News

"Try Fishing" days

Our recent Try Fishing days have been a real success, with more people than ever coming along to give angling a go. We’ve now run two sessions, and it’s been fantastic to see newcomers of all ages discovering the joy of fishing.

A huge thank‑you goes to our volunteers, who were kept on their toes throughout both events. From helping people get started using basic tackle to offering guidance on rod licences, tackle selection, and the basics of fish care, you’ve made these sessions welcoming, supportive, and fun. The feedback has been nothing short of glowing, and it’s clear that your time and enthusiasm are making a real difference.

With interest continuing to grow, we’re gearing up for our next Try Fishing day on Saturday 12th September — and we’ll need even more member volunteers to keep things running smoothly. If you can spare a few hours to help newcomers get started, please let us know. Your support helps us open the door to the sport we all love.

We're grateful to the guys at Matchman Angling Supplies and Polygraphics for their support with bait and promotional material.

WORK PARTY UPDATE - 26TH JUNE

Nine of us turned out in the heat on Saturday for our planned June work party and hit the pegs on the north side which had been neglected so far this year, as efforts had focussed on rebuilding the accessible platforms and having that section safe and ready for the Ash Lea kids to make their return this summer. A number of the pegs had been encroached by reeds in the water and become almost invisible from the bank - just see the transformation below! Reeds were cut at the lake bed level and a decent swathe taken out to open the peg up, and the access was strimmed and mowed to make getting to them nice and easy. There are 8 fishable pegs along the north side now. We also removed some dumped rubbish including a bike from the water, and mowed and widened the path around the southern side of the lake. Huge thanks to the members that gave their morning up to improve the club for all

WORK PARTY NOTICE: PEG BLITZ AND CLUB FISHING DAY 16th MAY

Peg blitz - turn up with secateurs, shears. strimmers, loppers, waders, hoes, sickles, scythes - whatever takes your fancy. Short safety briefing, divvy up into small groups, pick a peg and clear it. No more than two hours of work: this is a short sharp maintenance session to clear growing vegetation from around the pegs, then break for brews and snacks no later than 11am before we get the rods out and spend a few hours enjoying the fruits of our labours with a bunch of us fishing around the lake. Please let Mike know if you can make it.

WORK PARTY UPDATE - 12th April

Another great turnout for today's work party! Among the tasks completed, the first of our new disabled platforms is done barring the toe boards and the groundworks for the next has begun. This will enable us to host the kids from Ash Lea School over the next few months and will facilitate summer coaching sessions. We also replaced five rotten fence posts (with four more still to do), reinforced the bank near the South car park, got some strimming done and fitted some of the new signage provided by the EA and AT. Another two sacks of rubbish were also removed from around the lake. Superb effort by all involved and a massive thanks to everyone who gave up their Sunday morning to contribute to the club!

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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