The first month of the new season is under our belt and hopefully all our new members have settled in and are enjoying the fishing that the club has to offer. June certainly ended on a high heat note, with temperatures exceeding 30°C. Hopefully, we will return to seasonal averages and the occasional splash of rain will not go amiss.

As you are probably aware, the format of this webpage has changed slightly. All the information is there as before but has been given a bit of a spruce up. Simon Wilby has offered his assistance and has designed this new layout. Hopefully you will find this layout easier to navigate. Can I take this opportunity to thank Simon for all his hard work.

So, here we are with June’s news. Firstly, Jim Martin sent out a warning to you all regarding a scam trying to get you to sign up to pay your Membership fees in instalments. This was not a system authorised by the club’s committee and should be ignored. A “thank you” goes to Jim for all his hard work in resolving your membership queries and pointing you in the right direction. A “thank you” also goes to all our members that re-joined again this year, without your support we have no club, and “thank you” to all our new members for giving us a chance.

Over the last month there has been work done on clearing the weed in Cox Lake between the swims and hopefully the addition of Lime on to these areas will be self-controlling. Strimming and cutting back of brambles on all the lakes will continue relentlessly through the summer months. Litter continues to be picked up from the swims, annoyingly. Drink cans, plastic bags, bits of line and end tackle, plus a disposable barbecue have been collected. Please take your litter home and whoever left the barbecue, please be aware the risk of fire.

The hot weather brings its own issues so please make sure you have sun screen for bare skin along with a hat or a brolly to avoid the direct rays. Take plenty of drink with you and remember that alcohol does not rehydrate you. Water levels may start to be reduced in some of our lakes, so netting your catch could cause you to lean over too far and fall in. Those of us that are getting a bit long in the tooth could end up getting hurt. So, take care of yourselves.

It is this time of the year that people take it in their mind to climb a fence and the temptation of a lake and cool water becomes a magnet. If you witness this, please ask them to leave as they are trespassing, and it is also dangerous to swim in deep water. What they are unaware of is the temperature of the deeper water is 4°C and can cause the body to shock and gulp in water.

The Power companies have issued a warning to anglers of overhead power lines and the contact made with Carbon fibre rods or poles. Please look above and around you to ensure you are safe to cast.

Last months matches were completed with the first being the 4 Lake challenge fished on Bramley Lake with Nick Austin winning this leg with a weight of 48lb 2oz.Some competitors, though, struggled in the swims with weed. The OAP match fished on Alresford lake was a match that you needed to find the Bream, and this Ged Spurgin did with a winning weight of 52lb 3oz. The Westlake 2 match was fished on Worcester Lake with Nick Austin again taking the number 1 spot with a weight of 26lb 11oz and only a few finding the F1’s. And finally, a Sweepstake Match was fished on Bramley Lake with Pete Beechener coming out on top with a weight of 21lb 15oz. This month’s matches include 3x OAP matches, along with the Westlake 3, a Pairs Match and the Bareham Match. Once again please check the gate notice boards for lake closures.

Due to the dry weather, the Abbey is being pumped to supply the surrounding fields with water, which means the level is starting to drop. If the level gets too low, we will have to close the lake until the level returns for safety reasons. All the other lakes are okay at present with Carp starting to show themselves at Alresford Lake. Despite the match results showing anglers struggling on Cox, Worcester and Bramley, all three seem to do well for pleasure anglers. As someone pointed out the other day, we are all pleasure anglers.

Can we remind everyone that there is an outbreak of Carp Herpes in the area, can all members please ensure that their nets are clean and dry before going fishing and that the net dips are there for a purpose to prevent the spread on Disease, Parasites and unwanted plant life.

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

Tight Lines