News

WORK PARTY UPDATE - 14th MARCH

On our first work party of the year we had a superb turnout - 14 of us were by the lake to make a start on refurbishment of the platforms and pegs along the south side. After a short safety briefing everyone cracked on at an incredible pace. Long story short we achieved everything we set out to do. 

The disabled platforms were too far gone for repairs and have been removed entirely as has peg 1 and (I think) 19 and 20. Committee members will confirm my grasp of peg numbers is vague at best! Any which way, preparations have been made to install composite platforms and single pegs in place of what was removed today. 

Additionally a load of clearance work was completed around a number of pegs, making them look more appealing as well as being easier to access and fish from, and the old net dip was removed from the north side car park. 

I'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who turned up and pitched in, it was a brilliant team effort and made a real difference.

Look out for an update in the near future for the next work party date when we'll look at making a start on building replacement pegs and disabled platforms.

Enforcement/Bailiffing on Heron Lake

 One issue that came up at the AGM was that of enforcement. A number of members have expressed an interest in stepping up our bailiff activities and forming something of a rota to ensure we maintain a visible presence. As members will already know, we are all considered club bailiffs under the rules and can ask to see membership cards and tackle being used by anglers on Heron Lake, just as we're all expected to produce our cards on request.

For those that are interested in taking this a stage further the Angling Trust has some online learning which forms the foundation of getting involved with the Voluntary Bailiff Service. Once this is done (it's about 2 hours worth of e-learning, is pretty straightforward and free of charge), intermediate training is then done via an online workshop, the next of which is scheduled for May 5th and is also free of charge. Applications open in April this year. I've registered the club's interest in the VBS on behalf of the members that have already completed the Introductory training; obviously the more members we have involved the better it is for the club. We all know the history of poaching on our lake and if we're planning on stocking this winter we need to be as well placed to bailiff the lake as we can to protect our investments, which will need support from members, the AT, EA and local police. We are engaging with the other agencies as well to seek that support.

More information can be found here

https://anglingtrust.net/fishnet-learning-hub/

And at Angling Trust Fisheries Enforcement Support Service

I've also set up a group for club members to communicate and arrange certain club activities out of the public eye, for obvious reasons. Please go to Cotgrave Angling Club if you want to be kept up to date.

 

Other members that complete this and wish to support with enforcement on the lake please let me know.

Cheers

Mike (Secretary) 

Update Following AGM 14/02/2026

Hi all, as you are aware the 2025 AGM concluded with the news that, as there was no-one willing to fill the vacant roles required to keep the club going, the club had sufficient funding to provide two years of fishing for members, with no dues required, after which the club would fold.

 

As of the AGM this year, we have now filled the roles of Chairman (Mike Mason), Secretary (Mike Hayes) and Treasurer (Mick Quinn) who are taking the club forward with support from members who have volunteered to form the club committee. There were insufficient funds in the club account to cover a second year’s fishing, hence members have been asked in their renewal letter to continue supporting the club and are required to pay fees if they wish to continue as a member and fish the 2026-27 season.

 Following the committee meeting held on 12^th February the following decisions were made:

·       To rename the club to Cotgrave Angling Club with immediate effect

·       To arrange club affiliation with the Angling Trust for the purposes of tailored public liability insurance and access to fishery support

·       To increase membership fees for the first time in several years to reflect the rising costs in maintaining and stocking the lake.

New adult memberships will now be charged at £50 for the year. Renewals will remain £40 until 1^st April from which they will rise to £50, so if you’re planning to renew get in sharpish. Junior memberships for those aged 13-18 at the start of their membership year will be maintained at £10 to ensure angling remains accessible for the younger generation. Guest day tickets (i.e. for non-members fishing their own rod when accompanying a member on a session) will remain available at £10. All proceeds from guest tickets will be ring-fenced to include to the club’s annual donation to Ash Lea School.

As of 1st February 2026 membership MUST be renewed to fish Heron Lake. Please refer to your renewal letters or call Mike on 07966 665531 for membership enquiries.

Next committee meeting is planned for Sunday 1st March.

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