The Complete Fisher Forum

[Allrounder]

Tony Lakefisher and I shared a boat on Blagdon after pike today and after bringing 2 x 20+ fish to the boat last year with anther half a dozen big jacks were hoping for a good day. The weather, although a little bright at times, was very good with enough wind to move the boat and the water temperature was 14 degrees. Clarity at the dam end was excellent and although there was a little alge in the water towards the top of the lake it was nothing to worry about.

We started off at the Butcombe end where I was surprised to get a hit in shallow water on my first cast before it latched onto cast no.2 but it was tiny, barely a pound! I had another hit on the hang from another small Jack a couple of casts later in deeper water but that was it for the next couple of hours until something hit my fly hard and hung on just before 1pm.

I knew it wasn't a particularly big fish but boy did it give me a run around before coming to the net! Then disaster struck. As I attempted to weight it in the net over the side of the boat, the fish slipped through one of two holes in the net and disappeared into the depths. It was not a great loss but it means no pics or an official weight, although Tony suggested 12lb which sounded about right to me.

After that we tried various areas around the lake but it was hard going with only a couple of hits between us which failed to stick although we suspected at least a couple could have been Trout or possibly Perch. We had two or three more small Jacks to the boat before we both had enough.

As always it was a real pleasure to share a boat with Tony again and it was just a shame that Blagdon's big pike continue to be in a dour mood.

Until next time ....

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[Allrounder]

My fly after being munched by a pike. yesterday ..




Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[tenet]

Hard luck Al - as mentioned on my Chew report 4 Italian lads had had 4 days fly piking for just a couple of Jack's. The dead bait fishermen spread around the lake didn't seem that active so the fishing is dour (for some) on all fronts. The clarity on Chew was mostly excellent with just some staining at the bottom of the wind from Wick to Herriots and across to Stratford.

[lakefisher]

Thanks for your participation in a great day afloat at Blagdon Alan

After wrestling with my camera software, which is acting up when used in windows 10 - I am now able to post a couple of reminders of our day.

Best I've got of you scrapping the "12" (ish) -



and just before netting it At about 12 secs on the video you posted on the FB page of the forum



Enjoy ........ Tony
_________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

[TDonnelly]

Hi Alan, it would be insightful to get your perspective on value for money of Blagdon vs Chew fly piking. As a pro BW supporter how would you justify the pricing of the different experiences to potential visiting anglers. And where should they ultimately spend their life savings?

I ask the question for two reasons.

1. BW senior management dictated all pike were slaughtered until 2012. After which point the company realised they may one day need the revenue. And ceased culling. But little was done to monitor effects on populations afterwards.

Now anglers are spending considerable sums of money in good faith for a fish of a lifetime. That might be in there. But the management don’t know if they are. But one could be in there. Maybe. That’ll be £450 please!!!!

2. In house exploitation of Blagdon during the culling years clearly indicated there was a specific area and method for catching large pike. That area is not easily fished used fly fishing techniques. 25 feet of water. North Shore, opposite the Lodge.

Does the fly fishing experience at the wee pond justify the price point considering the population has been artificially managed? In recent history?

And should BW be charging a premium for fly fishing when the majority of large fish are out of the range for the average fly angler?

[Allrounder]

Hi Tony
Good to hear from you and I hope you are keeping well.

[Appleman]

The introduction of beginners days must be applauded and seems to have been well executed. Feedback from AT is testiment to this.

On balance, there are many aspects of the proposed improvement plan from BRFFA where progress hasn’t been made or even begun. As a steering group it seems focus has been lost on the job at hand.....Saving Chew and restoring faith in the angling community.

Reading through the minutes, there is a fair amount of back slapping going on at the boys club. Albeit the self congratulating is on one point of the action plan!! What about the rest?

As a steering group, the brief should be to support and challenge BWF where appropriate and put forward fresh ideas outside of the skill set of the BWF team. From what I read and hear it isn’t and doesn’t happen!

The no stone left unturned approach to reestablish Chew isn’t happening....BWF and the handpicked members of the Steering group will ultimately be accountable when the inevitable happens. Repetition of prior actions expecting different outcomes is insanity!

[Allrounder]

I'm not going to get into a dialogue on here about BWF because what starts off as sensible discussion can often deteriorate into claim and counter claim and gives BWF and others the excuse to dismiss everyone who contributes to the Forum as 'Trolls'

However just for the record, Tim is quite right to say that the the 'Steering Group' (or 'Users group' as I prefer to think of it) was 'hand picked' by BWF. This was to ensure a broader cross section of their customers was heard including Pike anglers (Carl Garratt), Barrow Tanks (Les Toogood), Season ticket holders (Jeff Hirst) and myself (average day ticket Joe! ) as well as the Match boys who are already very well represented by the BRFFA both outside and within the Group.

If anyone has any points they wish to discuss I am always happy to hear from Forumites via private message.

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[Appleman]

[TDonnelly]

Hi Alan, thanks for the response. I know we both feel strongly that fishing is supposed to be an enjoyable recreational past time. I wasn't in any doubt about your enthusiasm for the Blagdon experience.

I was asking how believe the prices be justified when you are as likely to have a similar experience on Chew for one fifth of the cost? What is it about the Blagdon experience that makes it above beyond anything else out there. Especially when the population dynamics have been interfered with in recent history.

Are the short term gains worth negatively effecting the potential long term perception of the reservoirs? They have sold out for two years, but has it turned out to be the mecca everyone had expected?

If you were paying a premium to visit a fishery I managed I would at least be throwing in a bacon roll and cup of tea for you all. Maybe partner with a local pub/hotel up in the village who could feed you prior to hitting the water. I'd also ensure there were staff present am and pm to assist anglers on the jetties. You are contributing significantly to the operational costs after all!

Eyebrook produced a 39lb pike on Friday. £60.50 per boat. Eyebrook being part of the Ifor Jones Empire. To me that seems like a fairly equitable permit pricing structure. One thing is for sure. You won't have to read Eyebrook facebook bragging about about equitable access, bemoaning continual management challenges or revealing the issues associated with excessive wind (the meteorological type, not the stuff coming out of HQ).

Despite my youthful good looks I have been around long enough to know that anglers are fickle. One bad season will take to two to restore faith from your customers. My concern is that balancing the bottom line one year will make it impossible to succeed going forwards. The viability of the lakes now depends on highly priced pike fishing. If that bubble bursts there will be nowhere to hide.

I think it is wonderful that local anglers are prepared to offer their time to help shape the future of the fisheries.

I'm just a lowly fishery manager, not a business executive but I can't help think the current strategy is lazy and somewhat cynical. Squeezing every drop out of the pike fishing is the easy option.

As an example, there was a free facebook prize draw recently. Free samples from various tackle companies were being given away if you (or your girlfriend/auntie/mate that don't even fish) liked and shared the page.

How about taking the products out on the water, catching some fish with them. Showcase the fishery and increase tackle shop sales simultaneously!!! Then everyone is winning.

Fishing across the UK has been challenging throughout 2018 and the BW reservoirs seem to have fared well given the challenges. I just hope that the anglers are being well looked after and receiving an experience commensurate to their premium contribution to the Lakeside Services Dept.

All the best,
Tony