Grafham closed for fishing from 5 January 2020 – update from Anglian Water on Friday 8 January 2020

Dear Sailing Club and Fishing Club leader,

Following an internal review of our position in respect of the national lockdown which commenced on Tuesday 5th January. I can confirm the following:

Our parks will be remaining open for access to the tracks, playgrounds and car parks and we will be providing takeaway services only from our cafes.

While there have been updates from the RYA and Angling Trust reporting some ‘localised‘ angling and sailing activity can continue there is an overwhelming interpretation that exercise must be local and limited. To this end and given that the majority of participants in these activities at our parks would need to travel outside of their local area we believe maintaining our decision to suspend water based activities for the duration of this current period of lockdown, remains the right thing to do for our local communities and the effort to overcome the pandemic. 

I know how difficult this is for us all and appreciate the support some of you have already shown for this decision. We look forward to re-opening in line with government guidance and seeing you all for a vaccine protected 2021 season!

Regards 

Jake Williams

Head of Parks & Conservation

Previous Post from Anglian Water

The Angling Trust have now confirmed that fishing must stop during the lockdown period. Unfortunately this means that we will not be able to open again this season and we are now closed for angling until we reopen our waters at the start of the next season. We will shortly be writing to and contacting all season ticket holders to arrange refunds for the lost fishing time over this month and to explain the process for purchasing season tickets for next season. We thank you all for your support over what has been a challenging year and look forward to seeing you all in the new season when we hope to be in more normal times.

Membership subscriptions are now due

A gentle reminder to members that your annual subscription fell due on 1st January. You will have received a newsletter recently informing you of this with details of how to pay. If you have any doubts about your membership status, please e mail the secretary jbatter100@gmail.com for clarification.

Our next virtual club meeting – Tuesday 19 January 2021

Following on from our successful second “virtual” meeting on dry fly and surface techniques on Tuesday 15th December, GWFFA were delighted to welcome GWFFA member & fly dresser extraordinaire Ian Ruff, narrating his tying of six trout fly patterns, videoed in superb detail.

Ian is a past chairman of the Herts branch of the Fly Dressers’ Guild and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in dressing the most complicated of patterns, but as always, making it look so simple. Ian is a great inspiration to all fly dressers whatever their level of experience and an encouragement to trout fishers everywhere to take up this fascinating branch of the sport.

Our next on-line meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 19 January at 8 pm, when club member and Grafham Ranger Stuart Stenning-White will be presenting a “virtual” quiz, when you will be competing against yourself – no “googling” before the answers are revealed!

No prizes will be awarded; just a bit of fun to brighten up a dark, winter evening.

Anglian Water update

Boats are now allowed back on the water from Tuesday 2 December. All bookings must be made and paid for by phone.

From 6 November, Anglian Water have now restricted angling to bank fishing only in line with Angling Trust guidelines with immediate effect. Telephone bookings only will be allowed for bank fishing.

All watersports including boat fishing, along with sailing and windsurfing are no longer permitted for the duration of the lockdown.

Please ensure social distancing when bank fishing to ensure that we maintain access to the fisheries during this difficult period.

The outstanding quality of Grafham rainbows

Club member John Vincent with a 4lb 12.4oz rainbow, caught from the dam on Tuesday 7 July 2020.

Member Simon Clegg with a superb 6lb 8oz rainbow caught of the harbour wall on 4 November on a booby humungous fly

Derek Bravington proudly displays his 4lb 10oz rainbow caught off Hedge End during the club’s Winter Plate competition on 13th December

Join GWFFA now for just £17

If you are not yet a member, you can join now for just £17 (£22 for family membership) which will give you membership for all of 2021. Please e mail the secretary (jbatter100@gmail.com) for an application form.

All members, receive a complimentary lapel badge

Regular eNewsletters & updates

Organised boat & bank competitions

Programme of winter evening meetings by Zoom virtual media (all members welcome)

Free entry to monthly “Big Fish” prizes

Insurance on club events

GRAFHAM WATER WORK PARTIES/SUSPENDED FOLLOWING NEW GOVERNMENT LOCKDOWN GUIDELINES

In conjunction with Anglian Water, members of GWFFA have completed a series of working parties designed to improve bank access around the water (see image below).  

It is proposed that work parties will continue into the New Year with the following dates “pencilled in”, subject to weather. Social distancing applies and nobody should travel from one tier to another.

Mon 4th JanMon 18th JanMon 1st FebMon 15th FebMon 1st Mar

Anyone attending 4 work parties will receive an Anglian Water boat voucher. Please confirm your attendance to Mark Brinkman (07484 659549) or by e mail to mark.brinkman@btinternet.com and meet at the fishing lodge at 10 am.

GWFFA & Invicta members hard at work at Grafham.

Anglian Water announce re-opening of reservoirs on Tuesday 2nd June 2020

We would like to thank you for your continued cooperation and patience during the recent unprecedented times. 

During the closed period, we have continued to maintain our stocking and we can’t wait to open up for a great fishing season. 

We are pleased to inform you we will be re-opening to anglers on Tuesday 2nd June 2020. In preparation for this, from 9am Thursday 28th May 2020 our fisheries team will be available to taking bookings for the coming months (please do not call before this time as the team will not be back onsite until then).  Please note however that in order to maintain social distancing and cut down on the amount of traffic in the lodges, all boats booked  will need to be paid for at the point of booking.  The terms and conditions of which will be updated on our website.  We will still be accepting ‘walk-ins’ for boat fishing but strongly suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

To ensure we comply with social distancing and government guidelines, the fisheries will be observing new operating procedures. We ask that you respect these guidelines and follow them to ensure all our staff and visitors remain safe. 

Parking

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Angling Trust Update Tuesday 26 May 2020

Best Practice Guidelines for Game Competition Fishing under Covid-19

Visit the Angling Trust website and click on the above link to read the full guidelines drawn up by the Angling Trust.

Whilst this doesn’t give a green light to the opening up of Anglian Water reservoirs (because of all the other activities that take place on these water parks), it does give some encouragement and hope that we may see trout fishing re-commence in the not too distant future.

As we said in a previous posting, The Angling Trust needs the support of ALL anglers, both as individuals and clubs and with your first year’s subscription in effect paid for by an associated voucher scheme, now is the time to join.