Farnham Angling Society (FAS)

02/01/2025

** LODGE POND UPDATE **

Lodge Pond is now open as normal for 24 hrs a day.

We appreciate your co-operation.

31/12/2024

** LODGE POND CLOSURE at 9.00pm this evening**

Due to predicted high winds and adverse weather, Alice Holt will be closed on New Years Day, as such all Members must vacate the fishery today and leave Alice Holt by no later than 10.00pm this evening.

Post storm checks will be carried out by staff at Alice Holt on New Years Day and we will advise further in due course when Lodge Pond will re-open to anglers.

Sincere apologies for any inconvenience

Stay safe & Happy New Year

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

10/12/2024

** LODGE POND UPDATE **

Lodge Pond is now open as normal for 24 hrs a day.

Members may night fish as restrictions on daylight only fishing have been lifted.

We appreciate your co-operation.

06/12/2024

UPDATE!!!

Lodge pond will be open from tomorrow morning.

Please remember fishing is currently DAYLIGHT HOURS ONLY

** LODGE POND CLOSURE - HIGH WINDS **

Due to high winds forecast this weekend the Alice Holt site will be closed.

Therefore all anglers must be off the pond by the end of daylight today.

Hopefully the site will re-open on Monday, we will update on here.

Regardless of where you're fishing this weekend please be aware of the storms and maybe stay at home! Stay safe....

05/12/2024

** LODGE POND - DAYLIGHT FISHING ONLY **

Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control we have been told by Alice Holt that anglers may only fish Lodge Pond DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.

Therefore no night fishing and you can only access the site during daylight hour.

This is not a permanent arrangement but these rules will be in place until further notice from Alice Holt.

Members must abide by these rules, anyone found breaking these rules will face disciplinary action.

26/11/2024

** PUMPHOUSE UPDATE **

The generators running at the Thames Water Sewage Works stopped working on Sunday night.

As a result a volume of raw sewage has filled Fry's Lane and over spilt into the Pumphouse Lake.

Thames Water is undertaking a clear up with their staff being given FAS keys for any access requirements.

The 12 pipes running into Pumphouse are powerful aerator pumps.

25/11/2024

** LODGE POND UPDATE **

Alice Holt including lodge pond is now open to the public.

22/11/2024

🌪️UPDATE!!!!🌪️

ALL ANGLERS MUST LEAVE LODGE POND BY 9am TOMORROW MORNING (Saturday 23rd)

** LODGE POND CLOSURE **

Due to predicted high winds over the weekend Alice Holt will be closing tomorrow (Saturday 23rd
November).

ALL FAS MEMBERS MUST LEAVE THE LAKE AT 9am TOMORROW!!! 🌪️

post storm checks will be carried out by staff at Alice Holt and we will advise on this page when Lodge Pond re-opens to anglers.

** Sundays match has been cancelled!

30/10/2024

If you are not already a member of the Angling Trust, please consider joining them and supporting the great work that they do, such as this great new initiative which FAS are involved with.

The Angling Trust has joined forces with the Environment Agency to launch a new service to provide advice and guidance to clubs and fisheries to help them grow and develop. For angling to have a strong future, clubs need to appeal to all ages and build a community with a growing and diverse membersh...

13/10/2024

KHV at Yateley South Lake – Cefas designation CD15.2024

On Thursday 3 October 2024, a Fish Health Inspector from Cefas visited the Yateley South complex, and following an inspection of South Lake and the rest of the Yateley South complex, they advised us that South Lake could re-open for fishing as of 5th October 2024, providing that disinfectant fish tanks were installed and maintained by Farnham Angling Society (FAS) and of course used by all FAS members.

To allow additional dip tanks to be set up and installed by the Fishery Management Team, the opening of South Lake will take place as of midday on Sunday 13th October 2024.

Once water temperatures drop slightly more, Cefas have advised that the dip tanks may be removed, and we will then take Cefas’s advice and reintroduce the dip tanks in Spring 2025 following which they will likely remain on site until November 2025.

Warning - South Lake Complex:

Any Member, or their Guest for whom they will remain wholly responsible, not found to be using the disinfectant dip tanks before fishing and before leaving the yateley south complex will lose their membership.

The disinfectant dip tanks must be used to dip all mats, nets, and weigh slings. As previously mentioned, Cefas have advised that the use of dip tanks is 100% effective, providing that the disinfectant solution is changed regularly. FAS will be ensuring this happens at least fortnightly and initially every 7-days.

Advisory notices to inform all members visiting the fisheries of the required precautions will be placed on the dip tanks within, and the gates to the Yateley South Complex. Please ensure that use of dip tanks takes place in accord with the instructions and close the lid after you use them.

The dip tanks will be located on the plan as shown below.

For those querying the alleged appearance of ‘some small koi’ at South Lake, they are not Koi or Ghost Carp, but colour variant Mirror Carp: their parents were both Mirror Carp. They were stocked in December 2023 from Arron Standing at Coarse Fish UK and are referred to as ‘Coloured Sussex Scaleys’. See below the post from Arron on his page from November 2020 advising of his development of these.

A handful of such fish between 8-12lb have been stocked in South, Mill Lane, Match, Copse, Nursery & Stillwater Lakes. I have attached some photos of these fish from November 2020 & a photo of one of around 11lb caught earlier this season by Alan Muller from Stillwater Front Lake caught whilst float fishing. They are beautiful fish which will look even more stunning as they fully mature in the future.

The Executive Committee

01/10/2024

KHV at Yateley South Lake – Cefas designation CD15.2024

Late yesterday afternoon, the Fish Health Inspectorate at Cefas, acting on behalf of Defra, issued a Confirmed Designation Notice CD15.2024 following the confirmation of Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) disease at South Lake. The sample has tested negative for Carp Edema Virus (CEV).

South Lake:
Acting upon Cefas advice following a phone call this afternoon, FAS will be maintaining the closure of South Lake until such time as they deem it safe to re-open the lake to fishing. When it does re-open, disinfectant dip tanks (with lids which must be put back on to ensure the correct dilution is maintained and not diluted by rainwater), will be in place which all members fishing South Lake will have to use, before and after they fish.

Warning:
Anyone not using the disinfectant tanks as required will lose their membership.

Pumphouse, Horseshoe & Tree Lakes.
Under the advice of Cefas, fishing on the other 3 lakes on the Yateley South Complex, namely Pumphouse Lake, Horseshoe Lake & Tree Lake, can continue. However, members may only fish once they have used the disinfectant dip tank to clean all their mats, nets, and weigh slings before they fish. The dip tanks will be on site by the evening of Wednesday 2nd October evening and will be located by the access gates from South Lake to the other 3 lakes. When leaving, members must again disinfect all their equipment using the dip tank. Members must ensure they dry all mats, nets and weigh slings or disinfect them if leaving before the disinfectant dip tanks are on site tomorrow evening.

Cefas have advised that the use of dip tanks is 100% effective, providing that the disinfectant solution is changed regularly, and as such, FAS will be ensuring this happens at least fortnightly and initially every 7-days.

Yateley East Complex:
Cefas have advised that fishing may continue at the Yateley East Complex, as it is unaffected by the notice, however we will be considering further actions if recommended by Cefas.

As part of the designation notice, we have several controls in force which apply to movements of live & dead fish, (including their eggs and/or gametes) and to certain site activities, to reduce the risk of further disease spread. These controls also include the movement of any equipment, material, or substance liable to transmit disease into, out of or within the confirmed designation area or any part of that area.

We need to ensure the disinfection of all unhooking mats, nets, and weigh slings, prior to being removed from the designated area (exclusion of rods, reels and fishing line accepted).

The Confirmed Designation is a legal order and remains in force until Cefas are satisfied that the disease is no longer present in the area. To this end, Cefas will be visiting the fishery within the next 10-days to assess the situation, and South Lake will only re-open upon the advice of Cefas.

Advisory notices to inform all members visiting the fisheries of the required precautions will be placed on the gates to both Yateley South Complex and the Yateley East Complex.

Moving forward:
FAS will continue to work closely with Senior Fish Health Inspectors at Cefas to ensure all conditions of the notice are adhered to.
We will further advise in due course as and when South Lake is able to be fished and whether any additional disinfectant dip tanks are put in place on the Yateley Complexes.

Please ensure that use of dip tanks takes place in accord with the instructions on the dip tanks themselves and close the lid after use when you use them.

The Executive Committee

17/09/2024

** SOUTH LAKE, YATELEY - CLOSED FOR FISHING WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT **

Cefas have today placed an Initial Designation on the South Lake (only) on suspicion of Koi Herpes Virus (KHV). As requested by Cefas we have decided to close all fishing on South Lake with immediate effect. The lake must, and will stay closed until testing has been completed and Cefas declare the fishery fit to open. FAS will continue to work with Cefas and the EA on this matter.

Any members found fishing South Lake will face disciplinary action. At this stage, under advice from Cefas the complex may remain open for fishing on the other waters. If you have fished South Lake recently we are urging you to disinfect and wet nets, slings and mats before using them elsewhere.

We will post an update on this page as and when the fishery is reopened.

12/09/2024

A reminder to all members!! If you want to fish for Pike on FAS waters you MUST have your pike stamp which you can get by attending one of the upcoming pike teach-ins! All details and dates are in your handbook and you MUST bring the required tackle as stated! You DO NOT need to book your place you can just show up on the day, please don’t contact Mike Slater to book in! These events are brilliant to learn about pike care from one of the countries leading pike specialists!!

29/08/2024

Membership Office: Opening times in October 2024

Please note that the Membership Office at Gold Valley will not be opened as advertised on out website on the 1st Saturday in October (the 5th), but will instead be open on Saturday 28th September & Saturday 12th October instead.

The Membership Secretary

25/08/2024

Last chance to grab yourself a place!!!!! Only a couple of spots left. Don’t miss out!!! Free to senior members!!

25/08/2024

Access to Carters Hill, River Loddon

When fishing at Caters Hill, please ensure that you only access via the field gate on Barrets Lane as shown in the attached photo, and not via the private driveway to the cottages, shown to the right.

The field gate is on a latch and doesn’t need to be climbed over. Once you have closed the gate behind you, walk across the field keeping the hedgerow to your left and you will then reach the northwest corner of the field before crossing a small stream and through a wooded copse to another field where the River Loddon flows across the northern boundary.

Thank you for your co-operation with this.

The Executive Committee

17/07/2024

Frensham Great Pond - Blue Green algae

We have been advised by the Frensham Common Rangers Team that there is a strong probability that scum found on the edge of Frensham Great Pond is a species of Blue Green Algae.

As such, please take the usual precautions if you are fishing at this venue.

Blue-green algae is a natural component of a freshwater ecosystem, but its presence is potentially harmful to humans, animals, birds and fish as well as being very harmful to dogs especially. Periods of warm weather followed by heavy rain and then further warm, still conditions cause blue-green algae to appear suddenly. There is no way of removing the algae from the water once it is established.

Waverley Borough Council and the Environment Agency recommends that people avoid the algal bloom as it can cause ill health such as dermatitis, eye irritation, rashes, blistering, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea through skin, eye contact or if swallowed.

Should anyone believe that they have been affected by blue-green algae, they should seek medical advice or in the case of their pets, veterinary advice.

Ian Gray, Hon. Secretary, on behalf of the Executive Committee