New coarse fishery in Lancashire

[me]

Borwick Waters is British Waterways’ latest Fishery development and the first in its new Northern Region is scheduled to open at Easter. It is located just off J35 on the M6 at Kellet Lane.

Summary

Borwick Waters has been created from a 25 acre former gravel pit forming a 15 acre specimen lake. The Main Lake will have minimal stocking to enable the current large specimens, there are reports of a 35 lb. Pike, to remain. Existing stocks are something of a mystery though Pike, Carp, Perch, Tench and Eels are definitely present. Surrounding the specimen lake are 8 “satellite” pools ranging in size from 4 acres down to less than half an acres. These pools are to be heavily stocked with a minimum of 2,000 small Carp and other species per acre when public fishing begins in early April. Over £30,000 of fish are on order.

Free Fishing from early February until 1st April 2004

British Waterways is anxious to keep the Main Lake as natural as possible and would like to return the fish trapped in the “satellite” pools to the specimen lake. They are offering a limited number of Permits to anglers, free of charge, on the condition that any fish caught are transferred to the Main Lake and catch returns are completed to provide information. These Permits, which must be obtained in advance, will only be available for the period from now to 1st April 2004.

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Anglers wishing to obtain a Permit and make a booking for this exclusive offer must write to Steve Griffiths, Fisheries Manager, British Waterways, Navigation Road, Northwich, CW8 1BH.

Information for Anglers

The new fishery is situated in Lancashire just a mile from the Irish Sea and the warming waters of the Gulf Stream and less than half a mile from the nearest motorway junction. It promises to be very different from the usual commercial fisheries where pleasant surroundings sometimes take a back seat in the quest for convenience. The site has a “nature designation” as a Biological Heritage Site and long and careful planning has taken place to ensure that its nature value is protected while the site is developed as a superb fishing facility.

The 25 acre former gravel pit set in a further 8 acres of surrounding land is designated as a nature site for three reasons. During the Winter months large numbers of Ducks and Geese migrate from the North and East to overwinter there. In Spring, Tufted Ducks nest in the western margins of the lake and Lapwing chicks from the grassland to the North visit the margins. Day old Lapwing chicks need to access shallow muddy margins in their first day or two after hatching.

Imaginative thinking was needed to find innovative solutions which maintained the features that the wildlife need whilst accommodating the demands of the modern angler.

Work to separate off some of the bays around the lake to form self-contained pools which are being developed for angling whilst leaving the main body of the lake undisturbed is almost complete. The excavation of material on site to provide rock and soil for this separation has created additional fishing pools. This has given a total of nine fishing pools. During February and March 2004, work will continue to create over 200 fishing pegs, more than 1¼ miles of disabled-friendly paths, 650 yards of all weather tracks and 150 close to water car-parking spaces.

 

The main lake will remain at 15 acres and will have minimal stocking to enable the current large specimens (there are reports of a 35lb Pike) to remain. Existing stocks are something of a mystery though Pike, Perch, Carp, Tench and Eels are definitely present, and large Bream and Roach are believed to be. A handful of new species such as Grass Carp is planned. Pegs will be spaced at a minimum 25 yards and no fishing will be allowed on a reserved area at the south of the lake with about half the lake closed over the winter. A programme is underway to return native fish trapped in the separated pools.

 

The public will eventually be able to feed ducks and some very visible fish including Golden Orfe, Koi and Golden Tench in a pool separated from the lake close to the car park. Juniors will be encouraged to fish for Rudd and Ghost Carp in a nearby area and in an intimate pool stocked with Tench, Crucians and Rudd.

 

Four new pools separated from the main lake will range from half an acre to almost 4 acres and provide over 160 specially constructed fishing pegs. Each pool will have adjacent car parking with all weather paths and tracks. Each of these pools will be heavily stocked with a minimum of 2000 small Carp per acre.

 

The totally new northern pool offers exciting opportunities. Though one waterbody, it will be separated into two discrete fishing pools each with its own identity and fish stocking. One pool will be stocked with Barbel, Dace, Orfe and Chub, whilst the other will be home to rather more unusual species. All of these species are less heavy bottom feeders and should enable more vegetation providing ideal nesting conditions for the Tufted Duck, and part of the bank will be closed from March to June to leave these undisturbed.

 

Extensive planting and landscaping will take place in the year following completion of the main construction work to create wet wildlife areas and enhance the environmental value of the site and provide picnic areas, bird hides and pleasant walks for families and the public.

 

The whole site including toilets and showers should open in Spring 2004, with at least some pools open by Easter and café opening the following year.

Directions from M6

Exit the Motorway at Junction 35 (just to the North of Lancaster).

Turn left onto the Motorway spur to junction 35a with the A6.

Turn right onto the A6 travelling North towards Kendal.

Continue for approximately ¾ of a mile to the next roundabout.

Go right round the roundabout and take the third exit into a minor road to Borwick.

Continue for a further ¾ of a mile to the crossroads just after crossing the M6.

Turn right at these crossroads for just under ½ a mile. Borwick Waters is the lake complex accessed through an entrance on the right.

Other Information

Further Information, a Fishing Pool Plan and a Location Map can be obtained from British Waterways at the address above.

British Waterways website is : http://www.waterscape.com

[kendo]

sounds a fantastic project,but alas a little to far for me. :mad:

[me]

same here. I thought it would be useful to other people who fish in that are.