The Heaton Lake
We have great pleasure in announcing that the main, large lake at Hoo will in future be known as The Heaton Lake in memory of the late Mr Roger Heaton who was bailiff at Hoo for many years before his untimely passing in December 2017.
Paddlesworth Work Party Weekend
The dates for the work party weekend for 2019 are:-
Friday May 17th – Sunday 19th May
Please keep an eye on the Paddlesworth notice board for more information. The venue will be closed for fishing on this weekend except for volunteers at the work party who will be able to fish overnight. Come along and give a hand on one or both days and meet some of the other members. We are arranging for another barbeque.
Waiting List
At the beginning of 2019 there were 528 applicants on our waiting list. Those near the top of the list applied in November 2015. As we will be gradually reducing the number of club members in order to avoid overcrowding, the waiting time is likely to increase from the current 4- 5 years.
We will be sending out some membership application forms during April 2019. However, the final number we send out will depend on the number of vacancies we have after the renewal deadline for existing members – 15th May 2019. Please help by ensuring you renew as early as possible. We cannot guarantee your renewal if it is received after the deadline.
Any new members for 2019/20 will only be enrolled from the waiting list – there will be no exceptions.
Tree Felling
In October 2018 a tree on the Pads Lake at Paddlesworth was removed without the knowledge or permission of the committee. This was contrary to Byelaw 13 which specifically prohibits the cutting down of trees.
We would like to discover who carried out the felling so that the appropriate disciplinary action can be taken.
Membership charges 2019/2020
The following charges will be applicable from 1st April 2019 when current coarse fishing memberships expire.
Adult membership…………………………………………………………………… £82
OAPs, Juniors, Ladies……………………………………………………………….. £41
OAP rates apply only to members who are in receipt of State Retirement
Pension on 1st June 2019. Juniors must be under 18 on 1st June 2019.
Family members*………………………………………………………………………£20
Family members are defined as Wives or Children
(under 18 on 1st June 2019) of full adult members
Night Fishing Permits for Paddlesworth and Hoo:
Adult……………………………………………………………………………………….. £60
OAP, Junior, Ladies………………………………………………………………….. £30
Family members……………………………………………………………………… £15
Third Rod Permit……………………………………………………………………… £30
(Valid only on Pollard Lake, Rugby Lake and Hoo main lake)
Guest Tickets……………………………………………………………………………. £10
(Suppliers listed on your membership card)
Replacement key deposit…………………………………………………………. £20
Annual subscriptions must be received by 15th May 2019. It is permissible to add your 3rd Rod and Night Fishing options at a later date.
Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to ‘Kingfisher APS’.
Details of renewals are given on the ‘MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL CARD’ section of your membership card.
*- Each season we are asked to add family members to a current membership. We are unable to do this as family members, as well as Accompanied Young Anglers, are only enrolled from the waiting list.
Pollard Lake Pegs
When the Pollard Lake was taken on by the society it was stocked with Carp, Bream, Tench, Roach, Rudd and Perch. At this stage it was seen as a general fishery and was pegged as such with 64 pegs. Over the years the lake has seen its ups and downs but must now be regarded as one of the leading specimen carp waters in the region.
As such, it has become necessary to look at the pegging again. There is no doubt that some pegs are too close together to support modern specimen fishing although they are perfectly acceptable as general coarse fishing pegs.
Other pegs are giving concern on Health & Safety issues.
A small sub-committee with representatives from both the match angling and specimen angling fraternities has been appointed to look at the situation and make recommendations to the full committee.
Changes to details of Club Insurance
The Society’s insurers have recently announced a number of changes to the society’s insurance policies. The change which will have the biggest effect is concerned with ‘buoyancy aids’ (life-jackets etc.).
In future any person using a boat on society waters will not be covered by the Society’s personal accident policy unless they are wearing a suitable buoyancy aid.
This will have a greater effect for trout angling members using boats at Lullingstone. It will however apply to all lakes and rivers. Members and bailiffs carrying out maintenance work or, for example, releasing tethered fish must always wear a buoyancy aid. The following Bye-law has been passed and will come into effect immediately:
“Any member, guest or contractor, fishing or otherwise operating from a boat on any society water must wear a personal flotation device at all times.”
New aids are being purchased and will be available for the start of the 2019 trout fishing season.
Annual General Meeting
2019 Members are given notice that the Society’s AGM will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday 16th May at Southern Valley Golf Club, Thong Lane, Gravesend, DA12 4LT. The relevant paperwork will be distributed to all members well before this meeting
The Cut, Hoo
The Kingfisher News issued in March 2005 reported on an application for planning permission to remove gravel from the Hoo area by Lafarge Aggregates.
This planning permission was eventually granted and we had to accept that we would eventually lose the fishing on The Cut. In the summer of 2018 gravel extraction began close to the far end of the lake and we immediately saw a loss of water from The Cut. Eventually all fish were removed from the lake by the Environment Agency and some stalwart regulars from the Hoo anglers. The fish were distributed between the other two lakes.
The Cut has now been re-filled with water from the new gravel pit. The water quality was monitored by the EA and by Lafarge Aggregates.
There is no fishing on The Cut at this stage.
Mr Gordon Scott
The Society was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Gordon Scott. Gordon was bailiff at Hunton for many years before his retirement and removal to the West Country. We offer our condolences to Gordon’s family, some of whom are still KAPS members.