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Wallington Hall Lake 3 - artist's impression
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October 2011: Wallington Hall Update


Two books have been purchased for Wallington Hall for anglers to record their catches - please use them, they will help the Committee assess performance and keep improving your fishery.

Talking of Wallington, bailiff Paul caught this 21lb 5oz beauty on Oct 1st from Lake 3:
21lb 5oz carp21lb 5oz carp

September 2011: Early Autumn Update


Despite the strange weather and patchy fishing in other waters, the club's venues are doing well. In particular, Lake 2 at Wallington Hall has been producing good bags of silverfish, including small rudd, roach and skimmers which are clearly the result of breeding in the lake. The small carp which were stocked 2 years ago are also showing and are now reaching 3-4lb in weight. Some members have reported difficulty in catching silverfish in Lake 2, but the key is in choice of tackle; fish light and you will be rewarded. We recommend light line (eg 3lb mainline, 1.5lb hooklength), small hooks (18 or 20), natural baits (pinkies work well) and if you are float fishing, dot the float right down to improve sensitivity of bite detection. Keep loose feeding little and often, and you will start with small fish and then the bigger ones will move in.

Similarly, the new river waters have been fishing well. Several anglers have reported bags of 30lb plus of bream from the Little Ouse end of the fishery, with fish up to 71/2lb coming out. Again, natural baits (worm, caster) presented with a quivertip/feeder setup are the way to go.

On a more negative note, we have to report that a number of anglers have been caught at The Claypit by the local Environment Agency team - they were fishing illegally with neither club ticket nor rod licence. All have been summonsed to appear in court and can expect fines exceeding £600 with costs, but possibly up to the maximum of £2,500. We ask that all club members are vigilant and either report anyone they suspect of fishing illegally to the Bailiff/Committee, or call the EA hotline:
0800 807060.

[note: 0800 calls from mobiles are not free, so you can use another number instead:
0191 203 4000 or 01709 389 201 option 1
].

August 2011: LITTER LOUTS (AGAIN)


Funny, isn't it? If you scroll down the page  you'll see the same headline from a year ago. Unfortunately, it seems that despite many previous requests to take rubbish home with you, a minority of anglers are leaving litter in their swims, particularly at The Claypit. This time it's glass bottles - Lee (Bailiff) collected 23 discarded bottles in one circuit of the lake last week. This is totally unacceptable, not to mention potentially dangerous.

Regrettably therefore, the Committee has decided that the rubbish situation will be monitored closely during August and if there is no improvement then The Claypit will be closed for an indefinite period. Signs will be posted at The Claypit announcing this decision. Glass bottles of all kinds are hereby banned and cannot be taken onto any club venue.

May we remind DM&DAA anglers that all members are bailiffs, and if you see people leaving litter then take some action - get the offenders' details and report it to the Committee or challenge them yourself. It is your club, please act responsibly.

These are the relevant Club Rules:
  • Any litter in the vicinity of your swim must be cleared up before fishing. No litter to be left. No excuses accepted.
  • No drink cans, or tins allowed at fisheries i.e. no Coke, beer cans, luncheon meat, sweetcorn tins, etc.
  • All members, on production of their membership books, have the right to challenge any angler fishing club waters to produce their membership books. If they are unable to produce a book they will be expected to leave.
We hope that anglers will take it upon themselves to take remedial action about the litter situation. If you do not, then the Committee will take action and close The Claypit for an indefinite period.

July 2011: Glorious Evenings


I thought I'd share some photos I took whilst enjoying two splendid evenings at Wallington and The Cuckoo Drain:


Wallington Hall Lake 2 evening
Cuckoo Drain evening

Nothing can beat it.

June 2011: SEASON OFF TO A FLIER!


It's that time of year again, thankfully, and our waters have started very well indeed. Good catches have been reported from the Claypit, including lots of silver fish, so the problems from last year seem well and truly behind us.

At Wallington Hall, club angler Darren Belham made an excellent start with 73lb of bream from Lake 3, witnessed and weighed by Club President, Malcolm Plumb (below):: 

a nice Lake 3 breamsome of the catchweighing in
a nice Lake 3 breamsome of the catchweighing in

Don't forget that the club book now includes new river waters on the Ouse (Littleport upstream for approx 7 miles) aand the Wissey (south bank at the Wissington Sugar Beet Factory). These waters have kindly been let to us by the London Anglers Association and you can find details of them here.

May 2011: NEXT OPEN MEETING


Due to the plethora of Bank Holidays recently, the next open meeting will be held on on Monday, May 9th at 7.30pm, at The Chequers in Wimbotsham.

All current/prospective members are welcome to attend.

March 2011: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING


The AGM will be held on Monday, April 4th at 7.30pm, at The Chequers in Wimbotsham.

If you have any items you wish to put to the meeting, these must be received in writing (via letter to the Secretary or Email to info@dmdaa.co.uk) at least two weeks before the meeting. Last  date for acceptance is March 21st.

March 2011: CLAYPIT CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE


The Claypit will remain closed until the new season in June 2011; this is to allow furhter assessement of the issues reported previously, and to allow remedial work to be undertaken.

November 2010: CLAYPIT CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE


Unfortunately, the Claypit has suffered a significant fish kill and is closed until further notice. The Environment Agency is investigating the cause of the problem, designated a Category 2 Infection.

Further information will be posted on this site in due course.

August 2010: LITTER LOUTS


Unfortunately, it seems that despite many previous requests to take rubbish home with you, a minority of anglers are leaving litter in their swims, particularly at The Claypit. Such litter has included discarded tins (which should not be brought onto the fishery anyway), bags, rubber gloves (!) and even a broken umbrella which the lazy owner could not be bothered to dispose of but just chucked into a hedge.

Regrettably therefore, the Committee has decided that the rubbish siutuation will be monitored closely during August and if there is no improvement then The Claypit will be closed for an indefinite period. Signs will be posted at The Claypit announcing this decision.

May we remind DM&DAA anglers that all members are bailiffs, and if you see people leaving litter then take some action - get the offenders' details and report it to the Committee or challenge them yourself. It is your club, please act responsibly.

These are the relevant Club Rules:
  • Any litter in the vicinity of your swim must be cleared up before fishing. No litter to be left. No excuses accepted.
  • No drink cans, or tins allowed at fisheries i.e. no Coke, beer cans, luncheon meat, sweetcorn tins, etc.
  • All members, on production of their membership books, have the right to challenge any angler fishing club waters to produce their membership books. If they are unable to produce a book they will be expected to leave.
We hope that anglers will take it upon themselves to take remedial action about the litter situation. If you do not, then the Committee will take action and close The Claypit for an indefinite period.

June 2010


Those of you who have followed one of our links to the Hugh Miles film series, Catching the Impossible, will be pleased to learn that it is finally being screened on TV. It begins next Sunday, June 13th, on Channel 4, at the faintly silly time of 7am. However, I am told that if enough people write in supporting the showing, they will then repeat it at a more civilised hour, when more viewers are likely to be able to experience it. You can contact Channel 4 with your comments here. It is a brilliant series; please watch it and enthuse about it to C4. I also understand that Hugh has filmed some underwater sequences on the Wensum for Springwatch, due to be screened during the programmes between June 7th and 10th.

Oh, and the new season starts on the 16th........I can't wait.

April 2010


The 2010 AGM was held on Tuesday, April 6th, at The Chequers, Wimbotsham. The new club constitution was approved unanimously.

Club membership books for the forthcoming 2010/11 season will be available at the next open meeting on Monday May 3rd, and also on June 7th. Please remember to bring your current EA rod licence.

March 2010


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 2010 AGM will be held on Tuesday, April 6th, at The Chequers, Wimbotsham, at 7.30pm. All are welcome, and indeed encouraged, to attend this meeting. Please note that this is on Tuesday, not Monday as previously advertised, since it would have fallen on Easter Bank Holiday Monday.

The meetings in May and June are also open for all members to attend.

Club membership books can be purchased and collected at the May and June meetings in 2010. Books will only be sold to members in possession of a currrent EA Rod Licence.

The New Club Constitution, Rules and Match Rules can be downloaded by clicking on the links. These will be voted on at the AGM.

For more info, contact, info@dmdaa.co.uk

December 2009


This was supposed to go in last month but didn't make it due to illness - apologies. As you can see from the pictures below, a large number of small carp (approx 1200 fish up to 8", or 20cm if you insist) were introduced as a short-term measure to contol the bloodworm. These will hopefully grow fat on the huge stock of bloodworm in the lake and can then be electrofished out in due course.
new carp for Lake 2 (1)new carp for Lake 2 (2)new carp for Lake 2 (4)new carp for Lake 2 (4)
new carp being put into Lake 2

August 2009


A few people have called or Emailed us in a confused state - apparently they tried to find this website but instead came up with Downham Meerkat.com. The confusion is easily rectified - Downham Market (www.dmdaa.co.uk) is a fine angling club offering great fishing in and around the town of Downham Market in Norfolk; Downham Meerkat is a small furry creature flogging cheap insurance on the telly. Simples.

You will see the gallery pages are now up and running and populated with photos - please send more in to info@dmdaa.co.uk

June 2009


New Season

The new season commences on all waters on June 16th. Please note that Wallington Hall access is not permitted before 6am on that day. Anyone wishing to pre-bait swims at Wallington can do so from June 13th onwards. For members who have not visited Wallington recently, please also note that the access to car parking has changed - there is now no access to the road that runs in front of the Hall. Instead, turn right immediately after the Gatehouse and follow the new road to the lakes. The new road is signposted at the gate.

Maintenance work has been done at both the Clay Pit and Cuckoo Drain to improve the swims. Further remedial work is planned for the Clay Pit in the coming months.

Please note the new rules, detailed below in the May News section.Tight lines, everyone!

Please remember to send in photos of your catches so that we can include them in the Gallery. These can sent to info@dmdaa.co.uk.

Coarse Fishing is the new Rock'n'Roll

One of our links, Caught by the River, featured on the Today programme on Radio 4 . Here's the extract.

Junior Section

Neil Paske, Vice-Chairman of the club, is to set up a Junior section in the near future. Please revisit this website for further information.

New Members Welcome

The club would like to encourage more local people, and indeed visitors to the area, to become members. Details can be found on the membership page.

Matches

Bookings are already virtually full for the Wednesday Night matches. Please contact Ray Cook for further details. 

The club book has an error concerning the Turkey Stakes match - this is to be held on December 13th, not the 11th as stated. The club book also did not contain information for the timings of Senior Matches - these are:

  • Draw at 8am
  • Fish 9am-2pm.

May 2009


Access to Wallington Hall during the Close Season

Members are not permitted to visit Wallington Hall during the Close Season, other than for Work Party duties arranged by the Committee. Visits can ONLY be made by prior arrangement with the Secretary. Pre-baiting visits can commence on June 13th, 2009.

Wallington Hall Stocking

During the early part of 2009, approximately 18,500 fish were stocked into Lake 2 at Wallington Hall. Species stocked included bream, roach and rudd.

New Rules for 2009/10

22. When fishing any Club Waters you are required to use two keepnets. 1 - silverfish, 2 - Carp: to protect the fish
23. No fish to be kept in keepnets longer than 5 hours (plus time for weighing after Match)

Wallington Hall Fish Survey

Pictures from the recent fish survey at Wallington Hall:

Wallington Hall Fish SurveyWallington Hall Fish SurveyLake 3 carp
ElectrofishingFish SurveyLake 3 carp - mid doubles




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