Bodelwyddan Game Anglers 14/12/04 Website news release.

The first thing that I must do is to wish all of our members, A Very Happy and Peaceful Xmas. May 2005 prove to be a successful and prosperous year to one and all. The committee have no doubt that things are moving in the right direction as far as your club is concerned. November saw the final stocking of Tai Lake for 2004. This was the release of 100 Rainbow Trout all looking in fighting trim and weighing from 1.5-5.5 lb so given some fair weather this month, the lake should fish very well again.

We are very pleased with the returns from Tai; to date there has been an excess of 950 fish registered as caught. Of these 800 were returned to the water to fight another day. We would appeal to all our members to treat their captures with care, as fish losses through rough handling are not acceptable. There is nothing more deplorable to the committee members, than to find dead fish floating in the lake.

To date we have found 20 such casualties. And 20 dead fish represents nearly £50-00 from club funds that has bee wasted.

The club is being run on a very tight budget and we cannot sustain that kind of loss. I would like to take this opportunity to remind ALL of our members that Bodelwyddan Game Anglers is the most reasonable and affordable club in the whole of N. Wales our fees offer the biggest bargain in angling for many miles around.

Before I move on to other club matters I would like to congratulate our club waters manager Mr Eric Leonard on his capture of a beautiful full finned 7.5lb hen rainbow from Tai this fish was bursting with eggs and was lovingly returned to the water. The fish was not a recent stocky so was obviously a tenant of long standing.

And talking of Mr Leonard. I am astounded at the energy and enthusiasm that Eric has shown for the job of Club Waters Manager. He stepped in when Roger our previous manager resigned and has done a brilliant job. Through his good offices the club has managed to provide 6 BSI approved life rings for Tai Lake. He has acted as Bailiff to the lake on a very regular basis often three or four times a week and his work rate when cleaning the waters has been outstanding and I don’t think that he has missed a single committee meeting. Well done Eric, I hope that the club realises and recognises what a gem they have in you.

With regard to the Disabled Angling Association. Correspondence is now ongoing between them and our Chairman but we do not anticipate any development until the New Year. However the preliminary survey that was carried out on their behalf was very favourable, and photographs of the terrain at the Dam end of the lake have been taken and are awaiting the processor to return them.

This will be the site for the proposed car park that will be levelled and top dressed with scalpings.

The news of other waters is all good. The two pools at Hafod have been fishing well and our less able friends have reported that they are well pleased with the work that has been done to add to their enjoyment. With a bit of luck and the correct water table, the next couple of seasons could prove to be very bountiful on our stretches of river. The Cledwyn has not been fished this season because of the bank work that was carried out. However we have been closely observing the water and fish numbers appear to be increasing and several dozen wild brownies and a fair number of sea trout have been seen moving along our mile stretch. The Elwy has produced a couple of nice grilse and several brown and sea trout this season.

Perhaps our rivers are now beginning to benefit from the removal of the estuary nets that blighted them for so long and the future is beginning to look rather exciting.

Sadly I must report that the bargain offer of the extra time membership offer will end when December closes. The few people that took advantage of it did very well some gaining three more months for the price of a season. So I would like to welcome those new members to our club and wish them Tight Lines for next season.

And here’s a tip for any none members who might be reading this. If you are tempted to join us. Do it in the next two weeks you could still save a few pennies and gain some free fishing time.

I think that this is my last article for 2004 I am sorry that our inert local press see fit to ignore the club news that is submitted to try and keep our club to the fore in angling news. Perhaps one day they will realise that there are more anglers than shove-halfpenny leagues.

Have A Wonderful Xmas All My Best Wishes. Ernest Prendergast.