CATCH REPORT TO 21st AUGUST.

Some very respectable catches from the season ticket water, with mirrors of 31lb, 29.03 & 24.10 to Rod Phillips, a 33.12 common to Malcolm Best and a 30.09 mirror to Vic Cranfield, along with a bonus in the form of a lovely fully scaled mirror of 21,10. Other recorded captures included a 28.04 mirror to Trevor Picton, a 23.12 common and a 4lb+ eel to Chris Manifold.

The day ticket water has again been productive, with reports showing Scott Easton with a good bag consisting of commons at 20.03, 16.07, 15.03 & 13.06, plus mirrors of 17.10 & 13.12, and Dave Wood taking a trio consisting of commons at 16.10 & 18.10, along with a catfish of 23.06. Kev Lock took a trio of carp, mirrors of 31.14 & 16.02, plus a common of 23.12, Tony Toffalo landed a common of 17lbs and Lee Wakeling took an 18lb ghostie. Dave Pullman banked a catfish of 36lb, a mirror of 21.04 and a ghostie of 12.00, Sean Powell took a catfish at 38lbs and Dave Hood took a 20lb cat, plus a mirror of 19.15. Scott Wainbridge had a mirror of 28.02, Stuart Channing took a catfish of 38lbs and Steve Dawes of the National Anguila Club took an eel of 4.04.

Steve Dawes with his 4.04 eel.

We are delighted and proud to announce receipt of a certificate of being an eel friendly site, from the National Anguilla Club. This accolade follows dialogue with the club, and catch reports of large eels, with numerous over the specimen weight of 4lbs, including three over 7lbs and one over 8lbs. Steve Dawes, from the National Records Office of the NAC, has visited the lakes, and recognised how we have implemented positive conservation approaches to the welfare of eels .

Steve also fished a short session on the day ticket lake and was rewarded with an eel of 4lb 4ozs, and has accepted that we obviously have a significant number of these fish, in fact more specimens than average. They are becoming so rare, (99% loss since1980), it makes them the most endangered vertebrate in the British Isles. They are now a protected species, and we ask all anglers to treat any captures with utmost care. Full details will be posted on the web site shortly, and all eel captures will now be posted on the weekly catch reports.

The large eels reported this year represent 40% of the Nation’s reported notable fish.  We, along with our anglers, should feel honoured that these fish have chosen our waters as their home, ( not  stocked), and we must all step up to the mark, in terms of ensuring good conservation practices. Copies of these recommendations are posted around the site.