Windermere, Ambleside & District
Angling Association

WADAA is a large angling association with over 1200 members and twenty fisheries to look after – plus some 3,500 day visitors a year. In addition the Association also runs a very active coaching scheme for juniors and takes a leading role in angling development and representation on a broader scale across the county.To cope with this substantial and varied workload the Association now needs employed, professional staff which means that our structure and the way we work is rather different to most other associations.

WADAA Committee.

Our committee takes an advisory and policy making role rather than the usual hands on involvement with the running of the Association and its fisheries. It both represents the interests of members and focuses on longer term development. Committee members have a range of experience and often specific expertise in an area relevant to the Association’s work. The Committee meets quarterly and the current members are;

Chris Sodo (President), Grahame Hall (Chairman), Dave Helm, Helen Morrell, Bob Carlson, Vera Carlson, Jim Lloyd, Dave Hill, Mike Fearon, Chris Brett (co opted), Mark Meth Cohn (co opted), Chris Slater.

WADAA Association Manager

Neil Birkinshaw is WADAA’s full time manager. Neil is responsible not only for the management and development of the fisheries but also the Association’s substantial administrative workload. His work also includes the running of our junior section and its coaching programme together with wider involvement in angling development across Cumbria. He also edits and maintains www.lakedistrictfishing .net.

WADAA Fishery Officer

Bill Williams is the Association’s Fishery Officer. Bill's role is to patrol and monitor the fisheries and generally ensure that all is as it should be. In that respect Bill's former career means he is well equipped to ensure that members and other anglers fishing our waters do so in compliance of our rules. Fortunately the vast majority of members will only see his more affable side!

WADAA Maintenance Officer

WADAA fisheries have a high standard of maintainance - largely down to Terry Brood, our man who keeps everything shipshape. Terry not only looks after all our seasonal grass mowing and strimming but is also involved with the estate work side of most of our fishery developments. His expertise with a chainsaw is legendary. Terry also assists Bill with the monitoring of the fisheries - usually taking the very early morning shift!