Would you start a new fishery today?

[Norfolkdipper]

Ok this is just a dream, that much I admit.

I have wanted to get my hands on these lakes for a few years now, as well as 1.6 miles of river bank. My plan is to create a pleasant venue with space at each lake peg to park a vehicle, pitch a 2 man bivvy & space to fish. To an estimated max of 600 pegs, yes that sounds like I am packing then in, but believe me there is room. Each lake is over 900yds long & over 200yds wide, so not to cramped, as some lakes are. there will be camping, ( in a stone free field), for those who want or the use of 10 self catering mobile homes. The clubhouse will have - bait / tackle shop, daytime cafe, evening bar, general store & day office.

 

Estimated stock levels per lake:-

 

Gudgeon 10000

Minnow 10000

Ruffe 10000

Bullhead 10000

Stickleback 10000

Bitterling 7500

Green tench from 2.5 lb 1000

Golden tench from 2.5lb 500

Silver Orfe from 4oz 1200

Golden Orfe from 4oz 750

Bream from 10" / 3lb 5000

Barbel from 3lb 500

Perch from 8oz 7500

Roach from 6oz 10000

Rudd from 6" 3000

Dace from 6oz 15000

Chub from 12oz 3000

 

Carp

Crucian 2500

Ghost 250

Mirror 200

Common 250

 

 

Stock levels are only estimated, but give an idea of what I want to do. The speices covered will give the best chioce.

 

 

The site will ALL be a day ticket, (dawn to dusk), 24hr & session water. Ranging from (adult) £7.50 per day - £15.00 per 24hr.

well that's the idea, so tell me what you like & what you would change.

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark.

[Dave H]

Ok this is just a dream, that much I admit.

I have wanted to get my hands on these lakes for a few years now, as well as 1.6 miles of river bank. My plan is to create a pleasant venue with space at each lake peg to park a vehicle, pitch a 2 man bivvy & space to fish. To an estimated max of 600 pegs, yes that sounds like I am packing then in, but believe me there is room. Each lake is over 900yds long & over 200yds wide, so not to cramped, as some lakes are. there will be camping, ( in a stone free field), for those who want or the use of 10 self catering mobile homes. The clubhouse will have - bait / tackle shop, daytime cafe, evening bar, general store & day office.

 

Estimated stock levels per lake:-

 

Gudgeon 10000

Minnow 10000

Ruffe 10000

Bullhead 10000

Stickleback 10000

Bitterling 7500

Green tench from 2.5 lb 1000

Golden tench from 2.5lb 500

Silver Orfe from 4oz 1200

Golden Orfe from 4oz 750

Bream from 10" / 3lb 5000

Barbel from 3lb 500

Perch from 8oz 7500

Roach from 6oz 10000

Rudd from 6" 3000

Dace from 6oz 15000

Chub from 12oz 3000

 

Carp

Crucian 2500

Ghost 250

Mirror 200

Common 250

 

 

Stock levels are only estimated, but give an idea of what I want to do. The speices covered will give the best chioce.

 

 

The site will ALL be a day ticket, (dawn to dusk), 24hr & session water. Ranging from (adult) £7.50 per day - £15.00 per 24hr.

well that's the idea, so tell me what you like & what you would change.

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Mark.

 

And a pound off for Anglers Net Members

[Dales]

Mark, it might be a dream but what is the financial situation in the dream. Does the fishery need to make money or is the idea it could be run at a loss. I ask as I am not sure who it is aimed at other then maybe loaded with your favs. In fantasy fishery owner, I have my exotic stocked lake but to make money and attract anglers in the real world I would no doubt run a different venue.

 

For my pennies worth you have far to many mini species they would annoy the hell out of the carp and specimen anglers and make it hard work for the pleasure anglers to get at the Roach and Rudd. I don't see the point of stocking them. Commercially it's a waste of money. Most anglers would be driven around the bend trying to avoid them. It's hard enough when your venue has one but all of them. I think after one trip I would look for a new venue.

 

What size Carp would be stocked? Womuld need some big ones to attract the average carp angler and would still be hard to keep them as regulars due to far to many nuisance species. I think you may be trying to appeal to everyone and end up appealing to none.

 

Chuck in some Catfish, Zander and Pike and let them add some stock control and allow live baits caught on site but better still do not stock all those small fish.

 

Night fishing a water with Ruff would do my head in. They are making chub fishing on the Lea hard work. I now know why so many Chub anglers go the boili route. It's not only crays that rob your bait.

 

 

In a few years with all the bait fish it might throw up some good Perch.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Dales

[Peter Waller]

There have been far too many natural fisheries ruined by owners obsessed with attracting carpies and the so called specialist anglers. Be brave and resist the call by those who want to buy instant 'success'.

[Dick Dastardly]

"Would you start a new fishery today?" Quite honestly I wouldnt Mark! Its damed hard work and unless you go the full out commercial mud puddle route extremely hard to make a living from!

 

I would be more interested in taking on an existing,mature,natural water and just "conserving" it (is that the right word?) Still hard work and even less income but far more worthwhile!

 

Also the "dream" can soon become a "nightmare" and indeed spoil your own fishing.

[Norfolkdipper]

Well I wanted honest answers, thanks for those. The idea needed sorting, hence why I posted everything to get a reaction & advice. Yes I understand the 'stock' needs to be thinned out. If I was to go the the carp way, I would have to mix it with others fish to attract both carp & non carp anglers. But then do we need another carp fishery? If not carp, then what would you suggest as stock, beside :- Roach, bream, chub, dace, perch, pike, zander, orfe,tench G tench, barbel & nothing under 4oz.

 

Q. Platforms or open bank?

 

No there will not be a pound off for AN members, there would be 2 or 3 weekends a year when whole site would be free to AN members. So how's that for a '600 peg' fish-in?

[Steve Walker]

For me, river species and ornamentals would be a negative, but there are very popular waters on the model you describe, just not my kind of thing.

[Dales]

But then do we need another carp fishery?

 

Very good point, I think a lot of people would think there are far to many.

 

not carp, then what would you suggest as stock, beside :- Roach, bream, chub, dace, perch, pike, zander, orfe,tench G tench, barbel & nothing under 4oz.

 

That's the problem, if not Carp then what? In all honesty, most people want Carp and lots of them. A Carp free water or one with just a few Carp does sound appealing but whether it has the legs to appeal to enough anglers to make it pay I am not sure. The thing is those who would enjoy a non-carp water are likely also not be to keen on the idea of Chub & Barbel or any exotics. The Non-carp market is a hard one to judge and to cater for. To ensure regular income, I think Carp are needed unless you have another unique selling point. Maybe a fantastic looking venue, peaceful, not many other anglers or maybe unique species.

 

Q. Platforms or open bank?

 

I like bank fishing, but if platforms are needed to fish certain areas then I would put them in.

[Mat Hillman]

If I was to go the the carp way, I would have to mix it with others fish to attract both carp & non carp anglers. But then do we need another carp fishery? If not carp, then what would you suggest as stock, beside :- Roach, bream, chub, dace, perch, pike, zander, orfe,tench G tench, barbel & nothing under 4oz.

 

Q. Platforms or open bank?

 

No there will not be a pound off for AN members, there would be 2 or 3 weekends a year when whole site would be free to AN members. So how's that for a '600 peg' fish-in?

 

 

If you Were to go the full carp / speci route to be honest I think you'd have trouble attracting "casual" or pleasure anglers at all. I know that I avoid such waters like the plague - I get fed up of sitting in a swim and then being yelled at by someone 70+ yards away "Oi I'm fishing there!!"

 

But as the place has 2 lakes, is there any reason why they both have to have the same stock? Set one up to attract the carpers, and the other a nice mixed stock to attract pleasure anglers, and more importantly financially, match bookings!

 

Oh and I much prefer fishing from the bank than a platform

 

Mat

[Anderoo]

I'm with Steve, no river species or exotics (definitely no barbel) and 600 swims is about 550 too many!

 

Somewhere pleasant and quiet with plenty of space with a nice natural mix of native stillwater species, and I'd be there like a shot. Tench, true crucians, roach, rudd, a few bream, a few carp if you must, perch, a few pike. Aim to get the tench and crucians to specimen sizes.

 

But unless you fill it with carp and are able to put up with trying to manage hundreds of loud and irritating people, I'd keep the day job