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Sunday, 01 March 2009 |
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The 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Association was held in the Bowling Club Pavilion, Main St, Crumlin on Monday 23 February. There was a good attendance of members whose numbers represented about 22% of the total Club membership.
The usual annual review of events in the previous year was reported on by the Chairman, the Hon Secretary and the Hon Treasurer. Perhaps one of the more important highlights from the Chairman’s report were his comments that the unprecedented floods of last year have had a most significant impact on the bedrock and general structure of the river - particularly in the Crumlin Glen sector. Pools that had existed for many years had disappeared and new pools had been created. Whether or not these changes to the river will, over time, be an improvement or otherwise remains to be seen. Nevertheless, there will have to be a close assessment by the Club of the Lep pool and its surrounds in the Glen to determine whether or not structural changes will be needed to restore or improve the passage for fish moving upstream.
“Too much water” seems to have been the main complaint for what appears to have been a poor fishing season generally on the river last year. However, a number of fine salmon and dollaghan was seen or observed. One member reported landing a dollaghan of just under 2lb in a river stretch above the new fish passes - which supports the view that fish can still negotiate the passes.
Improvement works which the Club hopes to finalise in the coming season are the installation of the debris cover at Mairs’ Weir, repairs / replacement of the sluice gate at that weir and, if conditions permit, possible realignment of the top box at the Crumlin Glen fish pass. It had been hoped that much of this work would have been completed already but the high water levels had prevented action being taken in these areas. New styles and repairs to some of the existing styles had been carried out during the year to improve access along the riverbank.
The threat of pollution is an ever present worry for all angling bodies. Whilst the Crumlin River has, thankfully, been spared serious pollution in recent years, nevertheless, some incidents were uncovered and reported for action to the appropriate authorities during the year. The Association is currently in correspondence with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency about certain actions / proposals by NI Water. The Chairman stressed the continuing need for members to be vigilant and to report all suspected incidents of pollution immediately to the Authorities.
No re-stocking of the river was possible during 2008 since DCAL approval to the purchase of salmon fry from the River Bush hatchery was not forthcoming. The Club intends to continue pressing for such approval during the coming season.
In conclusion, members of the existing committee stood down from their positions but all were re-elected by general acclaim - together with the addition of one new Committee member. This was a ‘good’ AGM and all are looking forward to what we hope will be a most enjoyable new fishing season.
The Committee wishes ‘tight lines’ to all members and visitors to the river in 2009.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 01 March 2009 )
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