Guys,
Please post topics for discussion for the 2025 AGM meeting below so they can be picked up. top items are from previous minutes as a starter for discussions.
1. Committee Members - new / old / position to vote on
2. Accounts
3. Good / bad comments on 2025 summer league season
4. Club Rules
5. Complaints
6. No. Members for 2026
7. 2026 Venues
8. Match attendance
9. Pegging Fees
10. match fees and losses due to bookings being higher than attendances
peg numbers booked for 2026 / 2027
Afternoon match?
silvers only match?
rod only match?
4. Club rules.
I can find nothing in the rules or in the notes from past agm's relating to the requirements for league membership. Although I do recall it being raised and discussed.
Is it compulsory to be part of the league if a member of the club?
Match attendance
Too many matches?
Too long a summer league season?
Number of pegs booked?
Saturday or Sunday?
Since the loss of Glen, another committee member is required.
Big Bash AGM match / venue attendance ideas.
The enclosed document is to hopefully help generate ideas and conversations on changes required in the 2026 season to reflect the costs incurred in the 2025 season from match attendances
please post comments on here or be in touch with Jasper or myself if you cannot see or open the document.
Thanks
Document enclosed
In my opinion:
the second day of the Legends weekend should not come out of club funds. Those fishing it should pay upfront in its entirety when the booking is made.
Peg fees for every match should be paid up front by every club member. Up front meaning before the club has to pay for the pegs. Only then can we be certain of covering costs.
Pools paid on the day, or if PayPal the week before, by those attending. A variable Pay out based on the numbers attending.
The term league member should be replaced by Club Member.
Mine and Scott thought on this.
Payouts on match days should be based on numbers fishing so no extra cost coming out of club. Both happy to cover peg fees for any absent matches
Any more comments, items or feedback for the AGM please ?
Two mates of mine - one runs an angling club the other a golfing society. Both often struggled to balance the books.
Angler secretary, for years, paid deposits out of his own pocket and collected the money on match days. This was ok when pegs were only a couple of quid. When they went up members agreed to pay deposits in advance. Balances paid on the day. Often no shows resulted in those fishing paying extra to cover the balance owed. Regular no shows were expelled.
When more venues demanded full payment upfront he asked members to each pay £150 upfront.
Most refused and the club folded.
Golf secretary. Produced a calendar of events. Showning dates, golf courses and weekend trips (including coach travel). Cost for each individual event was shown.
Members booked on the events they wanted to take part in and paid in full.
Secretary booked each event for those that had paid. Society is flourishing.
My conclusion: Golf secretary's job is easier than that of an Angling Clubs secretary's.
Pay for peg in advance to secure peg on each match that you want to fish. Book pegs for those that have paid for them.
Only book ten pegs on a first come first serve as we do have a reduced number for 2026 season. I have been in two clubs that folded because members didn't attend matches so the clubs went into the red and folded. I'm sure some venues will increase peg numbers if enough notice is given.
I suggest a weekly payment of £3 a week subscriptions
It's not a pint of beer
I would gladly pay monies up front for the whole year
This would reduce administrative work and make sure the club has a future
For ease of traceability below are the WhatsApp conversations taken from 17.10.25 regarding peg booking and match attendance
For me you can only pay out what you take in so if i there's 11 anglers £50 winner and 2 sections winners at £30 each just for example can't pay out more that what's coming in and pegging fee I'm willing to for my peg if I'm there are not cos you have booked a peg for me at start of season Scott Barker
I agree with Scott.
If you join the club you should pay for every match John Utting
As John and Scott have said pay for every peg fee up front, if a rider can fish in your place money carries over or returns to your pay pal account reduce pegs to members booking in for 2026 season John Lanelly
Same here pay for your pegs upfront Mark Radford
Same for me as been put back on shifts. Will to pay for all unattended matches. Keith Smith
Its a situation many angling clubs are facing, having been involved at grange we see it happening all the time, clubs booking 16 pegs for a pond which is more than generous but then only 6 or 8 turning up, this is not sustainable and several have folded. Most anglers are now getting on a bit averaging 60+.Some pass away as we know ,other ail thus numbers deplete. Choosing amount of pegs to book in advance is tricky and once these pegs are booked the fisheries are reluctant to reduce numbers as they have probably turned bookings away. I dont know what the answer is, over charge anglers for unused pegs they wont join, under charge we loose money. Book 15 pegs for example at lindholme £165,9 turn up income £189 in £24 left to pay out doesnt really work.I think this year decisions we make could be crucial to the survival of the club. I also personaly think some members would prefer small knock ups as done on the Wednesday knock ups .It will be interesting to know others opinions on where we are heading Steve Curtis
Every word a true one Steve
Club Angling on a slippery slope atm Nigel Cooke
Slippery slope maybe but you try booking a lake with short notice..... we have to book so far in advance due to decent waters getting booked up 2yrs in advance... Jasper
Thats one of the problems trying to book the right amount of pegs for the amount of people turning up, its almost a impossible task. Book not enough and let members down too many and loose money. Steve Curtis
Maybe a yearly subscription could be the Answer just saying like Nigel Cooke
Minutes of 2024 AGM meeting.
Many thanks for everyone's input and attendance to the 2025 AGM meeting. Also thanks for embracing the late notice on the adjustment to the Laurels match start and finish times in order to be able to hold this meeting in the Anglers Arms. For information we have also booked our last summer league matches at Lindholme in 2026 and 2027 seasons so we can follow the same format with the AGM being held after the match.
This years AGM had some bad news to deliver and discuss with what could have been contentious subjects. Thank you for embracing the issues and assisting in negotiating a positive way forward for the 2026 season.
Big Bash AC 2025 AGM 25.10.2025
Location Anglers Arms Lindholme
Attendees
John Lanelly, Richard Cooke, Paul Whitehouse, Steve Guy, Paul Atton, Mark Radford, Mick Roche, Tracey Benson, John Utting, Steve Curtis, Joe Martin, Scott Barker, Dave Fox, Jasper and Leo Martin
Apologies
Andy Waite and Kevin Webster
Comprehensive agenda and accounts kindly printed and distributed by Jasper
Items
1. New committee member
Many thanks for Joe Martin accepting his nomination
2. Accounts
Detailed accounts presented and discussion on the large losses (approx. £800) the club has taken in 2025 season. Accounts agreed and accepted
a) Reasons for losses explained and demonstrated as poor attendance to booked matches, paying for used pegs, fixed match payouts. Pegging fee rises at some fisheries.
b) Detailed discussion on how booking venues works, timing of these bookings, the various methods of contact required to these fisheries and also their responsiveness. Flexibility of some venues to assist clubs with these peg requests along with Inflexibility of others.
c) Also, the need for advance peg requested bookings to secure venues requested by the membership. 2026 venues already secured and some deposits paid. 2027 venues also fully booked except 2 dates awaiting Lodge farm to open their books in January.
d) Proposal for correcting this financial loss mentioned to be discussed later on the agenda.
e) Gratitude expressed to the kind donations from former club members of Glen and Max which have almost covered the losses the club has experienced in the year.
3. Review of 2025 summer league season and venues
a) Bank End West Lake it was felt the access to the middle lake from cars was very poor especially road side bank. It has been provisionally booked for 2026 so request made to see if an alternative can be found. Suggestions Hayfield and Hallcroft. Action Leo
b) Barnburgh Middle Lake. It was mentioned that the lake is 20 pegs but unfishable for more than possible 14 anglers. Request not to book the lake again, top and bottom are okay but no middle for 20 pegs This fishery were inflexible to reducing peg numbers booked to save the club some costs for the 20 pegs.
c) Discussion that venue selection should be open to members for ideas and requests. These requests are made in advance of booking however all venues and dates are not always available and able to align. Similarly, some venues do not respond or reply in a timely manner to enable match diary to be completed efficiently. Also some venues getting currently getting booked up 2028. The difficulty this club faces in provisionally booking a suitable venue is actual peg number required when allocated pegs are not being filled. This has a major financial impact
4. Club Rules
a) Clarification on club member and league member titles required.
Response. To fish matches throughout the year, everyone has to me a club member for an annual fee. A league member is optional within the club on a separate fee Action Leo to up0date in rules
b) Guests clarification required.
Response a non club member can fish up to 3 matches per season before having to join the club Action Leo to add to rules
c) Rules title on forum to have date removed so as not to be updated every year Action Leo
d) Rues to update with relevant items form this AGM Action Leo
5. Complaints No complaints made or received
6. Number of members for 2026 season
a) Discussion on how we have to book pegs for matches in up to 2 years in advance. Previous years the club had over 20 members and it was suggested to book 20 pegs. The last 2 years data point towards an attendance of between 50 to 80 % with 70% being a good average even supported by guests. 2025 season started with 16 members but through the year this has reached 20 members. The Legends weekend was in particular poorly attended. Request is from club committee for a firm commitment from members who are to join the club as the forum is currently only showing 11 joining the league, 5 unsure and 1 as a club member. Currently there are 20 pegs booked for 2026 season, 15 pegs booked for 2027 season. It is easier to ask for more pegs than cancel booked pegs. Booking the 20 pegs in 2025 and unattendance of members has cost the club £800 which is unsustainable.
It is also expected that in 2026 there may be a pegging cost increase at some fisheries
Several methods are proposed to correct this going forward. Discussion on payments for club matches. Paying a one off fee for pegging all up front or stay as currently is pay throughout the season per match. Pros and cons on this item, most club members miss one or more matches per season. Only one member has a full 100% attendance. Working shifts, family circumstance, holidays, and other commitments all affect attendance to matches
Dependence on club size, booking 15 pegs corrects the 75% attendance from 20 pegs issue and offers the savings of £50 per match over a season. This adds up to circa £800 which is the ls discrepancy in 2025 season.
Actions in relation to above
A firm commitment required from members who are joining the club to agree by 31st December every year so that we have a working number. Action all members
a) Once numbers are known it is proposed that between January and March all fishery owners will be contacted to ask if we can reduce from 20 pegs to 15pegs for the 2026 season. Grange excepted where we get the lake for 16 pegs Action Leo / Jasper
b) Note League members will take priority over club members for the 15 pegs booked
c) Match bookings would be on first paid on first served basis, if more than 15 members names down a request for more pegs to the fishery will be made
d) Payment for 2026 season club membership would be required by a week in advance of the first summer league match at the end of March. Action all members
e) It was decided to run with current system for 2026 season and review in 2026 AGM effectiveness of the changes made above if we need to change paying for matches as a full season or not. Action all members
7. 2026 venues booked
Venues reviewed and request made to try replacing Bank End West Lake. Suggestions made Hayfield or Hallcroft. Leo said that Hallcroft had not returned 3 phone calls and ansafone messages when trying to book 2027. Action Leo
Items associated with improvement to match attendance
8. Afternoon match suggestion either Lodge Farm or Grange Park. Group in favour Action Leo to speak to fisheries if allowed
9. Silvers only match. LM Vote taken and declined
10. Rod only match, LM vote taken and proposal is mystery pairs on the Sunday of Legends weekend on Loco lake
11. Match attendance LM previously discussed and actioned
12. Too many matches LM agreement around meeting No
13. Not enough matches LM agreement around meeting No
14. Season length LM agreement around meeting Leave as it is
15. Number of pegs booked LM as previously discussed and actions
16. Saturday or Sunday matches. LM Vote for Saturday as current
17. Pay on matches at start of season. LM As previously discussed
18. Payouts LM Discussion on cost savings that fixed pay-outs as current system or flexible pay-outs dependant on attendance to matches. Vote for flexible pay-outs dependant on attendance.
Second discussion on adjusting from winner, first and second in section payments or change payouts to winner and first in section only Vote taken to adjust payouts to winner and first in section only. Any remaining monies to go back in club. Action match admin
Discussion on paying out only in relation to number of anglers fishing and not a fixed fee. This way match should be self-funding and not rely on support from club funds. Vote taken in agreement of each match to self fund for payouts Action club admin
19. Payouts to those numbers fishing JM & SB actioned as above
20. Pay for pegs in advance and only book appropriate number. SG As previously discussed venues have to be booked well in advance to secure lakes so this is impractical.
21. Only book 10 pegs in advance on first come , first served basis. JL As previously discussed
22. Weekly payment of £3 . NC Admin nightmare and impractical
23. Pay up front for full season., NC As previously discussed
24. Pay out what comes in per match.SB As previously discussed
25. Join club, pay for every match. JU As previously discussed
26. Pay up front for every match and a rider covers costs if able to do so. JL As previously discussed
27. Reduce pegging for 2026 season. JL As previously discussed
28. Pay all your pegs up front. MR As previously discussed
Other items requested inclusion on agenda
29. Club rules regarding a league membership and nothing in rules. SG As previously discussed
30. Second day of legends weekend should be paid for by those fishing and not the club, SG Discussion and vote taken that it is a club match and open to club members no different to any other match supported by the club.
31. Peg fees paid up front by every club member for all pegs and then book venues and pegs in order to cover costs. SG As previously discussed regarding need to book venues up to 2 years in advance so impractical.
32. Pools paid on day or Paypal the week before. Payout variable depending upon attendance SG As previously discussed
33. The term league member replaced by club member SG As previously discussed
34. Payouts to be based on members attending so no extra ciosts to club JM and SB As previously discussed
35. Anyone willing to re start club football card to boost club funds LM Joe Matin kindly volunteered to go around at start of every match. Thank you Action Note club members to support Joe on match days by bringing pound coins.
AOB
36.Discussion about reduced interactions due to paying on a online and how to improve. Could we go back to drawing on the day? Vote taken and majority prefer the Friday night live draw
37.Discussion on club annual membership fee raising to £30 to help protect club funds MR Vote taken and 2026 membership fee will raise to £30. League fee to remain at £20.
38 Word of thanks for club organisation and admin to Jasper and Leo SG.
Can someone please approve the above minutes? ta very much
Approved
Look right to me too.
Many thanks Leo.