal of large bonuses given to executives would go a long way to prevent this from happening. All of this was done by people making their voice heard and did not involve anyone glueing themselves to a riverbank. "Magna Carta Rule ok"

 Over the next 12 months,items of tackle etc. are left behind at the waterside.If you are victim to this please make contact to a Commitee Member,Bailiff or through this web page. Also on the reverse side if you have found items please use the same process. All sorts of items have been left behind in the past ranging from nets, rod pods complete with alarms, to bungee cords, mugs and items of clothing. Have a quick look round before you leave, finding out you have lost an essential piece of kit when next you go fishing can be annoying and expensive.

 The large high pressure system that has sat over the UK for more than several days has resulted in cold North Easterly winds and no rain. Already some lakes that are not spring fed have levels that are starting to fall. Please be careful when netting fish as you may have further to lean and fall.June has always been an eventful month through history with the shooting of Franz Ferdinand and the start of World War 1, the D-day landings, the Battle of Waterloo, Custers last Stand and Nelson losing another part of his anatomy before his final demise at Trafalgar.Please keep to pathways to avoid trip hazards and keep your speeds down when around the lakes and pedestrian areas. The warmer weather will also bring out persons who think they have an unalienable right to trespass by swimming, picnicking,or fishing at  our lakes. If you see any person doing any of these please ask them to leave by pointing out the hazards around deep water and the fact that any injuries they sustain will be their own responsibility, as they are not covered by our insurance. If in your opinion they are putting themselves in danger call 999, or 101 depending on the potential risk. Do not put yourselves in harms way or be so confrontational that can result in violence.

   Please take all your litter home with you. Filter tips and tea bags are as annoying as sweetcorn tins and groundbait bags. Offcuts of line and hook links with hooks attached left behind in swims are a hazard to wildlife. If you brought it full,take it back with you empty. Do not stuff litter into bushes as come Autumn your sins will find you out. Please don't take the attitude that "I did not drop it so I am not picking it up". Our lakes are known for being clean and litter free and this is down to your cooperation.                

               As always,stay safe,enjoy your fishing and look out for one another

   Tight Lines to you all.