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Reading and District Angling Association - New Season Changes

By FishingMagic 04/06/2012 16:43:00

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Reading and District Angling Association - New Season Changes

Always one of the most progressive and respected angling organisations in the UK, RDAA, have launched a new website and made other changes to its operation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever you want to catch there’s a target throughout the year at Reading and District venues: 10lb plus spring tench in one of 13 lakes, 17lb plus summer barbel, 50lb plus autumn carp at Pingewood and 8lb plus winter chub and 4lb plus perch along the miles of Kennet and Thames venues.


For the first time ever, anglers wishing to join the Association from outside of the Reading catchment can now do so online via a newly developed fishing-centric ticket buying software – iBookFishing - developed by MacNab Media.


Will Barnard, the Association’s Press Officer said:

“For a long time now many non members haven’t been aware of the fantastic day ticket opportunities we have on the River Kennet. In total, we have seven Kennet venues that can be fished on an unaccompanied ticket, all with good stocks of barbel, chub and perch as well as six canalised stretches.

In looking at ways of promoting these ticket sales we discovered how useful iBookFishing is as a tool and have successfully adapted it to also sell our season permits as well as night fishing permits. Day ticket receipts can be printed off or stored electronically on an Android/smart phone making it possible to make a last minute decision on where you want to fish.”


RDAA have also created a new night fishing permit system. Del Shackleford, the Association’s Fishery Manager explains:

“In recent times we have had more and more calling for our wild venues to remain just that and are looking to strike a balance between all kinds of fishery, from the micro managed to the rustic.

In moving forward, we wanted to make the option of night fishing more available as well as affordable. As a result we have developed a ticketing system for groups of venues.”


As well as the three venues that can be fished on a standard permit, RDAA have added a bronze, silver, gold and gold plus ticket, starting at £53 for the bronze which incorporates 12 river venues on the Kennet, Thames and Loddon as well as Cottage Lane Lakes, each ticket going up is inclusive of the previous, plus additional venues.


That’s not the only news, RDAA have a new president too - Martin Salter.


Martin, National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust, said:

"I've been a member of Reading and District Angling Association since 1978 and many of my best fish have come from the amazing collection of fisheries that they own or lease. I am truly honoured to have been asked to become their new president and look forward to helping the Association prosper through what is proving to be a challenging time for many fishing clubs."


With over 37 natural venues comprising of  the rivers Thames, Loddon and Kennet and associated canal sections alongside some historic big fish stillwaters RDAA offer something for everyone at an online price of £70.00, or cheaper if joining an affiliated club, details of which can be found on the website HERE







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Comments (21 posted):

maceo on 04/06/2012 20:07:57
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Jesus Mary and Joseph. £10 for an 'accompanied' day ticket to fish the Thames at Northmoor. That is expensive. Even if I knew someone who was a member of that club and would go with me. I can't see how that sort of price can be justified to be honest.
Fred Bonney on 04/06/2012 21:14:10
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Get your monies worth and buy the annual permit! 52 weeks a year for £70 a bargain!
maceo on 04/06/2012 21:47:00
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All well and good for those who can find 70 clams in one hit Fred. I got 3 kids and rent to pay. There's too much disparity between what a day ticket costs and what a year's ticket costs there. With that and the accompanied by a member rule, it's as though they don't really want day ticket anglers down there at all. Just because we're not so rich, doesn't mean we're litter bugs and disrepectful to the place. It strikes me as snobbery a bit and makes me cross because really the river belongs to everybody and was running through there many centuries before the great Reading and District Angling Association and it's members were ever thought of. (I know others don't agree and believe people have the right to "own" rivers, beaches, mountains and forests etc - but it always seems morally wrong to me).
Fred Bonney on 04/06/2012 23:26:39
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All well and good for those who can find 70 clams in one hit Fred. I got 3 kids and rent to pay. There's too much disparity between what a day ticket costs and what a year's ticket costs there. With that and the accompanied by a member rule, it's as though they don't really want day ticket anglers down there at all. Just because we're not so rich, doesn't mean we're litter bugs and disrepectful to the place. It strikes me as snobbery a bit and makes me cross because really the river belongs to everybody and was running through there many centuries before the great Reading and District Angling Association and it's members were ever thought of. (I know others don't agree and believe people have the right to "own" rivers, beaches, mountains and forests etc - but it always seems morally wrong to me). I understand money is short and that is a fair comment, but £1.34 a week can't be that difficult, if you want to fish, start saving now for next year ;) The problem is, whilst your view sounds well and good, you only have to look at waters without controlling interests to see that they soon become rubbish tips. People, before the great fishing clubs came around, respected their countryside, it's not the same today,somebody has to clear up. Reading do a far better job than many in looking after their fisheries, you are not paying for snobbery value at all, it's the ability to fish well looked after fisheries. Why should a club whose members look after waters, and who pay an annual fee, let people fish at the same cost as they do and put nothing back ?
the wise one on 05/06/2012 07:38:51
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I understand money is short and that is a fair comment, but £1.34 a week can't be that difficult, if you want to fish, start saving now for next year ;) The problem is, whilst your view sounds well and good, you only have to look at waters without controlling interests to see that they soon become rubbish tips. People, before the great fishing clubs came around, respected their countryside, it's not the same today,somebody has to clear up. Reading do a far better job than many in looking after their fisheries, you are not paying for snobbery value at all, it's the ability to fish well looked after fisheries. Why should a club whose members look after waters, and who pay an annual fee, let people fish at the same cost as they do and put nothing back ? Couldnt agree more. I wish the club I'm a member of would stop daytickets on all it's waters, I'd happily pay more. It allows daytickets on some, and they tend to be the ones with litter problems. The club only waters are clean and a real pleasure to fish. When you break it down it's a no brainer, club books are just fantastic value. T.W.O
maceo on 05/06/2012 09:27:09
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I really don't agree. I don't see that someone in a position to lash out £70 would be any less likely to litter than someone who can only afford a day ticket. I think that's a bit insulting really. As for saving up, well it's a nice idea, but any attempt at savings are soon eaten up by a crisis when they regularly come along (as you'd expect with 3 kids). Banning day tickets means effectively banning the less well off from fishing that area and as I said before - the concept that someone "owns" a stretch of natural river doesn't sit easily with me. It's like claiming ownership of the air or the sea. All my life I've had rich people throwing me off amenities they claim to own because I can't pay and it becomes wearing. I was born in this country and I should be able to enjoy it the same as everyone else. When I was a kid I was good at tennis and used to spend hours on the courts in the local park with my mates bashing one bald ball about fiercely. All well and good until Wimbledon started and then the rich old people would come along in their fine whites and shout "you boys! get orf our courts!" and then stand there playing their silly tippy-tap over the net. I once asked them how I could become a member so I wouldn't get thrown orf all the time and they told me it was £200 a year and you had to get proposed by a current member and I don't know what else. It was just code meaning that rich people could use the facility when they wanted and poor people had to clear orf. It's just the same now with fishing. I wish they'd make a law that said that natural features such as rivers must be open to all with a reasonably priced day ticket - say the annual rate divided by 52 and then multiplied by 3? That seems fair. That would make the cost of fishing that Reading water on a day ticket £4 rather than the £10 they're demanding now.
Will Barnard on 05/06/2012 10:35:50
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I come across an awful lot of day ticket anglers who moan about the cost of a club book. These commercial fisheries charge an average of 10 quid for the day. When asked about how often a commercial fishery angler goes to their local pool, they exclaim at least 20 times a year....so that's 200 quid...??!!!! When explained that, in this instance, RDAA have 33 venues and fishing can be had all year round, it soon makes sense. On the subject of day tickets on club waters. Some leases don't allow for anyone other than a registered club member to be on the venue hence having accompanied guest tickets only, some also require a locked car parking facility, a code or what have you obviously can't be given out willy-nilly. There is of course littering issues on day ticket stretches because some of the non caring anglers have no recourse, they won't receive a stamp on their permit or anything that a paying club member would get. Another thing I'd just like to mention is how pro-active many clubs, not just RDAA are when it comes to environmental work. On waters which we own or control, we can sort issues and preserve here we can. Other recreational users don't give a damn if the such and such are not returning to spawn to a particular spot, clubs and associations look after their waters out of the funds from membership, as do commercial and micro managed fisheries, though they make a lot more money. A point of note, the cost for a senior associate permit is £70 You can join RDAA through Courage/SE for a grand total of 60 quid all in Children may accompany a senior permit holder for free without a day ticket or without the need of their own junior permit (usually £14).
the wise one on 05/06/2012 11:26:56
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I really don't agree. I don't see that someone in a position to lash out £70 would be any less likely to litter than someone who can only afford a day ticket. I think that's a bit insulting really. As for saving up, well it's a nice idea, but any attempt at savings are soon eaten up by a crisis when they regularly come along (as you'd expect with 3 kids). Banning day tickets means effectively banning the less well off from fishing that area and as I said before - the concept that someone "owns" a stretch of natural river doesn't sit easily with me. It's like claiming ownership of the air or the sea. All my life I've had rich people throwing me off amenities they claim to own because I can't pay and it becomes wearing. I was born in this country and I should be able to enjoy it the same as everyone else. When I was a kid I was good at tennis and used to spend hours on the courts in the local park with my mates bashing one bald ball about fiercely. All well and good until Wimbledon started and then the rich old people would come along in their fine whites and shout "you boys! get orf our courts!" and then stand there playing their silly tippy-tap over the net. I once asked them how I could become a member so I wouldn't get thrown orf all the time and they told me it was £200 a year and you had to get proposed by a current member and I don't know what else. It was just code meaning that rich people could use the facility when they wanted and poor people had to clear orf. It's just the same now with fishing. I wish they'd make a law that said that natural features such as rivers must be open to all with a reasonably priced day ticket - say the annual rate divided by 52 and then multiplied by 3? That seems fair. That would make the cost of fishing that Reading water on a day ticket £4 rather than the £10 they're demanding now. Do you smoke? Maybe have a swift pint or two down the pub at the weekend? The odd take-a-way on a Friday? I don't. It was a conscious effort by me, because money is tight, and I'd much rather go fishing. My club book, for around £100 is great value, with several river stretches, plus lakes & pool all for £2 odd a week. Its a no brainer, and if you can't afford that, then what about bait when you go and fish these dayticket waters? Couple of pints of maggots or a kg boilies, all very expensive. What about a rod licence? Do you consider that to be expensive too? Rather than criticise those that make these decisions, try to support them, by joining the club. T.W.O
maceo on 05/06/2012 12:33:43
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To answer Will first:- Where I fish (a little further up the Thames) it's £3 for a day ticket. Yes, it's quite true that I probably end up paying more than the £70 annual fee in day tickets BUT that's because I can usually scrape up £3 but I can't find £70 in one lump as I explained earlier. I live in West Oxon, I'm really not at all interested in fishing some lakes way off in Berkshire that might also be on the club's ticket. However, I might well be interested in fishing that bit of river at Longworth that's fairly local to me. If the 'lease' doesn't allow unaccompanied day ticket anglers, then that's precisely what I'm complaining about. Who gave anyone the right to assume they could give out leases on a natural river in the first place? As for locks and codes - they shouldn't be allowed to fence and lock the river off and then the problem wouldn't arise. Littering I've already spoken about. If it really were a problem then it would be easy to tackle. How about taking someone's name and address when you sell them a day ticket? Then if they litter the swim, you could ban them or fine them or whatever else you want to do. If I happened to have £70 floating loose in my pocket to buy a season ticket, I really don't see that it would make me less inclined to littering. As for environmental and preservation work, surely banning day tickets means fewer people fishing there and less income? Cheap day ticket and free stretches very near to the stretch in question seem to be environmentally preserved just fine. ---------- Post added at 05:33 ---------- Previous post was at 05:25 ---------- To answer the Wise One:- Yes, I have to confess that I do have the vice of smoking, but I don't drink or do takeaways (except once in a blue moon). It'd be nice to give up and save the money, but it's not so easy as many will testify. As I said to Will, I don't want to fish some distant lakes and pools miles away in Reading - what I want is to fish a local stretch of river every now and then. Specifically the stretch at Longworth. As far as bait is concerned, I only use natural baits so usually I only take a selection of a half pint of maggots (£1.50), a tin of sweetcorn (48p) and perhaps a bag of hemp (£1.50). Yes, the rod licence is expensive (for me) at £27, but I always buy one although I've never had it checked yet. I think that cost should really include some rights to fish the natural water features of this country and not have them horded by those who have money for their personal and exclusive use.
cg74 on 05/06/2012 12:35:51
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Maceo, I can fully understand where you're coming from, personally I wouldn't pay £10 a year to fish the RDAA's stretch of Thames at Northmoor but with clubs, you need to look at the broader picture. Clubs want to sell season tickets, which do offer its members value for money. I'm not going to detail reasons why a season ticket benefits clubs more than the equivalent (or more) cash sum from day ticket; I'll just say responsibleness....... Another consideration when choosing a potential club, is to look at all their waters and obviously clubs that are based away from the water that is key to you, will tend to have the majority of waters near(ish) to their central base. To get better value join a local club - If its upper Thames waters you want, try Abingdon & Oxford AA (£40) or South Cerney AC (£60).
the wise one on 05/06/2012 12:37:52
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Plenty of free fishing about for you rod licence fee Environment Agency - Where to go fishing
chub_on_the_block on 05/06/2012 12:40:39
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Well id like to offer a little support to Maceo here. I can see both sides of the argument, but a point i would add is this: As taxpayers we pay for the EA and therefore all that it spends on rivers should be of benefit to everybody. The Thames below Runnymede is free fishing and an enormous resource for Londoners (or anyone else). Why should my taxes go to funding work on streams or rivers i sometimes cant even access let alone fish?. I am also quite sure that the focus of a lot of fishery/ecological initiatives is on rivers of the highest ecological quality, which are also least likely to be readily available for coarse fishing as most are syndicated trout fisheries of some form or other "preserved fisheries".
cg74 on 05/06/2012 12:42:46
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Who gave anyone the right to assume they could give out leases on a natural river in the first place? As for locks and codes - they shouldn't be allowed to fence and lock the river off and then the problem wouldn't arise. Sorry Maceo, this England, not Ireland - Maybe William the Conqueror took away the peasants right to fish rivers for free?
Titus on 05/06/2012 13:51:28
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It's not often I get a chance to agree with Fred but I'm with him all the way this time. Why do people think they have a God given right to everything without paying the going rate? I'd like to have a thatched cottage with a couple of acres of land, a lake and a guest annex for my mates all on the banks of the Wye but with my circumstances I have to settle for a house on an estate with a small garden, a koi pond, couple of spare rooms and an 8 mile drive to the river. We have all been short of money but there is a saying 'You should cut your coat according to your cloth', Cut your coat according to your cloth: Information from Answers.com. Rather than moan about your lack of resources why not do as I and my wife did when our family was growing up and my daughter does now....Get a second job to boost your finances, I'm a qualified avionics engineer but I worked twilight shifts stacking supermarket shelves, my wife who is a hospital nurse manager worked as an evening cleaner and my daughter, an administrator now does bar work in the evenings. Even now I'm retired I still do the odd little trade to make a little extra cash as do many of the lads with rods on so called exclusive clubs.
maceo on 05/06/2012 14:39:53
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Why do people think they have a God given right to everything without paying the going rate? Well because God gave us the rivers I suppose! I'm not asking for the rich man's mansion or his Range Rover etc. All I want is to be able to fish in a river that's been flowing through there for centuries and which should rightly belong to everyone to enjoy.
Titus on 05/06/2012 16:02:38
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So what would you say if I brought my mates round to yours for a game of football on your lawn?
jasonbean1 on 05/06/2012 16:21:21
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Maceo... it costs peanuts to fish the thames around oxford, ODAA waters are the prime fisheries (medley, channel, folly, donnington and clifton hampden) join an associated club such as Littlemore, Masons or Kidlington. membership starts from £10......no brainer to fish without a doubt the best stretches of the thames and for some strange reason hardly anyone fishes them?:confused: Cheers Jason
geoffmaynard on 05/06/2012 16:22:17
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As for locks and codes - they shouldn't be allowed to fence and lock the river off and then the problem wouldn't arise. Mmmm.. Where is the difference between owning property and owning a river? It's all property. I wonder if you would feel the same if it were your river on your property? I think the RDAA ticket is some of the the best value in the area. I live 45 mins from the nearest water they have and will rarely have the chance to 'get my money's-worth' but it's still a hell of a lot of water for a relatively small price, and mostly not over fished either.
maceo on 06/06/2012 07:17:14
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Titus and Geoff - I don't think you could have a football game on my postage stamp lawn (or more accurately my landlord's lawn). To reiterate, I'm not talking about reasonable private property, I'm talking about the right to fish a local river that should belong to everyone to enjoy. I think if you could bottle up all the air you'd complain that people expect the God given right to breathe it for nothing without paying their way. Jason - Yes I was a member of ODAA last year and may well join again this year. I fished Pixey's Meadow once or twice and tried Medley once, but didn't really like the latter very much - too windswept, wide and shallow and too many dog walkers etc. about.
Peter Jacobs on 06/06/2012 07:20:11
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I fished Pixey's Meadow once or twice and tried Medley once, but didn't really like the latter very much - too windswept, wide and shallow and too many dog walkers etc. about. you should have stuck it out and fished Medley a lot more then. It can produce some amazing fish, just ask 'The Dog' or Mark W.
maceo on 06/06/2012 07:30:57
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I don't doubt it Peter and I may well give it another go this season at some point. However, for me the most important thing on a session is peace & quiet and beautiful natural surroundings. Most times I'd rather fish somewhere like that (e.g. Longworth!) and catch a couple of 6oz roach all day than spend the day in some grim derelict industrial swim by a motorway bridge and catch and couple of two pounders.


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