The Annual General Meeting and related matters

After this article follows the Minutes of the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Club. The turnout for the AGM on the 26 March 2025 was not good, less than twenty-five, if you discount those officers and others standing for re-election. The promise of a talk on the re-introduction of beavers to Dorset failed to entice as well!   Given that the AGM was trailed as a news item with an agenda emailed to members, and the date is in the new Membership Book, there was no excuse for members not knowing about it – so it was the decision of each of you not to attend for one reason or another. I deduce that most members are simply too busy doing something else and at the same time are reasonably content with the way the Club is being run – certainly most of you did not take up the opportunity of attending.  Next year do come please, it is after all your Club.

One of the more recent WDAC rule changes has been barbless or micro-barbed hooks only, for fly fishermen.  I was at Lakedown Trout Fishery in Sussex on the 27th April 2025, in a competition fishing for the Ouse Valley Fly Fishers of Sussex up against the Sussex Fly Dressers Guild – it is an annual event with real history! [in 2024 I won the prize for the smallest trout].  At lunch one of the opposition arrived in the outdoor seating area by the ‘Tap Room’ with quite a well tied but barbed dry fly, about a size 12, firmly lodged in the gristle of his right ear.  A small dribble of blood came persistently from the wound. It was, of course, a barbed hook and there was immediately talk of which was the nearest A&E to attend. My brother-in-law produced a plastic device and had a quick read to refresh himself on the instructions and offered to take the hook out. The offer was taken up and with a bit of fiddling about and then with a firm pull, out it came. The owner of the fly was brave, but even so it was clear the pain in that moment was excruciating and, of course, then the blood poured out and so he had to get his ear covered in blue Elastoplast at the Tap Room counter. At that moment I felt completely sure WDAC had done the right thing. The owner of the punctured ear was an experienced fly fisherman with a good casting action, but the wind was difficult all day and had caught him out.

Each year I write about rubbish left behind at certain venues. Consistently the one that troubles bailiffs and other volunteers most is Kingsbridge. The rubbish is left by fisherman who generally have fished through at least one night. Do not do leave it and, please take it home; that after all is what the rules of the Club require, and you will be thrown out of the Club for life if you do not and get caught – you have been warned.

Last, the Club is putting the maintenance of its platforms, at Edmondsham and Kingsbridge on a scheduled review. Committee member Greg Steele is spearheading the work. Greg has worked for much of his life as a carpenter and joiner so has the ideal skill set. The Club would like to strengthen its volunteer group carrying out this work and so if you have a background in a skill that may be useful and can lend a hand the Club would be pleased to hear from you. Please email the Club Secretary if you are interested. Indeed, if you believe you can help in other areas of work the Club may find useful do let us know.