Hi this brief report is just to tell you how “The Long Awaited Netting” went.

Despite the 14 times Norman chased me asking “When IS this supposed netting exercise going to take place?” ( growing ever more impatient with me ! ) he was unable to make it on the day - having to go and look for a new gas cooker with his missus. Some would say you should be shopping for a new MISSUS not a new cooker when she starts to interfere with your angling arrangements - although I would never say that myself.

( Some cynics might even say theres no difference between the two . . .)

As you know  I was only able to give 3-4 days notice of the event - as it was not until 7th November when I was offered the date - and of course had to rearrange a few things myself before accepting.

Anyway - ONE member DID make it  - Dave Sanford from Penkridge , arrived at about 11:00 a.m. - and of course trusty Tom Speake was there from the off as always.

Tom had carefully let the water level down by about 4ft 6” over the previous few days - so that there was just 6” of water top side of the island - which naturally would concentrate the fish in the dam end of the lake.

Ed Browns team arrived at 08:30 a.m., and by 09:45 a.m. had begun to arch the 150metre net around the “target area” . There were still fish outside the area - but netting is at best something of a major compromise for all kinds of practical reasons.

Unfortunately - the cenre patch of lilies were still quite thick - due to the continuing mild weather ( about 14 Degrees C on the day at a guess, with a light breeze and just a little rain here and there ) so it meant that the net had to drag straight across them and it was clear that  fish were lost at that point. - and again where the net was pulled across the steam channel at the deepest part of the lake.

The Result :

Suprisingly - we saw lots of Common, Ghost & Mirror Carp in the net ( about 50 Tom & I guessed - as opposed to probably 10 when the Environment Agency did the same exercise in year 2000 ). We saw at least a dozen mirrors around the twenty mark - probably 4-6 up to the mid-twenty region, and MORE IMPORTANTLY we removed  EIGHT HUNDRED & NINETY TWO POUNDS of sub-1lb fish : roach, skimmers, bream, crucians & reverts, rudd , gudgeon, & perch.

Ed Brown commented that the larger fish were “like lifting concrete blocks” and said “that they were all very heatlhy and should soon reach THIRTIES” - which was nice - because it was entirely unprompted. It certanly was true that the fish looked to be in superb health - and very very well fed. ( Makes you wonder if the netting was that necessary ! ) On reflection - theres no doubt that the fish removed will result in more food available for the target species.

Note :

Biggest bream was about 4lb. Saw NOT A SINGLE  Tench. Saw  NO GOLDEN ORFE or any of the Trockenheimer Mirrors. There were a number of 1-1/2lb roach ( put back ! ) .

SUMMARY : All in all  - quite a success - considering there were only three people doing the exercise ( Furnace Mill Staff )  PHOTOS & VIDEO to follow.  HOPE THAT FOR NOW - this brief report is sufficient. . . .

Kind Regards - Alan 

( Pls excuse any errors - just off shopping with the missus ! )

STOP PRESS  Sunday 13th a.m. SOME PICTURES OVER LEAF now . . .