New members, problems, opportunities and all that stuff

[webbedfeet]

I don't usually get involved in forums, the main reason being I like to know who I'm talking to and who might be replying, (The Jack Straw syndrome), so I'm going to ask anyone who does reply to do so in their own name. In fact why not do so all the time then newcomers like me, who occasionally get mentioned, criticised, etc at least have the knowledge of who's saying what.

But to business and first the background to new 'members'.

The Corus situation has resulted in us losing a number of 'works' members and a subsequent loss of income. What happens in future is a guess, but this category of membership is not going to increase. Faced with this we have a decision. Do we continue to allow income to continue to fall and allow standards at the ponds fall with them or do we take action. To me it's a no brainer, we have achieved a lot, I personally do not intend to let it slide, without a fight anyway.
As a result your committee has begun drawing up plans for the next 5 years, open book any suggestions welcome and some are really outside the box. As an example there appears to be a large demand for carp fishing, how can we accomodate this, maximse benefit? Convert another pond, share one, find another? As you can imagine some of these suggestions make other anglers extremely nervous.

One thing is clear we need to maximise income and a massive effort is going to be made to raise the number of ordinary members so if you know of any...Another action was to offer six monthly membership for a limited (10) number of carp anglers over the winter and bring in a most useful £500. I think Steve has explained so I'll not go on. I'm sorry if some don't like the idea, or can't accept our position, think it stinks or that we are money grabbers. I'm sure those who don't think we offer value for money will find pastures new. For the rest we need your support and ideas.

I ought to mention now that we have another potential problem. Our insurers have asked if we allow alcohol to be consumed on the bank. They are concerned by a number of accidents involving 'specimen' anglers where alcohol hads been a
contributory factor and are considering a 'no alcohol' clause in future. Although drugs are not mentioned their use would obviously be implied. Since we cannot operate without insurance the consequences may be serious. We need to find some sort of solution before it is forced upon us. Your views are most welcome.

Finally I have to comment again about general behaviour. Today I have to write to two anglers who have in my mind 'let the side down'. We do not make rules to be akward, we ask that people behave responsibly. We try not to be overbearing but understanding. It seems however despite how hard we try some always take things to the extreme or simply do silly things and others suffer the backlash. Perhaps we need to be more particular about who gets a permit next year, perhaps we just operate a no tolerance policy in future.

If we are to continue to move forward we must all pull together. Please let me have your thoughts, good...or bad

Martin

[Tiger Nuts]

I have already mentioned my thoughts to Martin regarding new members next year or in the future. I'll reproduce them here anyhow.

I wondered if we could have some kind of form that needs to be signed by another fishery owner or current member of Ravenfield to act as a sort of reference as you would do when applying for a job etc. Or maybe have a rule that no one gets a night ticket until they have had a day one for a year?

Many 'syndicate' waters insist that whilst people are on the waiting list for one carp pond they have to be a member of another for a specific time. Maybe if we did have another place at Ravenfield where people could fish for smaller carp then they would have to have fished that pond for a year before being considered for the main carp pond. I would have happily done that, but I am as happy fishing for silver fish on the other ponds anyhow, I'm not just into carp angling.

Regarding booze on the bank. It is a difficult one that. I have only done 2 nights there this year so far due to work and family commitments but on neither occasion did I drink. That said I do enjoy a tin when fishing sometimes, but that is all I have an odd tin. I think if people have lines inthe water then they shouldn't be drinking to the stage where they don't hear the alarms. If people want to have a social that gets noisy and spoils others enjoyment then do it on a camp site. Lets face it, the carp pond does'nt fish well when it is noisy, so it unfair on those who are trying to catch fish not get p!55ed

Drugs? They are illegal aren't they?

Adi

[andyoak]

Martin

Good to see ya here.

At first I was a bit alarmed about selling more tickets on such a small pond but after giving it some thought I'm with you. It might mean the the lake is full when these tickets start but it won't last and I think the pond will be mainly slow during the winter.

Another thing that I thought was why don't you offer the 6 months to the other ponds as well. Lets face it there are a lot of people out of work at the moment and may be not everyone can afford to buy a full year. It might be that some of these new permit holders might just renew for the full year come april when they have had a taste of the place. I know you could always do with more on the other lakes and was just a thought... or may be even a trail membership letting people try before they comite them selfs to a full year may be a month or something!

As for what you say about beer. If it's going to cause a problem that could result in everyone not being able to night fish then ban it [I would say that though as I don't drink]

Andy Hall [but then that don't take much working out from my ID LOL]

[Tiger Nuts]

Oh another idea I had:

I dont know the figures but I understand that you sell 50 tickets for the carp pond each year? How about doing it this way:

Starting from next April limit the number of new members. Lets say you get 30 old members want to renew their tickets, take their money but dont sell 20 new permits, sell .. say, 10. Then there wont be the mad rush we all had to endure last year. Hang on I haven't finished Then in October sell 20 12 month tickets to new members. that way you get 60 anglers on the lake, only 10 more than normal (and the same as are members once the 10 winter tickets you are selling have gone).

This will spread the load out a bit, over the year with the 'newness' factor. The following years you could fiddle the numbers until you end up with 50% in April and 50% joining in October.

[cas vegas carper]

Hi Martin,
When ive been down the other lakes are always empty why not open another lake up to carp anglers.
These anglers can day fish but also have a limited number of nights when they can fish and use this to vet them for the main carp lake.
These anglers then go on a waiting list for the main lake if the old members decide to drop out.
It saddens me that carp anglers are their own worst enemy.
As far as the beer argument goes ban it if you want a drink go to the pub.

Mark Dunwell

[webbedfeet]

Thanks fellows for your comments, what about you others, you usually have plenty to say. Couple of quick replies,

- we have been having 1/2 year tickets on the other lakes for 2/3 years now and they seem to work well in that those that are interested in winter usually think summer is brilliant and stay on. And since our financial year is October to Sept it gives us a boost in £'s.

- I like the staggered membership idea, just need to think how we could work it out consistent with year ends, ensuring everyone has a current permit etc but it ought to cure the start of season rush which would be handy.

- other ponds has/is being discussed but it's a big jump, but then if the money's there. Any suggestions how, what we must avoid is more carp fishing/members but everyone wanting to fish the current pond?

Martin

[andyoak]

Martin

I didn't know there were any half year tickets on the other ponds. It was only a few weeks ago that I was talking to a bloke about ravo and told him he needed to get a ticket in april. May be this needs to be on the website so people know about these tickets [soz adi might have just created you a job]

Andy

[hursty]

It's on there Andy 

[andyoak]

maybe I should have gone to specsavers, just looked again and can't see it

[hursty]

It's looks like Adi has removed and replaced it with the half season ticket for carp anglers , it was there though  Honest .

[andyoak]

Well if adi has owt to do with it theres no wonder I can't see it, you pay peanuts.....

[hursty]

.....you get pilots 

[Tiger Nuts]

It was on there and yes it was replaced with the Carp one. Andy you haven't been right since you chopped your thumb end off, and banged your head.

Martin, often when fishing, which isnt very often at the moment, people come asking questions about permits etc. Maybe a small advert on the notice boards on the pond (maybe there is one and I'm being like Andy). There is pelnty of passing traffic in the form of people walking around.

[webbedfeet]

As soon as we've got the 10 half year carpers we'll (well Adi really) take that notice off and replace with the silver fish one again. In the meantime I'll get some posters done for the ponds.

martin

[Tiger Nuts]

I've just been routing around and it seems that the Hull & District club make potential syndicate members pay for a normal ticket to even get put on the waiting list. Although I don't know what a normal ticket costs.