I did fish a match run by the AMAL's match organiser Dave Houlton, it was forecast to be a cold and wet day, well it wasn't, a warmish day greeted us, the match was well attended and the only slight snag was the fish really shut up shop and a lot of time was spent watching motionless floats and rod tops, Russ from Bingham won after persevering on the method feeder and dead reds to take 6 fish , 4 in the last 40 minutes for 16lb odd, second and third both weighed 8lb odd and my 6lb was fourth. Disappointing was an understatement. Below is a report on AMAL business.
AMAL Business
Speaking from a committee members perspective I can safely say if it wasn't for the lease we hold on Fishpool lake the AMAL would have folded several years ago as angling trends changed from river fishing to more densely stocked still waters, our lease via The Canal and Rivers Trust for the almost uninterrupted angling rights to the River Soar from Swans Nest Weir in Leicester to Pilling Lock in Barrow on Soar, used to provide the setting for many matches and Winter Leagues, the fish are still swimming in the river, but water clarity and cleanliness has changed the fishes habits, the smaller fish have to hide from predators in the day and those predators are both water , land and airborne, this has lead to different species winning their little battles and changes the demographics in the old lady Soar, Zander are present throughout nowadays, roach shoals are tighter and need to be located in order to have a good day, bigger fish that are immune to most predators have started to become a viable target nowadays, carp, chub, bream and perch and even tench aren't the oddities they used to be.
Back to our Stillwater Fishpool, it now has become the AMAL's moneymaker, the carp are usually obliging and if not the bream/skimmer population along with the roach and perch will keep you happy, a massive thankyou has to go to our bailiff's, John and Alan who work together to ensure the waters are policed in a friendly and effective way, problems are thankfully rare and have to date been dealt with promptly. A day ticket can be purchased on the bank for £7 or if you hold an AMAL book, (either purchased from a tackle shop or an add on for members of one of the AMAL's member clubs ie Broome AS, Quorn AS, Bingham AC, 3M AC or Ratby AC ) you get a discount and the day ticket will only cost £5. Due to the AMAL's need to raise revenue, we run occasional matches on the lake or hire the lake out to local clubs for the day, to avoid any issues its always best to check this blog to see the dates the waters are booked on, failing that there will be a notice at the entrance to the lake, notifying all anglers if the lake is unavailable due to a match booking, below is a list of dates the waters are booked
Water
Booked Date of Booking
Booking Club
Fishpool
Mon 26 May
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 5 June
Amal
Fishpool
Sat 7 June
Charnwood Hookers
Fishpool
Thurs 12 June
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 19 June
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 26 June
Amal
Fishpool
Sat 28 June
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 3 July
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 10 July
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 17 July
Amal
Fishpool
Sat 20 July
Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 31July
Amal
Fishpool
Bank Hol Mon 4 August Amal
Fishpool
Thurs 14 August
Amal
Fishpool
Sat 17 August
Bingham AC
Fishpool
Bank Hol Mon 25 August Amal
Fishpool
Sun 7 September
Syston Wagglers
Fishpool
Sun 21 September
Jelson AC
Barrow
Deeps Sun 28 September
Bingham AC
