Unsatisfactory session on my local lake.

symonh2000 · Jul 26, 2014

I had a couple of hours spare this evening, so I thought I would pop down the local lake to see what I could catch.

I haven't fished the lake for a while and this was my first time fishing down there for a few years.

To say I was unimpressed is an understatement.

Half of the lake was choked in weed, so unfishable, the other swims were full of people swimming, and allowing dogs to swim, so the banks were a muddy mess and the water all stirred up.

There was also dogs mess everywhere, and youths laying about in the grass drunk, as well as smoking weed and throwing litter everywhere.

And to top it all, I found a dead pike, which someone had obviously killed and thrown up the bank to rot.

I paid £25 for a season ticket to fish this lake and I am tempted to ask for my money back.

Has anyone else come across anything similar and what did you do?

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Jul 26, 2014

I'd report this to those who run the lake and take a few photos

symonh2000 · Jul 26, 2014

The lake is owned by the council. Unfortunately I won't get time to go back down tomorrow, but I might get time one evening next week.

There are signs up saying no swimming, no dog mess, no barbecues and no drinking but they are being blatantly ignored.

I was wandering about doing some light spinning to try and catch perch, but I ended up following people who were letting their dogs jump into the lake, so every clear swim was ruined before I got to it.

Lord Paul of Sheffield · Jul 26, 2014

Well I'd give up on it and wait to hear how the idiots had got some disease from swimming in water rats had peed in

nicepix · Jul 26, 2014

Contact your local police force and ask to speak to the Inspector in charge of the Safer Neighbourhood Team (don't blame me. I don't make up these stupid titles). Make him or her aware of the problem. That is what they are there for. And keep nagging them until something is done.

terry m · Jul 26, 2014

It sounds pretty grim.

I would put it down to experience, swallow the £25 loss and move on. The water you describe is not a water I would want to fish under any circumstances.

peter crabtree · Jul 26, 2014

Being a public place it's bound to be full of the public especially if it's hot weather. I pay to fish such waters but don't bother until autumn and winter.
I'd stick with your ticket and wait.

nicky · Jul 27, 2014

Part of the course id say fishing a council lake may still get some good fishing at the right times

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cal_sutt · Jul 27, 2014

My favourite swim on my local river has turned somewhat like this, however it doesn't bother me too much as there's plenty of other swims and I don't have to pay a penny... Ever! This will still be a problem for a little while with the weather being this hot, the best thing to do is just fish a different lake/swin for a while and just keep popping back for a look to see if the problem persists - if so, then do what you can to report it and nag nag nag until you get a solution.

Ray Roberts · Jul 27, 2014

I am fishing a marina tomorrow and Tuesday, I can't really complain about the boats can I? You are fishing a public place and complaining about the public.

The best bet if you still want to fish it is to go in the cooler months. You can complain to the council, but I don't think your complaint will get a very high priority as most councils have had to cut back on staff.

Personally I would look elsewhere. Are there no clubs in your area?

nogoodboyo · Jul 27, 2014

I'd say you're due a refund.
Whatever you pay for, regardless of the cost, has to be fit for purpose.
I'm not normally in favour of naming and shaming venues but in this case go ahead.

john step · Jul 27, 2014

agree with nogoodboyo
Ask for a refund. Not fit for purpose. Life is too short to bother with scruffy places even if they are close at hand.

law · Jul 27, 2014

Sounds just like Keston! Although that's a free place.

symonh2000 · Jul 28, 2014

Ray Roberts said:
I am fishing a marina tomorrow and Tuesday, I can't really complain about the boats can I? You are fishing a public place and complaining about the public.

The best bet if you still want to fish it is to go in the cooler months. You can complain to the council, but I don't think your complaint will get a very high priority as most councils have had to cut back on staff.

Personally I would look elsewhere. Are there no clubs in your area?

I have no problem sharing with the public, as long as the public follow the rules and have respect for other users of the water.

Just like anglers are expected to do.

---------- Post added at 09:09 ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 ----------

nogoodboyo said:
I'd say you're due a refund.
Whatever you pay for, regardless of the cost, has to be fit for purpose.
I'm not normally in favour of naming and shaming venues but in this case go ahead.

I will see how I get on with asking for a refund first, if I have no joy then i will name and shame.

cg74 · Jul 28, 2014

symonh2000 said:
I have no problem sharing with the public, as long as the public follow the rules and have respect for other users of the water.

Just like anglers are expected to do.

---------- Post added at 09:09 ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 ----------

I will see how I get on with asking for a refund first, if I have no joy then i will name and shame.

Simon, going by your location I'm guessing you're talking about Ducklington lake (if you don't want to say, please don't), if it is I'd say you've got no chance of a refund.
But if want to improve things, go up there and take some pics of (non-angling) litter, dog turds and any damage to plant life that can not be blamed on angling. Whilst doing that pick up any litter that can be attributed directly to anglers.
Then contact the council detailing your concerns. Insist that they formally notify you of their findings and their subsequent course of action.

Don't be fobbed off and bear in mind; if you do this all online, you have a paperwork trail, so they can't deny anything and you can correspond whenever you choose.

symonh2000 · Jul 28, 2014

It was indeed Ducklington lake.

I take it you have experience of that location?

I couldn't see any litter that could be directly attributed to Angling other than a spinner or two hanging out of trees that were out of reach.

Most of the litter is old disposable barbecues, beer cans, Lidl bags, Macdonalds wrappers and of course the numerous dog eggs everywhere.

The club do also have a stretch of the Thames which is a bit more private, I shall have a drive down there in the near future to see what that is like. (I haven't been down there for years)

Jim Crosskey 2 · Jul 28, 2014

I'm sure you're probably already aware of this, but have you tried Newlands AC, some very nice lakes down the road a little from you in Standlake? Very much run by anglers, you wouldn't get any of this on their waters....

symonh2000 · Jul 28, 2014

Jim Crosskey 2 said:
I'm sure you're probably already aware of this, but have you tried Newlands AC, some very nice lakes down the road a little from you in Standlake? Very much run by anglers, you wouldn't get any of this on their waters....

I have been a member of Newlands a few times. I quite like fishing their waters.

The thing that attracted me to Witney lake was that it is much closer to my house, membership was cheaper and the club has a section of the Thames that doesn't require a 4x4 to get to.

I don't get to fish as often as I like, so I may not have got value for money out of a Newland ticket either. The Witney AS ticket was less than half the price.

cg74 · Jul 28, 2014

symonh2000 said:
It was indeed Ducklington lake.

I take it you have experience of that location?

I couldn't see any litter that could be directly attributed to Angling other than a spinner or two hanging out of trees that were out of reach.

Most of the litter is old disposable barbecues, beer cans, Lidl bags, Macdonalds wrappers and of course the numerous dog eggs everywhere.

The club do also have a stretch of the Thames which is a bit more private, I shall have a drive down there in the near future to see what that is like. (I haven't been down there for years)

I fished there a number of times back in 2000-2002, it was a good tench water, with some going 10lb+. But I'd imagine it's having a lean spell like most gravel pits in Oxfordshire.

It was a congregation point for drug users etc even back then.

If it's littered with non-angling rubbish, I think your best course of action if you want to influence change. Is to put pressure on the local council.

It'd be a real shame if it was no longer fished.

Unsatisfactory session on my local lake.

symonh2000

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Lord Paul of Sheffield

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symonh2000

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Lord Paul of Sheffield

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nicepix

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terry m

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peter crabtree

AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)

nicky

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cal_sutt

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Ray Roberts

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nogoodboyo

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john step

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law

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symonh2000

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cg74

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symonh2000

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Jim Crosskey 2

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symonh2000

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cg74

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