I have just spoken to Terry. At the committee meeting yesterday, the committee voted not to allow carp anglers to fish the big pond this year.
It seems that we have inadvertently shot ourselves in the foot. According to Terry, some anglers have contacted the committee and stated that they are not willing to follow this rule, or that rule, due to believing the rules to be stupid or inconvenient. It was mentioned specifically about anglers believing they should have the right to leave their bivvies up throughout the day.
That being said, I think what is more likely is the fact that some committee members, having internet access and being aware of this website, have viewed some of the unflattering comments that members have made towards the committee, so they are now under the impression that most of the carp anglers will not adhere to any rules that may be set down regarding the week's fishing on the big pond. As such, not wanting for any matchmen to have an unpleasant run in with a carp angler about taking bivvies down, or only fishing with one rod or switching bite alarms off etc, they decided the best thing to do was to cancel the planned event.
Speaking with Terry, I said that I believe the cause of most of the comments aimed at the committee resulted in anglers being so frustrated at having a beautiful water that they longed to fish, but were unable to do so for six months of the year due to the choking weed. And, whether it was true or not, outward appearances seemed like the committee, which was predominantly made up of matchmen, concerned themselves only with the welfare of the match lakes.
I went on to say that this resulted in growing animosity amongst carp anglers in general, and when other things were taken into consideration - such as how on the official Ravenfield website the match details were constantly updated, yet carp anglers were still awaiting the publication of photos they had uploaded three months ago - it only confounded matters.
I do think that we have been guilty of speculating about what rules etc were going to be implemented regarding the proposed week's fishing on the big pond, and told Terry that this had possibly led to some anglers - myself included - making statements that might appear at first glance that we would not follow the rules set down by the committee when they were finally drawn up. I did say that part of the problem was the fact that anglers were being told one thing regarding dates and times etc, only for another angler to be told something completely different a week later, which leads to confusion and frustration. Terry said that anglers were welcome to ring the committee, and that anglers were also welcome to attend any committee meeting, but this again is contrary to what I was told by Martin Read.
In February there is going to be a work party to treat the weed. Terry says the committee accepts this alone is not going to suffice in the battle against keeping the pond clear. As such, they are willing to work with the lads from the carp lake to organise regular work parties throughout the year.
Taking this into consideration, as well as the fact that the committee has viewed this website and its comments (regardless of how justified some of those comments may have been), I would like the go ahead from other members of this website to pen a letter of apology to Ravenfield committee regarding any comments they may have read, or any comments they may have received by any other means, that has caused offence. I will make assurance that any and all rules set down will be followed by members, and explain why, after months of frustration and lack of communication, anglers regretfully were led into making rash statements to other anglers, which on the surface appear to say that rules would be broken, as and when we feel like it.
I know this will have no effect regarding the decision made to stop the week's fishing on the big pond, but it may go a long way into assuring the committee that over the coming months we are a group of responsible, trustworthy anglers that can be relied upon to help keep the carp lake in top condition, and not a group of do-as-we-please idiots that believe rules don't apply.
I do think that due to the frustration over the past months of being forced to watch the lake become choked with weed, but see nothing done to combat it, animosity has grown amongst many anglers towards the committee. I myself am guilty of this - possibly more so than others. That animosity - and the fact that the members of this site are passionate and care deeply about Ravenfield carp lake - then leads to comments being rashly made that otherwise might possibly never have been said. Due to this, when committee members have read the posts and replies on this site, they have - quite rightly I would stick my neck out and say - taken the decision to deny us the pleasure of fishing the big pond.
I always believed that for carp anglers to fish the big pond was us doing the matchmen a favour, as we were helping rid the pond of fish that were of a size that damaged matchmen's tackle etc. I have been assured by Terry that this is not the case at all. Allowing carp anglers to fish the big pond for a week was a concession kindly made for us by the committee to allow the carp anglers the chance to fish for carp that we otherwise would not have the chance catch. It also gave us the opportunity to stock the carp lake with more fish to catch, as any carp caught throughout the week were to be put into the carp lake instead of being returned to the water from which they came.
I think that over the past months many sides of many different stories have been told, most in good faith, which has led to anglers building a very distorted view of the Ravenfield committee. Yes, there are many ways in which things could be improved - most especially a means of good communication between anglers and the committee - but maybe instead of continuing with potentially harmful speculation, we put our efforts into attempting to build a better relationship with members of the committee, and work towards solutions that will benefit all anglers, matchmen and carpers alike.
Does anyone object to me penning a letter of apology and forwarding it to Ravenfield committee, for and on behalf of us all?
