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Which to join...Ringwood or Christchurch?

M

Matt Baynes

Member
Hi everyone, newbie member here!

I have been slowly getting into my barbel fishing for the last couple of years and I am looking to join either of these clubs next year.

I fished the Avon a bit as a youngster many years ago, although I cannot remember exactly where and over the last couple of seasons I have fished the Royalty a bit.

Both clubs have access to plenty of the Avon and Stour, but I was wondering if people could give me their opinions on which club to join? I have been recommended Ringwood by a few people, but was hoping to get the opinions of those that have perhaps been members of both clubs.

Many Thanks

Matt
 
RDAA seem to be in the accendancy at the moment and have a very impressive portfolio, but CAC's Somerley waters take some beating. I agree with Graham,...if you can afford it Matt, join both and you will have enough quality barbel fishing to last a lifetime!
Dave T.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, all advice is well appreciated. However, realistically though I can only afford to join one or the other as I have a couple of other club memberships to renew for my other species fishing. Also, I would like to concentrate more on one or two stretches and joining both would probably be too much water for me to get my head around!
 
In that case in relation to Barbel and surroundings..... just for the Somerley stretch I would join CAC
Neil
 
If you join CAC, you could always get a dayticket for Ringwoods better known fisheries,ie, the Royalty, Severals and Throop if the mood takes you!
peter
 
Neil Sanger said:
In that case in relation to Barbel and surroundings..... just for the Somerley stretch I would join CAC
Neil
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Could'nt agree more Neil,...Ringwood have equally as good river venues, but there is a real sense of privilege when fishing on the Somerley Estate,..subjective, I know,..just personal preferance I guess.
Dave T.
 
No day tickets on Severals Peter.
I'm fortunate to belong to both and wouldn't want to choose only one at the others expense.
 
The final choice will be easy. They both have great waters, especially rivers, so whichever you pick you've joined a top club.
 
I am also a member of both clubs and would not like to be disloyal to either.

I pay my Ringwood fees with three post dated cheques Aug, Sep and Nov and my CAC fees in the same way Jan, Feb and Mar which spreads the cost nicely;)

Both clubs have some truly wonderful waters for all the reasons mentioned so the choice must be yours Matt.

Although I know it will never happen in my lifetime, I have always said that the best thing that could happen for both clubs would be amalgamation, creating probably the best club in the country but I feel I may be in a minority:(
 
Keith Humphreys said:
Although I know it will never happen in my lifetime, I have always said that the best thing that could happen for both clubs would be amalgamation, creating probably the best club in the country but I feel I may be in a minority:(
Click to expand...

Steady on Keith,.. we might have to start a whole new thread for that subject! ;)

Dave T.:;)
 
I am a relatively new member of CAC and think they have some wonderful waters, but I believe they have had some torrid times over the last couple of years resulting in losing some key waters to RDAA and some of their finest fisheries having some drastic "manacuring" by Natural England in order to improve flight paths for birds (Ibsley and Somerly estate).

Regardless of the politics (wether personality based or otherwise) I have a strong belief that both clubs would benifit from an amalgamation as previously stated.

This would give them a strong local voice and bearing in mind that CAC control the Ringwood fishery and Lifelands on the Avon at Ringwood! And RDAA control the Lower Stour and have the club access to the Royalty fisheries in Christchurch! It makes perfect sense to me or am I missing something:(
 
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History takes a long time to forget.............. Unfortunately

There's still a little bit of dead wood in the way Keith.
 
With the high cost of keeping such excellent waters, an amalgamation would have to result in an annual fee that many people could not afford. Today you have a choice, one or the other or both. This means if you are unable to afford both memberships, at least you are still able to secure access to more prime water than you can get round in a year for a reasonable cost.
 
My thoughts entirely Roger.
Matt for instance has stated that he only wished to join one club, hence this topic. An almalgamation of both clubs could result in a loss of members for the reasons you have suggested.
Putting aside any old 'history' between the clubs, and looking at the facts, I cannot see any obvious benifits for either club to almalgamate...big is not always best,..unless we're talking barbel of course!!:D
Perhaps some fishing rights would not increase by so much, so often, if riparian owners could not play one club off against the other though.
I agree with Keith that it is something of an anomaly that RDAA's prime waters are in Christchurch and CAC's in Ringwood!...all part of that 'history' I think.
Apols. to Matt for hijacking his thread.
Dave T:)
 
Thanks for your thoughts gents and no need to apologise for hijacking the thread..its good to hear some healthy debate and one of the reasons I decided to join the forum! Please carry on as its always interesting to hear peoples views on such topics.
 
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