Drinkwater Park Restoration Plan pt 3

Part 1
Part 2  

On to stage 3 of the plan - the first netting of Kingsfisher Lake (which holds a large head of small silver fish) took place this morning. A team of four Environment Agency netsmen braved a freezing cold morning and a lake with a part covering of ice to undertake a netting survey of the lake. This initial netting was conducted to ascertain fish species, size and numbers - also to take away a sample of fish to undergo EA health checks to ensure that the fish were not carrying any notifiable parasites - a thorough check of fish numbers and health. The last thing anyone wants is to transfer parasite ridden fish from one lake to another.

The first sweep of the net, confirmed all of our initial thoughts about the type of fish which inhabit the lake. Huge numbers of small roach, a smattering of small perch, a decent bream and a couple of crucian carp.

The second sweep across the main body of the lake, confirmed that the roach were present in huge numbers but not in huge average size. Though this second sweep of the lake did throw up a dozen or more pike to about 4lbs - nothing really big - but we think that pike have only recently been introduced to the lake, and haven't yet had time to grow on. Given the huge numbers of prey fish, it shouldn't be too long before these pike pack on weight and give some good sport.

All fish (barring the 40 which were taken away for lab analysis) were returned to the water. Once we get back the fish health check results a second netting will be organised to net a few thousand of these small stunted roach and transfer them into Drinkwater Park Lake where they should thrive in the food rich, low fish density water.
The guys from the EA assured us that the fishing on Kingfisher will be improved by the removal of these stunted 2-3inch roach as there will be less competition for food, allowing the fish to grow to a better average size.
We hope the next netting will be completed in late February - (ice permitting) - if anyone would like to attend this netting please join the society at www.salfordfriendlyanglers.co.uk as i shall email members to give them dates and times.

Pike Fish In 26th Feb - M/c City Centre River Irwell

After the success of our last pike fish in held last month on the Old River Irwell in Irlam, we've decided to hold another on the 26th Feb on the River Irwell in Manchester City Centre.

Your welcome to fish (for pike please) from just downstream of the Mark Addy pub all the way down to Trafford Rd bridge.

No fixed pegs, no fixed times or methods - just come along and do your own thing - fly fishing, deads, lives and lures have all produced good fish in the past.

If the river is running high and brown - we will simply move a few hundred yards further into the city and fish on the rochdale and bridgewater canals - both of which offer good sport for pike into the mid 20's

Were going to pack up about 4pm and meet up in the Kings Arms, Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN for hotpot, bread and pickled cabbage ( which will cost £5). Will be nice to have a pint together at the end of the day swap photos and lie about the ones that got away.
Please let me know if your coming to the pub for the hotpot as i need to give the landlady an idea of how many to cater for.

Pike Fish-In On The Old River Irlam - Top Hat Optional

Today was our Pike fish-in on the Old River Irwell in Irlam. The Old River is an old bend of the river which was cut off when the Manchester Ship Canal was built, and is now a still water of about 3 acres. Long and broad, an ideal match fishery. Well it was until a horrific pollution incident back in 2008 devastated the water. Thousands of gallons of raw sewage entered the water course over a time period of a couple of months and no authority seemed to take responsibility.

Not really the place for a pike match you might think?? but the local kids have been banging out jacks for fun the last few years, there are a few shoals of small roach coming back through - but the clincher was the recent report by a reliable source of a 15lb pike coming out a couple of weeks ago.

Salford Friendly are in the process of taking over the lease on this water which we will add to our portfolio of free fishing waters in Greater Manchester, and last year we held two matches to see what sort of fish stocks were left in the lake ( pretty disappointing but not surprising considering the circumstances).
So as a bit of a social, and also to determine the levels of pike stocks in the venue, we organised a Salford Friendly members, and maggotdrowners.com (my favourite fishing forum) fish in.

Paul and I arrived before dawn as we both think that the hour before and hour after dawn can be the most productive of the day. We nabbed the swims behind the pub and set up float fished roach dead baits.
Paul had 5 pike between 1lb and 5lbs before 9.30am plus a couple of dropped runs. I sadly didn't get a touch. All of his fish coming from the top corner of the lake.

Throughout the day - we were joined by various pals (new and old) Graham, Conrad, Barry, Scott, Adam, Nick & Tom plus non fishing visits by many others who came down to see how things were progressing.

Adam set up midway down the lake and had two nice Pike to about 5lbs on float fished dead bait.

Tom caught his FIRST EVER PIKE on a silver rapala - as secretary of the world oldest angling club he does a nice line in 19th century head gear.

And Conrad had a nice brace of fish the best bringing the scales round to 12 and a half pounds. The best and last  fish of the day - on ledgered sardine - well done.

Barry was best of the rest with a small perch early on - but sadly a couple of us had a long day with little interest in our baits. As we all know - its not all about the catching - the company was great, the knowledge passed around was invaluable - and we've decided were going to do it all again on the Irwell in the Centre of Manchester late on in February - I'll email you all the details when we've sorted out the date.

Dragging Drinkies

9am - half  a dozen keen members turned up with wheel barrow, rakes, chair, flask, waders for a mornings weed raking to get it ready for Siltex later next month.

I'd hardly started to unpack the wheelbarrow before i noticed that Adam and Paul were setting up their pike kit, and before a rake was thrown Paul bagged this nice little pike on a dead bait.

We then got stuck into the blanket weed beds on the far bank, pulling out car seats, push bikes and various other bits of iron mongerey.

Adam managed to find himself a late xmas present.

Very encouragingly we also found lots of small tench from between half an inch to 4 inches long amongst the weed we dragged in so were extra carefull to ensure that we didnt leave any stranded on the bankside in the weed we left to dry out and die.

By lunchtime - we were all cream crackered so decided to call it a day and get some fishing in on the other lakes in Drinkwater/Phillips Park.
Lures, dead baits - even Nick Carter pike on the fly expert - none of us could bank a fish in the afternoon - though poor old Adam hooked into a NICE FISH which ran him straight into a lily bed where it threw the hook. Better luck next time Adam.

So a big thank you to Bob Morris, Ged Collins, John Spilsbury, Nick Carter, Adam Mack, Paul Carr, Mike Clare and Mike Duddy for giving up a few hours of their time to help progress the Drinkwater Park Project.
Were all out fishing next Sunday at The Old River in Irlam, but I think the weekend after Saturday the 21st Jan we'll have another 9am start and clear some more - your welcome to join us.

January Update

Salford Friendly Anglers News Update Jan 2012

Our Christmas doo at the Kings Arms was well attended

Fish of the Year Competition was a head to head between Paul Carr with this superb 20lb Pike from the lower river, and Nick Carter with a cracking brownie of 6lb from the upper river.

A show of hands decided the result with Paul Carrs pike edging it by a single vote – well done to Paul who was awarded the Major Peer Groves plaque for his achievement.

We then  held our Angling Quiz, which was followed by a fish and chip supper.

Which was followed up with an anglers call my bluff – where each angler had to stand up and tell a true or false story – then be judged by a show of hands to see if it was the truth or porkies being told. Dr Adam Moolna was the best storyteller of the evening bamboozling us all with stories about BULL-sharks in the Seychelles. After looking at the photos of the evening its blindingly obvious that Adams body language was giving the game away – but most were suffering the effects of the real ale and never noticed.

A good evening was had by all – and this is an evening which we hope will become an annual event.

On the Drinkwater Park project see http://salfordfriendlyanglers.blogspot.com/2011/11/drinkwater-park-restoration-plan.html

The EA have delivered the clay – and a week later the Forestry Commission have had a digger on site to re-build the dam wall at the far end of the lake. It took 3 days for normal water levels to be restored.

We have been given some Siltex and some hessian sacks by the EA – and the club has more siltex on order to be delivered in February.

Prior to the spreading of the Siltex we are going to hold a work party to rake out some of the excess pondweed in the main part of the lake so that the siltex reaches the lakes silt layers rather than sits on top of a layer of weed.

We intend to hold the first of these weed raking sessions at 9am this Saturday the 7^th January 2012.

Anyone who would like to come and lend a hand will be welcome. A rake or waders will be useful but not an essential requirement as we have a couple of weed rakes and ropes for members to use from the bank.

Later in the day – a few of us will be fishing for silvers on Kingfisher – again your welcome to come along and join us or just pop along and say hello.

Lastly – our next meeting which will be our AGM will be held

7.30pm

Wednesday the 15^th February 2012

Kings Arms

Bloom St

Salford

M3 6AN

                                 

All club officers will be up for re-election – Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. A financial report will be available for all members to view on the night.