3rd November 2011
Please note that the annual CANOE RACE will take place on Sunday 4th December. The boats will start from Sturminster MIll at around 10am and will go downstream through the whole of our water below Stur Mill.
3rd October 2011
A couple of important reminders:
There has recently been an upsurge in the number of illegal fishing instances on our waters. All members are entitled to ask other anglers for sight of their club permit, if this is asked for and refused (often with the 'I don't speak English' excuse or similar) or if the 'angler' is seen to be using illegal methods or removing any fish from the riverside please don't hesitate to call the Environment Agency Hotline on 0800 807060 and/or Crimestoppers on 0800555111. It is of course intimidating to be faced with 3 or 4 people who may be up to no good but, if physically threatened, call the police.
With river levels low after the dry spell the EA are encouraging anglers to report any signs of fish distress or mortality. Use the Hotline number above for such ocurrences and to report any suspected pollution. At this time the EA have installed oxygenation plant in our river at Cutt Mill and are monitoring water quality and dissolved-oxygen levels in other areas.
16th Aug 2011
The local kayaking club, run by Keith Harrison and authorized by the Hinton Estate and agreed by S&HAA, will have a paddle on the river outside the previously-agreed times on 7th September.
They will kayak down the river from Cutt Mill to the Rec in Sturminster Newton, starting off at 5.30pm. This should have minimal effect on anglers, especially in view of the timing.
4th Aug 2011
ALL MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: AS PER LETTER BELOW REPORT CORMORANT SIGHTINGS!
Policy reform will depend almost totally on evidence presented by members of our club and other anglers throughout the country
| Tuesday 2nd August 2011 |  | |
| | Defra Announces Scope for Cormorant Review
Following the Angling Trust’s campaign for reform of the policy relating to cormorants and other fish eating birds, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP has written to the Trust’s chief executive setting out the timetable for the review. Defra has also published on its web site the terms of reference, scope and timeframes for “an evidence-led review of Defra’s current policy in relation to controlling the impact of predation on inland fisheries and fish farms from fish-eating birds, and, specifically, in relation to the threat of serious damage caused by cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers”. The review will be in four phases:
1) evidence and data gathering
2) analysis and assessment (including advice to Defra Ministers as whether evidence indicates public consultation is appropriate)
3) public consultation (if required based on outputs of phase 2)
4) reporting and recommendations The review is due to report in Spring of 2012. Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd said: “This review will be evidence-led and it is therefore vitally important that anglers keep reporting sightings of cormorants and other fish eating birds on our cormorant watch web site - www.cormorantwatch.org. More than 25,000 birds have been logged on the web site in the first two months, which is a great start, but we will need data from throughout the year, and throughout the country if we are to make the case for change.” Please forward and share this email:
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30 July 2011
PARKING
Note that parking on the the car park at Fiddleford (at the end of the lane) is restricted to the hard-core area ONLY. Cars should not be driven on to the field for any reason - manoeuvring to turn round should be done only on the hardened area.
Also anglers are NOT to drive into the field by the river at Wood Lane or block any gateways, there is limited parking at the end of the track close to the hedge before entering the river field.
12th July 2011
A NEW VENUE
We have reached an argreement with Dorchester AS to share the small lake at Court Barn Farm near Buckland Newton. Initially this will be for one year starting July 20 2011; if the venue proves popular we will continue the arrangement so please record your visit in the book provided at the lake.
More details: click on Where to Fish and the 'Lakes detail' button.
29th June 2011
The grass has now been cut on the Sowley meadow (big field upstream from Fiddleford weirpool) and the next field up, Little Ham.
The grass in Sowley has yet to be bailed up so please keep close to river bank when going to your peg. Thanks.
14th June 2011
A note below from the Angling Trust. The previous request for information from us at S&HAA still stands: please report cormorant sightings etc to this site/committee members also.
www.cormorantwatch.orgThe Angling Trust has launched a new web site for you and your fishing friends to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.org
The new site is easy to use - it takes less than a minute to record your sighting.
Don't forget to bookmark www.cormorantwatch.org, keep your eyes peeled and come back every time you want to report a sighting.
The Angling Trust succeeded in persuading the Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to carry out a review of the cormorant licensing procedure and he has stated that he is prepared to take "bold decisions". As part of this review, the Trust needs data on the abundance of cormorants to convince the government to take decisive action. So now it's your turn - go to www.cormorantwatch.org and make a difference.
Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd commented "This is a moment when anglers need to stand up and be counted to persuade politicians to simplify licensing procedures and allow greater controls on cormorant numbers - a decision which could affect the future of fishing for the next generation. All anglers who see one of these birds in the next few months must make the effort to visit cormorantwatch.org and put a pin in the map, whether they are a member of the Angling Trust or not."
Please go to www.cormorantwatch.org and report your sighting.
13 June 2011
A reminder as the new season approaches: the stretch above Fiddleford Mill ie Sowley, Little Ham and Ham meadows is not available until the grass has been cut for silage. The farmer advises that this will be done as soon as possible but probably not until a few days after the season has started.
03 May 2011
Recently there have been many sightings of people fishing illegally during the river Close Season. Remember, if you are a member of the club you may also act as a bailiff. Apart from being in breach of our own rules fishing on the river is also illegal under Environment Agency law and it would be useful to remind the miscreants that they could face a fine from the EA of several thousand pounds.
The EA Hotline for pollution, illegal fishing etc is 0800 807060 (freephone from BT landline.)
02 May 2011
Members are asked to report back on sightings of any canoes and the like seen on the river. There are only two organizations with permission to canoe on the river, one of which, the Poole Harbour Canoe Club, will be using the river for their annual (one off) trip from Stur Mill on 15th May.
29th April 2011
A good turn-out at the AGM of around 40 members. All prices to be kept the same for the new season and Neil Sims and Dave Burford welcomed as new committee members. We wish Charlie Hayward well on his retirement from the committee and thank him for all the sterling bailiffing and committee work he has done over many years.
The new Match List for 2011/12 has been compiled by Jeff Sibley and Neil Sims and can be accessed by clicking on the 'Match Fixtures' button to the left.
21st Dec 2010
SPECIAL APPEAL
With the onset of the cold weather there has been a dramatic increase in the number of CORMORANTS active on our waters. If you see any please report numbers and locations to us via here Contact Us . Also if you find any evidence of fish mortality or injury possibly caused by cormorants we would like to know. Similarly, catch reports, especially of roach and other smaller species, caught in our waters between Fiddleford weirpool and Bere Marsh would be helpful, this includes low or zero returns. Last year saw a dramatic drop in the number of roach caught in these previously-productive areas and we have to consider all avenues should this trend continue.
13 Dec 2010
Sturminster and Hinton have thier Christmas Hamper roving pike match this Sunday meeting at the exchange car park at 8am. for details and to book call ashley on 01258 471154.
9th Dec2010
NOTE: Christmas Hamper Match called off. Lakes at Revels frozen, match re-arranged for mid-January. Normal Winter Points match to be fished on the river instead, Sun 12th.
9th Dec 2010
Environment Agency officer Matt Hart had a trip down below Fiddleford in November and had a great day with 8 pike. The best one weighed in at 16lb, see pic below. Already this is proving a good Winter for pike.
30th Nov: