MEMBERS of Inverness Angling Club may be forced to dig deeper into their pockets if they want to enjoy fishing on the Town Water next season.
This follows a 110 per cent rise in the club's rent and assessment charges which will rise from £11,000 to £23,000 - considerably more than the 33 per cent indicated by the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board.
The assessment charge of £23,000 was advised to IAC in January and is backdated to April 2010 resulting in a further £12,000 having to be paid out of club reserves to cover the increased cost.
The have subsequently appealed the assessors' fishery valuation, but this appeal will not be processed until December 2011/January 2012 due to the volume of appeals that have been made.
Present outgoing costs are rent at £15,000, Ness District Salmon Fishery Board Assessment at £23,000 and incidental costs of £8,000, including accountancy fees, honorariums, printing and stationary, making an overall operating cost of about £46,000.
The average full members and associates total 265 presently paying £125 and £165 providing an income of £34,000, which mean a shortfall of £12,000.
At this year's AGM on November 23, members will be asked to decide on permit costs for the 2012 season, and there are a number of considerations which may be made when evaluating future permit costs.
These are to:
* Allow 2012 permit costs to remain at 2011 levels and any deficit to be paid from club reserves.
* Increase 2012 permit costs to achieve required income, which would mean increasing full members permit cost to £150 more more.
* Changes to the criteria for concessionary membership - the present criteria for concessionary membership is achieving the age of 65 and having 10 years continuous membership.
* Associate membership permit cost - the present associate membership level being essential to the clubs' finances, a further increase to this permit cost may result in a loss of associate members.
Members are asked to consider these facts prior to the AGM where they will be required to make a decision on permit costs or propose any alternatives.
The first week of the trial extension produced only three fish an 11lb fish to Alec Elliot, a 14lb fish to Archie Campbell and a 7lb fish to Denny Mackay.
Fishing effort for the week was limited due to exceptionally high water levels.
Mid-October produced some nice fish at Achagour Fishery, near Nairn, including a cracking 3lb 12oz blue trout for G McKay, a 4lb 2oz rainbow for Tony Daucey, and a 4lb rainbow for Ron Maslin.
Others with fish over 3lb included F McLean, Dennis Grant and Glen Stewart. Ron Maslin had 24 for his visit; Julian Land 11; Rod Sommerville 10; D Moodie nine; A Riach and C Ross, eight each; A Stenar seven; and with six each - B Moore, W Hunt, F McLean, M MacLeod, M Smith and George Smith.
If you have a fishing story to tell, club news or photos for publication contact the sports desk on 01463 732222 or email sports@highland-news.co-uk. We would be delighted to hear from you.
LAF
