Welcome everybody to the start of a new season and welcome to our new members. Hopefully we will live up to your expectations as a club.The weather has been sunny and bright but we have had no rain for virtually all the month of May and we have been stuck with high pressure and easterly winds for most of that time. The recent spell of low pressure plus showers has been a welcome to all and with the wind swinging round to the west the temperature has warmed up a bit.

 Along with the start of a new season comes a new gate code and this will be the same for all the clubs waters. Can all members please ensure that the gates are shut securely and the numbers scrambled to maintain security. You have all paid for the privilige of fishing our waters,so do not let any freeloaders get a days fishing for free.

 The AGM was held at the Alresford Village Hall on 2nd May. The meeting was opened by the Chairman ,Paul Barrell, who paid respects to Adrian Robbins, Clive Favell and to Ron Tickner. The meeting  carried on with the Secretary's report and the Treasurers report,both of which reported a successful year.The meeting was turned over to the floor for any other business. Paul Barrell thanked Andrew Ramsbotham and Alan Day for the work they had done to solve a waterlogging problem across the roadway. There was concern raised regarding membership reaching the maximum before existing members had a chance to rejoin.Jim Martin said that he would keep the numbers under review. There being no other business the meeting was brought to a close.

 There are designated parking spaces on all of our lakes so please use them. Anybody parking in other than those prescribed places will be asked to move them and continued ignorance of this rule will result in being asked to leave the lakes.We are a small club and we should all get along together without having to remind someone that they are being selfish.

 There are lots of signs of fry in the waters but no real signs of spawning.The Carp and Tench seemed to have switched off in Alresford and the Abbey and whether this is a forerunner of spawning or they are just not hungry is a bit of an unknown.Bramley Lake has fished well for the match held there recently and Cox and Worcester continue to supply good bags.The water in Alresford Lake has managed to hold its level, despite the lack of rain but has stayed very clear through May but is starting to colour up now. Weed growth in the Orchard lakes has started down the bottom end of Bramley and lilies are starting to show on all of our lakes. All of the waterbirds have young and are hungry for food so please be careful not to hook them.

  On May 14th Lucy Jenkin from the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group came on site at the Orchard Complex with a view to installing a pond for Great Crested Newts. Two possible areas were highlighted for use and test holes will be dug to check on water retention and seclusion from birdlife. It is hoped that the pond will add amphibious life to all the lakes as an off-shoot. FWAG will continue to monitor water quality and sustainability over the coming years if our site proves successful, along with a healthy population of Great Crested Newts. 

   May's matches were fished without issue, with the first being the Westlake 1 being fished on Bramley and this was won by Glen Sibbons with a bag predominantly of Rudd. The Norrington match was again fished on Bramley in a match of two halves. Those that fished the top bay struggled, whilst those that fished the bottom bay had more success with John Popkin winning with a good bag of Tench and Bream,plus obligatory Rudd.The Chinery Trophy's match venue was Cox Lake with a resounding win weight of over 100lb going to Ged Spurgin.The two OAP matches were fished on Worcester and Cox Lake respectively and were won by Steve Beynton with a catch of F1's that showed themselves on all the pegs,and Ged Spurgin winning the latter with a weight of just under the 100lb. This month's matches are the Westlake 2 and OAP, but the charity match seems to be on hold due to lack on entrants. Please watch notice boards for match information.

   Without wishing to point a finger at present,would all members be reminded that we are a litter free zone. There has been reports of plastic drinks bottles, paper towels, tea bags and cigarette ends left in swims, along with hook links and off-cuts of line. Anyone caught littering will be warned once and then a second time asked to leave the club. There is no excuse for leaving rubbish or bits of broken tackle, if you brought it in then take it out.To all members can you please use the rule of 5 and collect 5 items of litter to take home or take 5 minutes to check that everything is clean and tidy before you leave. Although at present there is no mention of banning the use of drugs or alchohol in the club rules, could we remind members that anyone under the influence of either substances will be asked to leave our lakes as a Health and Safety issue.

   Along with ducks and geese, there are numerous other birds nesting including a Nightingale, who was heard singing during several ocassions at Alresford by Paul Keeble. Cuckoos have voiced their relentless call over last few weeks and Kingfishers have survived the winter and can be seen skimming across the water in a flash of cobalt blue.Lakeside maintenance has been restricted to strimming and grass cutting for this very reason, to protect nesting birds. The removal of Willows, reeds etc. at the time looked stark but everything is greening up to fill in the spaces.

 By peg 29 on Bramley Lake a seat has been erected in memory of Ron Tickner by his family. The peg was a favourite of Ron's and the seat is a place of quiet reflection.​

 Just a reminder that the Environment Agency's Closed Fishing period comes to an end. Fishing on rivers and streams opens up for the start of the season on 16th June. Make sure you have a licence to avoid embarrassment and a hefty fine.

 On a light note, Father's Day is on the 15th June this year. A time for breakfast in bed and being spoilt. Mother's day comes 9 months later in March!

 And finally, can all members pass this website around as a means of communication and information. The quickest way to stop rumours is from the horses mouth.

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

   Tight Lines to you all.