Lads and Dads Free Invitation to Fishing Dayat Seabrook's Reservoir Sunday 10 June

In an attempt encourage children to take an interest in our country side and outside activities the Kelvedon DAA is running a “Lads and Dads Free Invitation to Fishing”.

We are inviting up to 20 boys/girls with an accompanying responsible adult to try angling for a day on Sunday 10^th June 2012. The Kelvedon DAA will provide tackle, bait, licence and tuition. Later in the day we will hold an optional match for the children with tackle prizes.  Seabrooks Reservoir will, therefore, be closed for normal angling on that day.

 In addition to the angling necessities the children will also be provided with information on the species of fish in the venue, the birds, trees and other life that can be seen on and around the water.

Details of the day will be given when the adult books a place, including directions to the venue in Little Leighs.

The child’s responsible adult needs to ring 07773468136 to book one of the 20 places.

This is an easy way for a child and his/her adult to try a sport that is enjoyed by millions of anglers word wide. Rather than trying on their own, often poor results, the attendees will be guided on techniques, tackle and bait without risking financial outlay. It should be a fun filled informative day. 

The AGM held at Spring Lodge Community Centre. Witham on the 12 January with 25 members attending. The following recommendations by the Committee to change the rules were discussed and agreed.

a) Subscriptions to be increased as from the 15 March 2012:

Adult £70 previously £65

Husband & Wife £90 previously £82

Parent & Junior £85 previously £76

Intermediate £40 previously £38

Junior £30 previously £25

Senior Citizen £30 .previously £25

Disabled £30 .previously £25

Adult Night Permit £30 previously £25

Concession Night Permit £20 previously £15

Hunts Farm only £20 and £10 remains the same

Winter Rivers only £25 remains the same

Guest tickets £6 and £3 remains the same

The AGM agreed to withdraw the Non Fishing member rule introduced last year. Only seven such memberships were issued. The ‘Conduct’ rule 7 that states ‘Adult members may take one non-fishing guest when at the Club waters, at the discretion of the bailiff’’ will remain in the Association Handbook.

The AGM also agreed to allow Adult and Senior Citizen members to take one non member child under twelve years old fishing with no charge. 

All existing Officers were re-elected. Steve Mason was confirmed as the Fishery Manager having replaced Ron Matthams mid season.

Three new Committee members were appointed. Ian Gregory replacing Ron Matthams, Steve Nelson replacing Laurie McCarrtney and Steve Brown replacing Steve Gibson

N.B.  The Tiptree Reservoir only night fishing permit has been withdrawn.  The Committee tried to obtain approval from the land owner to allow night fishing for all night permit holders, but the conditions attached to night fishing were not feasible or acceptable to KDAA.

Ron Matthams has had to resign as Fishery Manager owing to work commitments.  He has been replaced by Steve Mason.  Ron continues as a Committee Member.

The swims at the car park end and along both sides to just past the first island had the weed cut on Wednesday 8th June. Members should find fishing easier.

Member Roy Lewis has made a new gate and erected it at Silver End Pit. The stronger lock obtained by Ryan Williams is in place within a solid box.

Access to the combination is from the bottom. Members may have to slip under the gate bar to obtain easy access to the lock.
So long as members lock the gate after entering and leaving the site then the lock should be well protected and hopefully last a bit longer.

The Committee have employed a contactors to improve access around the Front Pit and improve access to swims.  Access to the Back Pit from the rear car park has also been improved by cutting a new slope to the bottom path saving a walk across the corner of a ploughed field. Follow the hardcore path from the rear car park to find the slope.

The Annual General Meeting  held on Thursday 13 January 2011

The following Committee recommendations were accepted

• Subscriptions remain the same apart from Guest tickets will increase to £6 Adult and £3 Junior.

• Revised Constitution, General Rules and Fishery Rules were adopted.

• A single no fishing permit at a cost of £10 be introduced for the new season linked to an existing member to allow that non fishing person to accompany the member on Association waters.

• A new Officer position was introduced of Head Bailiff.

All existing Officers were re-elected together with John Aves as Head Bailiff

Steve Mason was elected as President of the Association for three years replacing Derek Powell.

Three new Committee members were appointed. Jack Hills, Paul Lewis and Rhys Lovelock.

Over the past few years many of our bailiffs have left the area leaving the bailiffing and fishery management of our waters to a few members mainly those on the Committee. It is important that our waters are actively looked and are viewed as attractive to new members. Adequate numbers of active bailiffs are essential to making sure that members abide by the rules of the Association to the benefit of the majority of members.

If you are interested in helping the Association by becoming a bailiff please contact our Fishery Manager, Ron Matthams on 01376 516046.

On Friday 18 December 2009 further restocking was carried out at the Marney complex.  Bream 180 lb, tench 180 lb, crucian carp 150 lb and 200 chubb were introduced into Marney 2 and 100 chubb introduced into Marney 3.

See pictures here 

Restocking 2008

On Wednesday, 19 November 2008, Layer Marney 2, was electo-fished and netted to transfer some of the larger carp into Marney 3. Forty nine common, mirror and ghost carp mainly doubles were transferred.

On Sunday 23 November, Layer Marney 2 received 400 lb bream ranging from 2lb to 3lb and a few 4lb and 100lb tench all over 1lb plus a few skimmers and roach. The restocking was organised by Ron Matthams and witnessed by Nigel Young and Graham Sutton.

The intention of the Committee by transferring the large carp and stocking with bream and tench is to revert Marney 2 back into a general fishery.  Hawkeye bird scarers are to be installed to hopefully deter the cormorants from eating the newly stocked fish !!

Ron Mattams has been appointed Fishery Manager at the October Committee meeting replacing Tm Gilvray whom has had to resign owing to work commitments.

Work at Silver End Front Pit

During the summer of 2008, a Landscape Contractor was been paid to undertake a major clearance of brambles and undergrowth to improve access around the Front Pit.

In the interests of the well-being of fish, the Committee has amended Rule 30 to ban the use of all nuts on all waters.  This rule change is due to the irresponsible use of brazil nuts at Silver End Pits.

Silver End Front Pit had substantial work undertaken by contractors in April 2004 work to create a pathway all the way around the Pit, cutting back trees, building steps and improving swims..

View pictures .

Signal Crayfish have been caught in Layer Marney 3 and the EA are known to be laying net traps in the Blackwater. If members catch any, feel free to kill these creatures that are alien to our waters. eFishBusiness - Controls on Non Native Fish Species