A small team of volunteers has worked tirelessly throughout the winter to complete the refurbishment of Packhorse at the Club’s Kingsbridge complex. The main focus of these works has been to improve ‘access for all’ which has seen the overgrown, narrow and muddy perimeter path cleared to a minimum width of 1.5m and top dressed with new stone.

Packhorse – a winter makeover

By Stuart Hitchman, Club Secretary

A clean dry perimeter track

Rotten platforms have been removed and replaced with either oversize more accessible wooden platforms or railway sleeper revetment. Additional work has included the remodelling of a number of swims to increase area, reduce gradient and improve drainage all of which will be welcome improvements for the night angler.

Remodelling

One of the new platforms

Long overdue repairs to the entrance track have also been completed. The large craters that potholed the entrance track have been filled with stone and compacted.

Craters filled

• Packhorse - A winter makeover
• Fish safety part three - looking after our Pike
• Catch reports from the River Stour

The third instalment of our fish safety series sees us looking at Pike, how to land them, handle them correctly on the bank and returning them safely to the water.

Fish safety part three - Pike

By James Nash, Club Media Officer

Pike are delicate fish, despite their fierce reputation

For the full article please click below:

Thank you to all who have shared their river captures over the winter months - it's been fantastic to see. There's only two weeks left of the season so, conditions permitting, make sure you head out and have a bash!

Captures from the River Stour

By James Nash, Club Media Officer

A lovely upper double pike, image courtesy of Bradley Thefad Kilshaw

Mr Barlow with a chunky Stour chub

Just under double-figure pike, image courtesy of Simon Dunbar

A 5lb 1oz Stour chub, courtesy of Lee Jeans

A 3lb perch caught by Derek Jackson

A 2lb 8oz Stour perch caught by the great man himself, Mr Chris Yates

Club President Brian Heap with a lovely bag of pristine Stour roach from the winter match series