Big Bash Angling Club

Saturday 6th December - Grange Park - Curlew

Match 4 of the 2025 Winter League

£20 Pegging and Pools to be paid before Friday 28 th November ( PayPal - leo_martin15@msn.com )

Please make yourself aware of any fishery rules and club rules

Peg numbers will be appointed by a live draw live on Facebook on Friday 5th December

All anglers are encouraged to weigh in so as not to effect section points of league members. Any league member not weighing in will incur extra section points.

A no show or late notice (less than 7 days) will result in a £9.00 charge to cover the pegging fee so as not to effect the pools.

Confirmation needed from all Winter league anglers as per the 7 day rule above.

All anglers to have valid rod licence with them at all times in case of checks - Big Bash Angling Club can not be held accountable if caught without a valid licence.

1. Steve Jackson        💰20     
2 John Utting             💰20
3 Gavin Cooper          💰20
4 Keith Smith             💰20
5 Paul Abbey              💰20   
6 Tracey Benson           💰20 
7 Dave Dobbs             💰20
8 Dave Fox                 💰20
9 Mark Radford           💰20     
10 Leo Martin            💰20


Reserves


Withdrawn
John Lanelly
Nige Cooke
Lewis Fox
Rich Cooke 

Minutes of 2025 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.

Reserve please

results

Big Bash Winter league round 1 Lodge Farm Thistle 1.11.2025

Round 1 of the 2025 Big Bash winter League and we welcome back our cold weather stalwarts Jacko and Gav into the club. The campaign starts alongside changeable w and it eather we have had some rain and cold nights however Friday night was an almost tropical 10 degrees. A day forecast of clouds, potentially some rain, some afternoon sunshine and a morning blustery wind. The blustery wind was an understatement, almost galeforce blowing off the SandMartin bank and towards Peg 43 in the corner. Bringing back last years memories of Smiler struggling with his brolly in storm Darragh and trying to replicate Mary Poppins.  The wind was cool, fierce and gusting leaving 4 inch waves on the waters surface. It also changed directions numerous times as well to add to the irritation and judgement issues casting. The afternoon ended in lovely autumn sunshine, the wind had dropped and the water was mirror like flat. What a difference in the days weather.

9 winter league members and 3 welcome and familiar guests made up the numbers which on the 22 pegs lake I would class as its maximum due the shape of the lake. Everyone has to respect others in their casting and with the central aerator a target for some pegging is also crucial to try give everyone room. The group chose from a selection of pegs and the spinning wheel was set for the Friday live draw. Despite the added pressure of a record audience, the IT worked and things went well so no re-draw or manual old-fashioned tallies in a bag method was required, Leo was smiling.
Everyone arrived in good time, nets dipped and during our set up Mr Nigel Cooke visited everyone to give out 4 of  his home made floats, such a nice gesture, Thank you.

Early start was on the cards and Gino Lanelly blew his whistle for a 9:45 all in with the finish time scheduled for3:30.

There were quite a few fish caught from the off, Foxy, Jasper, Nige Cooke all dipped in their landing net. Around the lake, some chose rods but the majority chose their poles, some went long, others went short. The wind a major influence on their choices.  During the day there was lots of swapping of changing as anglers fought the conditions and searched out the fish and or a method  that brought them to feed.

Peg 34 Richard Cooke 66-2 . An eventful day for Rich as he continues to shed his Dockow Blues. Rich had a good run on his favoured feeder rod chucking into open water to his left. He also chucked it down the edge and to the vacant platform as well.  Pole short, Pole long, even long pole shallow. Also he tried his pole in the margin in a busy day swapping and changing as he searched for bites which was to give him a section win. Well done Rich. He also had a strange bite which fought hard has he wound in his feeder rod to find a full tip kit, including float and rig. Hooked behind the elastic it kept stretching and tensioning the elastic as he wound in before the elastic would then de-tension inside the topkit and the kit was retrieved. Unfortunately, it did not have any maggots still on the hook and we would not allow it to be weighed in.

Peg 35 Mark Radford 54-0. Mark previous approach has been double maggot on short top kit which served him well in knock ups last year in the same pegging area.  Mark persevered with his chosen method and swapped on and off all the match. The fish finally turned up in the last hour when he started to top up his nets with regular decent fish. Prior to this, Mark had to try long pole, feeder and bomb in his quest for bites and fish. The aerator chuck gave some fish but nothing consistent enough to keep pursuing it.   If the fish had arrived on his short maggot line earlier the result would have been so much different.

Peg 37 Keith Smith 32-3. A struggle for Keith who also tried his full armoury. Keith had most of his success in the last coup0le of hours and I think it was corn his successful bait. He also suffered a broken 4 section on his pole so an expensive day for  Keith.

Peg 38 in the corner was home for John Lanelly and 48-14 was his return. John fair to say struggled at the beginning of the match but got to grips fishing down the edge of the lake on 6mm hard pellets coming on strongly towards the end of the match.  Well done, John.

Peg 40 Steve Jackson 45-3 Another angler who tried long, short pole as well as rods  and his catch rate also improved in the latter half of his match. Steve Issue was losing fish which has cost him. He lost his majority on his pole which he struggled to come to terms with an understand. The difference in his finished weight could have been so much more.

Peg 41 Tracey Benson 58-10 and a second in section. On the back of a good run of form at Steve Gregorys Hall Farn and Beehive lakes Tracey brought is expander approach to Thistle Lake. Similar to our last matches on this lake, his success came from fishing down his edges where the second half of the match his expanders regularly brought fish to grace his landing net.

Peg 43 Jasper 79-3. With the wind blowing in and fish topping in the area as a dirtier than normal Kermit the fishing wagon pulled up, Jasper must have fancied It. Unusually Jasper started off on his pole and not favoured rods. As he searched for regular fish the rod followed the pole, using his measuring sticks he adjusted his casting length to try locate the fish however his main returns came in the second half of the match. Feeding copious amounts of ground bait and a worm hook bait the fish started to grace his landing net on a regular basis. Long pole towards the edge of the reeds in the corner was his target location. He had tried the area several times but in the latter end of the match they showed up and were looking for his bait offerings giving him a match winning weight.

Peg 45 Paul Whitehouse 49-13. Another "rod man" chose to fish his pole before it goes into storage for the winter.  Majority of Pauls match was on long pole "fighting the wind"  with top kit and 4 sections out as he searched for his quarry. Started slowly with small skimmers then the occasional small carp would show up. His rods did come out in frustration of slow progress but he kept returning to his pole. The last hour the carp showed up in numbers and fish after fish were landed to bolster his weight.
 
Peg 46 Gavin Cooper 35-5. Short pole start, rod, then long pole, and back on rod. Gav's downfall in the beginning was lost fish. With him loosing 4 before  he managed to land his first carp. Not to be beaten Gav swapped and changed, rods to aerator, rod chucked short, pole in front and also  in margin. When others had a good run, they were not in Gavs peg in the same numbers and the last couple of hours bitres were hard to come by. 

Peg 48 Leo 55-0 second in section. I set up method and bomb rods, maggot and pellet lines at 2+2 (5 feet deep) and a margin rig although is was a foot deep 3m from bank. I set off chucking method to aerator and after 5 minutes the tip wrapped round however I lost the fish when it swam towards me. Second cast and a  fish was in the net. The morning session went well, the fish kept coming a I had  25lb on the counter. Second half of the match started well but I really struggled from 13:30 to the end of the match where I landed only about 6 fish. I had been feeding a short line all day and kept dropping on it for a fish or two whilst resting the aerator area. I fed pellets and corn hoping to get them on the bomb however never had any indication. I  was to catch a few on the method in this area and they were a better stamp but the planned bomb rod never produced. My top kits never came off their roost as I pursued the rods approach. Possibly a difference could have been made with a short pole line, one of those decisions made not to switch onto it so I will not know. Everything was going well till the last couple of hours which has cost me. Should I have gone on my pole on a close in line, hindsight is a wonderful thing, The fish I was catching were of a good stamp, they just went elsewhere. Hey ho onto the next one.

Peg 50 Dave Fox 64-13 and a section win.  Dave also rotated lines in his quest for regular bites, a few early ones on aerator chuck, short pole line tried in front, pole to right hand side about 2m from bank in slightly deeper water looking for the fish. He finally settled in early afternoon with fish coming from this latter line. Feeding maggots over the top and maggot as his bait of choice the stamp  of fish gradually improved and he was able top up his net to pip me and a section win. 4 pints of maggots  fed to enable this. He was disappointed that he had set up to fish a waggler line however the wind made this impossible until late afternoon when the wind died down leaving a mirror like surface. Major disaster of his own bait box dropping in the drink and he was unable to salvage his chocolate digestives and fruit loaf. Everyone who knows Dave is aware of the calorie consumption and his Tardis of his snap tin getting wet was a major upset. Well done on the section win Dave

Peg 52 Nigel Cooke 41-2. Christening his new pole Nigel was to fish his most success also adopting a magot approach. Again after rotating his lines, short pole, long pole, margin line towards corner and feeder chuck also he had a good second half of the match to bring some quality carp to his net. Well done Nigel. Many  thanks for the special gift as well, yum yum.

We did have a welcome visitor during the match as Indian dropped in to see us all. Fresh back from Portugal and preparing to go to Fuerteventura, nice to see you. I could say you brought a rain shower and I also lost my fish but I'm not bitter as it may cost me my breakfast eggs in the lodge 😊. Safe travels  my friend and see you on  our and feather.

Around the lake there was a general feeling of how well it fished in the changing weather and under the pressure of 12 anglers. This doesn't sound a lot, but you have to understand the lake shape and its pegging. Everyone  had bites, caught and also lost fish.  Several different baits resulted in fish also.  We are back there for round 6 on January 17th again.

Many thanks to Gavin assisting with the weigh in and also Mr Lanelly for  his timekeeping

Round 1 over and we move onto round 2 which is on 15th November at Lindholme Lakes on strip. Confirmations and payments now being taken. Any views from those who fished, baits, tactics, lake and pegging please share

Yes for me

Match day paperwork
Fish 10 to 15:30

Pegging voting results are in:-


A = 2
C = 1
E = 6

E 34,35,37,38, 40,41,43,45,46,48,50 & 52

Look right to me too.
Many thanks Leo.

UPDATE
speaking to Lodge we get the whole lake for 12 anglers and we have 2 extras available so list is update.

Thistle lake is a Triangle wiht an aerator in the middle opposite peg 36. it has 20 pegs 32 to 52 with pegs 32 to 38 on Sand Martin bank. 39 to 42 on top field end and 43 to 52 on the curve back towards cafe.
Casting across people can be an issue and in order to avoid this pegging ( and respect) is critical.
Pegs 32, 52 and 51 normally get left out as in the main angle.

following pegging options are to choose from

A 33,35,37,39,40,41,43,45,47,48,50,& 52  used previously on a knock up last year
B 33,34,35,36,38,40,41,44,45,46,48 & 50
C 33,35,36,37,39,40,41,44,46,47,49 & 50
D 33,35,37,39,40,41,43,45,46,48,49 & 50
E 34,35,37,38, 40,41,43,45,46,48,50 & 52

Please select an option and let me know, thanks

Post also on WhatsApp so I will collate the views between forum and WhatsApp.