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Billingshurst Angling Society Newsletter - March 2008

Billingshurst Angling Society - Developing Our Fisheries

The last year has seen further development of our waters with careful stocking of Crucian Carp, Roach  and Tench at Shillinglee, as well as a solid stocking programme to develop the new Jubilee Lake complex to the west of the village. Despite some problems with vandalism the biodiversity in the Jubilee fishery continues to show rapid development with quality Rudd beginning to show. Both the club and the EA have supplied Tench and Crucians for the new lake.

The spectacular Malthouse Lakes continue to produce fabulous bags of carp with more upper doubles being reported. Catches show many Tench with increasing numbers of big Roach and Perch being caught. Malthouse  is undoubtedly one of the best fisheries in the region and far more prolific than many waters where you would pay £10 - £15 a day for fishing!  The Arun stretches controlled by the club also continue to produce top rate fishing although they are in places underused and need some development. Some really good pike are now being caught in our rivers with a club best now standing at over 30lb 

Fishing with BAS

We hope Billingshurst Angling Society will reach 250 members this year as more anglers locally and regionally realise the quality of fishing available to our members on both lakes and rivers.

The club has a core of very skilled match anglers who fish and win regularly in the Billingshurst winter league and national Anglers Mail summer league. The matches are open to all members, with newcomers very welcome. The club has some 20 match based trophies which are awarded each year.

 We also has a very large number of pleasure anglers who enjoy fishing beautiful secluded waters when it suites them . At Malthouse Lakes last spring a member reported seeing 25 different species of birds during his restful day at the lakes. The birds seen included our resident kingfishers, sandpipers, nightingales as well as several lovely views of the ghostly Barn Owls which hunt the margins morning and evening – He also had a wonderful bag of Carp,Tench and Roach !

The club also has a number of so called ‘specialist’ anglers who enjoy targeting specific species including Carp, Tench, Perch, Roach, Barbel and Bream.

Members travel to the Kennet, Thames and Wye as well as venturing abroad in search of dream fish.

Keeping the sport alive and flourishing Rob Wilkinson has worked with the Environment Agency to run ‘bankside’ fishing sessions for aspiring young anglers who are keen to learn from experienced members. We are looking for more angling coaches, so do not hesitate to get in touch with one of the contacts on this letter.

Fisheries manager Peter Stockwood works closely with the Environment Agency to ensure the club gets free stockings and supports local fishery development.

Since the demise of Carringdale angling the club has been sponsored by the new Tidal Angling shop which is doing well in Pulborough and also has a branch in Horsham. This year we also  joined NAFAC to take advantage of their new insurance scheme.

We need the growing membership to support the working parties and programmes to ensure waters are effectively maintained and safely available for all anglers.

If you have any ideas about club development please do get in touch. 

Richard Chandaman

Club Secretary and Future Development