CORPORATE FISHING DAYS
I know that fishery owners have to make a living and I am notdirecting criticism at them when I write about ‘Corporate FishingDays’. Rather, any criticism is directed at the people who go oncorporate fishing days.
I motored to a delightful fishery in the Yorkshire Dales and, tomy annoyance, found that the car park was full. My mood changed alittle when I turned the corner and found that the water wasdeserted. No one was fishing and I commented about this to thebailiff as I paid for my ticket. My informant told me to make themost of it, there was a corporate day booked in and the “fishermen”had gone to the pub over an hour ago.
I had been fishing for about an hour when the ‘corporate anglers’announced themselves, initially with distant yells and whoops thatcame menacingly closer. Into the fishery they boisterously tumbled,all wearing yellow baseball caps and red, beery grins. The organiserhad a green baseball cap and a manner like a piscatorial CaptainMainwaring. This was his show and everybody would enjoy themselves(apart from the regular anglers, that is).
With much noise and happy fellowship they attempted to fish. Fish?They soon had the water whipped into a lathery cream! Then ‘CaptainMainwaring’ got into a boat and motored around the lake offeringencouragement to his flock and engaging in unseemly banter across thelength and width of the lake. I looked around for the TV cameras atone stage, convinced momentarily that I was witnessing an awful farceconcocted for the small screen.
The guy fishing nearest to me got his line into the water – just;then fell fast asleep. Another went apex over elbow into a bed ofstinging nettles whilst relieving himself (See, there is a God!). Bynow every self-respecting trout had dived for the deepest hole, thereto stay until the Jolly Boys Trout Fishing Day had come to an end. Ideparted also and vowed never again to go onto a fishery whilst acorporate day is in progress.
FISHING REPORTS
BARNSFOLD WATER
This is one of the better fisheries in the North West. Set on theedge of the Trough of Bowland amid trees and hills, the two largewaters that make up this venue hold a good and sporting head of fishand there is enough room to fish without falling over each other.October is an excellent time of year to visit and the brownies andrainbows are rising to dry flies, taking buzzers and nymphs andchasing fry imitators with enthusiasm most days.
As with all waters, even the very best, they do not always performas the fisherman wishes. I was at Barnsfold this week and there was avery strong westerly wind blowing. All around both lakes the anglerswere moaning about the weather and it’s effect upon the fish. Oneangler came along the causeway in the late afternoon and threw hisline into the water about 30 yards away from me; A 6lb rainbow hookedand landed within two minutes on a Stalking Bug. It as the only fishI saw landed all afternoon.
Most of the regulars at Barnsfold use a four pound breaking straintippet because the fish are big and strong; anything less risks abreakage. Floating or Intermediate lines are both doing well. If youare new to this water, try the causeway that runs between the twowaters, from which you can cast into either lake depending upon thewind direction.
There is a good tackle shop on the site but it is not open allday. Fishery owner, Frank Casson, is approachable and informative andgenerally very helpful to new anglers and regulars alike.
Tickets: £12 for 2 fish or a cheaper sportfish ticket isavailable.
Barnsfold Water, Barnsfold Lane, Nr. Goosnargh, Lancashire. Verygood and secure car parking.
Telephone: 01995 61583
Directions: From Longridge town centre follow the touristsignposts for <Beacon Fell>
RAYGILL FISHERY
The new club house is nearing completion at last. Bernard tells methat it should be open in October…sometime. It will be a greatasset to this friendly and enjoyable water. You always catch a fishhere. I tried the bottom lake first last week even though the waterlooked like drinking chocolate. A bright green lure did nothing but achange to a beaded Hares Ear nymph fished near the bottom brough twogood rainbows to the net, both over five pounds in weight.
I walked up to the quarry lake and tried a size sixteen Greenwellsdry fly and then a brown CDC emerger. The water was very clear and itwas quite bright and sunny. The flies were duly inspected byrainbows, browns and even a skittish char but not takers! A fellowangler down the bank suggested a Cats Whisker on an intermediateline. This really appealed to some of the fish population at leastand a succession of brown trout up three pounds fell for this ploy.They were in exquisite condition, bold and beautifully marked andeven the smallest of the five netted put up an excellent fight.
Why only browns? The usually prolific rainbows were notinterested. I switched back to the floating line for the last halfhour and had two good takes from rainbows but none came to the net.The fish in the quarry lake can be very discerning, especially onclear and bright days and fluorocarbon tippets do not always make thefly more appetising. Long casting is not required and many good fishare caught within a few yards of the bank where there is quite deepwater.
Raygill Fishery is very good value for money. I did not kill anyfish on this visit and paid just £8 for my four hours ofenjoyable fishing. Take a fish and it is weighed and charged at£1.50 per pound. It’s quite easy to catch some fish; very hardto catch the big brown trout or the char and thus it is a water thatsuits many tastes and pockets.
Open all year. £2 per hour plus any fish killed paid for atthe going rate. Open 8.00 am until dusk. Good and secure carparking.
Telephone: 01535 632500
STOCKS FISHERY
Stocks is the biggest of the local fisheries and lies a few milesnorth of Slaidburn via Clitheroe in North East Lancashire. It is outin the countryside and the drive, on a sunny day, is very pleasant.
It is a huge fishery and newcomers should ask for advice in thetackle shop when purchasing their tickets otherwise they may selectan area of the reservoir that fishes poorly and then go awaydisappointed. Advice is given quite freely and it pays to heed it.This is one of the fisheries where wading is permitted and I feelthat sometimes this helps push the fish further and further out intodeeper water. Thus, I avoid areas where there are wading anglers.
One of my fishing companions fished from the bank because he hadforgotten his waders. He spotted a rise and cast to a fish which tookhis fly four or five yards behind a wading angler, i.e. between thewader and the bank.
There are big fish feeding voraciously at the moment and fishingfrom both bank and boats is excellent provided you are able to findout where the fish are on the day that you visit. Certainly you standa good chance of landing a double figure brown or rainbow this month.I believe that Stocks closes in November until next season, so phonefirst to check it’s open.
Telephone: 01200 446602
Good Luck!
Eddie Caldwell
