Announcements

Club announcements keeping members and visitors informed

25 Nov 23:

The Committee are delighted to invite you to early enrolment for the 2024 fishing season.

The enrolment will take place on Saturday 16th December and Sunday 17th December between 10am and 3pm on both days.

This enrolment is for the Trout Season (15th Mar - 6th Oct 2024) and/or Pike Season (7th Oct 2024 - 14th Mar 2025).

Prices are shown below.  The details that we require for enrolment are name, address & postcode, date of birth, mobile phone number, email address and a head and shoulders photograph. (We will take your photograph at the clubhouse when you come for enrolment.)

We look forward to seeing you on either of these days and that this will give you a chance to get an early Christmas present for yourself, or perhaps too, for someone else.  (Usual terms and conditions, constitution and rules apply and are available at the clubhouse.)

28 Oct 23:

You might be aware that there is a significant challenge facing the trout angling community in Scotland.

The challenge is that a major provider of trout stock is changing their business model and, as a result, they are no longer supplying fish to any of their customers - including us.

The reason they are changing their business model is due to their cost in bringing on the fish - with increase in the 45% price of feed (that now comes from the Continent) and also the fuel and staff cost for deliveries to their various customers.

As they are a major supplier in Scotland, this is likely to put pressure on supply vs demand nationally and this may be reflected in future higher pricing for fish.

However, the committee are delighted to let you know that we are successfully navigating the challenge and that we continue to be a strong position as one of the leading angling clubs in Scotland.

Our first action is to take a portion of next years fish this year while our current supplier clears their stock. Ie: it is better to secure available stock now, and at a negotiated and competitive price.

We are grateful for the excellent support from the pike anglers and bailiffs that will watch over the loch and the trout over winter. We also have welcome active support from Police Scotland in identifying and prosecuting illegal fishing.

The second action taken by the Committee is to be included in the discussions with our current supplier as they transfer parts of their legacy business to others. This willingness to do this is only possible as we are a major customer of the current supplier. We are delighted to be in this strong position to be part of any transfer.

The Committee continue to appreciate the positive support of the members for “Fishing at it’s best” and as we begin preparations for enrolment for the 2024 season.

Look out for the newsletter coming soon!

1 Oct 23: 

This announcement is to Pike anglers and bailiffs.

Following the club surgery today, and the strong consensus of feedback at that meeting and text replies, the Committee has decided NOT to introduce pike day tickets except for organised pike association groups.

This is great news and helps set the direction for continuing to build on Hillend and the club being a fabulous place for pike fishing.

Thank you for your input and support.

We will shortly be sending invite to the club pike anglers to join the club 2023 WhatsApp. Please join the group to help support one another on the loch and to get further updates. Thank you.

11 Sep 23:

Airdrie & District Angling Club Announcement: The Committee are delighted to announce that the clubhouse will continue to be open during the pike season on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 1pm (except Sunday 15th October).

Note that :

(1) This is on a trial basis and is only possible with the generous volunteering from John Davidson.

(2) Pike bait will also be available for purchase in the clubhouse when the pike season starts (from 7th October).

(3) Remember, you can still enrol for a pike season ticket at the clubhouse during September.

Thanks again John for your consistent and generous volunteering.

11 Sep 23:

The Committee have resisted a change to fishing restrictions but members have been, for some time, calling for a change as a result of the prolific fishing in the narrows that has been happening immediate following the stocking of the loch. The Committee agree with the membership that this is unfair practice and now needs to be managed. Therefore, from last week, there is a new bye law in place;

New bye law:

"l. On stocking days there is strictly no boat or bank fishing permitted between “Jim’s house” to "Boathouse bay" on the North side and the bridge at the East end to the and "School burn" on the South side, West of the Clubhouse. This restriction applies until 24 hours after stocking (typically 11am Thursday to 11am on Friday)."

The website has been updated to reflect this change. Members are reminded that all the rules are available for review on the website at https://www.airdrieangling.org/clubrules

Please support the membership request for this change with honouring the temporary restriction for fair fishing for all.

27 Jul 23:

The Committee of Airdrie & District Angling Club are delighted to announce that the Open Day on Saturday 5th August 2023 will have cash prizes.

23 Apr 2023:

Membership enrolment is now closed.  If you wish to fish at Hillend Loch during 2023 then Day Tickets are available at the clubhouse and at Caldercruix convenience store.

24 Jan 2023:

2023 AGM

The club committee regret to announce that the AGM on 30^th January has been postponed.

The reason for this is that the school has cancelled our booking in favour of a parents evening. The school has priority. A complaint was raised with the booking office and with the local councillor, but the booking remains cancelled.

We did consider an alternative venue on the same evening, but the logistics of redirecting members would likely significantly delay the start of the meeting and reduce the effectiveness of the AGM. The booking office apologises for the inconvenience caused.

To give time for members to make arrangements in their diaries, the AGM will now be held on Monday 24^th April at 7pm at Caldervale High School.

While this change is short notice and is frustrating for the committee, and the members, we would appreciate your support with your understanding, and if you can, in attending the rescheduled meeting.

31 Dec 2022:

Early online enrolment is now closed.  The next opportunity to enrol will be at the clubhouse during any ones of the enrolments dates:

Saturday 18th February and Sunday 19th February,

Saturday 25th February and Sunday 26th February,

Saturday  4th  March and Sunday  5th  March.

(10am - 3pm on each day)

Membership is available on a first come first serve basis.

29 Nov 2022:

2023 Membership enrolment and 2023 AGM

The club committee are delighted to announce the dates for the 2023 membership enrolment (see overleaf).

Costs continue to rise for everyone due to the extraordinary economic circumstances. Despite that, the Committee has worked to minimize the rise in membership fees.  They have also taken into account the need to develop the canteen facility to bring back the revenue stream that helps support the finances for the healthy stocking of the loch with plenty fish.  The committee is delighted to say that the pricing framework will continue to offer a reduced charge for existing members who maintain their membership in 2023. New or lapsed members will continue to pay an enrolment/ re-enrolment fee.

The 2022 fishing season was a huge success, and we again expect to receive a significant number of requests for new membership.  In 2022 we had 144 new members join. The maximum membership limit was relaxed due to COVID resulting in a final total membership of 864. The target maximum for next year is 700 members. As the enrolment is expected to be busy, current members are strongly encouraged to enrol early. So if you can, see the notes overleaf and enrol early - maybe even buy membership for your or someone else’s Christmas!

In 2022, the arrangement for the April AGM had to be changed. The Committee however managed to engage the entire membership by providing a balloted AGM during enrolment. This was incredibly successful with the support of 95% of the membership.  However, an SGM was held on 7th November 2022 where members agreed to both (a) move the AGM from the end of April to the end of January each year and (b) to continue include all members in AGM decisions via ballot or by in person voting and (c) to give advance notice of the questions. This therefore means, the 2023 AGM questions will be limited to those intimated in this letter. Members can decide if they prefer to respond at the AGM on 30^th January 2023 or during the enrolment. To ensure one person one vote, ballot papers will be issued at both the AGM and at enrolment. There will be no “show of hands” for voting at the AGM. The results will be announced only after both AGM ballot and enrolment ballot results are counted. Members wishing to volunteer to help oversee the audit of the ballot process are welcome to do so and should write to the Club Secretary. In honouring the decision taken by the members at the SGM the AGM meeting itself now cannot consider new or other questions or issues. 

The AGM will be on,

 7pm on Monday 30^th January 2023 at Caldervale High School Theatre, Towers Rd, Airdrie ML6 8PG. 

For the January 2023 AGM ballot the questions on the ballot will be limited to

1.     Do you want to re-elect the current Committee?

2.     Do you yourself want to be considered for the Committee?

3.     Do you want to nominate someone else for membership?

Finally, the fish stocking target for 2023 is over 12 tonnes. The Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish you a restful and healthy winter as we all look forward to an enjoyable and successful 2023 season.

18 Oct 2022: 

Letter to members: 2022 Extended season & Special Meeting (Trout voting Members only)

The club committee are delighted to announce that with the recent recovery in water levels, the fishing season for rainbow trout has been extended until the 6th of November. 

The Committee are also delighted to announce that, at the end of September, 6 double stocks of fish and some super  large Rainbows were put in at Hillend to give a chance for fabulous fishing at the end of the season. Please take advantage of this if you can.

The Club Committee are also delighted to invite you to a Special Meeting for members. In 2022, the arrangement for the April AGM had to be changed with the delay to the legal action. The Committee however managed to engage the entire membership by providing a balloted AGM during enrolment. This was incredibly successful with the support of over 95% of the membership. The plan therefore to continue with this practice that works well for larger clubs such as ours.   However, it would be good to have the opportunity for the Committee to have a face-to-face communication with available members. The Committee therefore plan to call a Special Meeting at 

7pm on Monday 7th November 2022 at Caldervale High School Theatre, Towers Rd, Airdrie ML6 8PG.

The agenda will be a general update on (1) the club’s positive response to COVID, (2) the successful outcome of the legal action, (3) the 2022 stocking plan & quota and (4) the club financial health. (5) There will also be a members vote on required improvements to the constitution including that recommended by the club lawyer. These are posted on the club noticeboard if you wish to review them ahead of the meeting,

Please come and support your club and remember to bring your membership card to ensure entry at the meeting.

The Committee are now ready to announce a new Facebook Group for club notices called “Airdrie & District Angling Club”. Everyone is welcome to join to view posts.

Finally, the Committee would also like to announce that early enrolment for the new season will be offered again this year. Invitations for enrolment are expected to be sent out in November – a chance for an early Christmas present!

26 Sep 2022:

Big News: Now that the water levels are beginning to recover the Committee is now able to announce 2 big measures to benefit anglers. 

The first is to extend the fishing season through to 6th November 2022 (fishing for Brown Trout is still not permitted). 

The second big measure is a massive restocking to give the end of season a mega boost.  This week (26th September) 6 big stocks or rainbows will be put in with some cracking big fish.

Tight lines everyone as you enjoy "Fishing at it's best!" at Hillend.

29 Jan 2022:

2022 Membership Enrolment: The count down begins!

As it is now only 3 weeks to go for the start of enrolment at the clubhouse, please make sure you put the dates in your diary:

Saturday 19th February

Sunday 20th February

Saturday 26th February

Sunday 27th February

Saturday 5th March

Sunday 6th March

We know that some members continue to be concerned about social distancing. So while COVID restrictions are easing, the club continues to support the health and interest of the members with having the enrolment at the canteen takeaway counter - similar to last year. Please support your fellow anglers and the volunteers with this approach.

Nearly 200 people have already supported the club with early enrolment. Thankyou. Many of them will pop by the clubhouse to collect their membership cards either during enrolment or on the first day they come to fish. This means that the traffic at the clubhouse enrolment is expected to be lighter for those still to check details and pay.

Volunteers for helping out on the day are always welcome - just ping a note in messenger if you can help out.

Big thanks to all the Committee and the other volunteers for the months of work behind the scenes to get this great club ready for another great season.