Keith M
Well-known member
There's a propensity of anglers who will admit to fishing club waters, strange when most club waters are a dug out hole with stocked fish even though sparsely stocked they are commercial in all but name. IE a hole dug and stocked with fish.
I don’t really agree about your description of ‘most club waters being commercial in all but name’ rayner (ie. holes dug out and stocked with fish); that’s definitely pushing it a bit
My definition of commercial fisheries and the definition that is often put forward by anglers that I know are:
Waters (existing or purposely created) that provide some sort of income for the person(s) that own or lease them by taking money from customers in return for them being able to fish their water or waters; and which are usually heavily stocked (often with fish like f1’s etc) to appeal to and attract their customers, and often (but not in every case) with facilities like toilets, cafes and tackle & bait sales on site.
Yes there is a minority of club waters that may have been dug out from scratch in the distant past (like estate lakes and canals etc.) but the vast majority of the club waters (that I have fished over the many years that I’ve fished; and the many clubs that I’ve been a member of) have been naturally created lakes, ponds, rivers, streams etc. and non of these adhere to your description of ‘most club waters’.
However some of my club waters do now have toilets on them and facilities to rest and make hot drinks but the fisheries are not there to solely provide anyone with an income of any sort and any incidental profits go straight back to the fisheries to maintain and improve them for the club members; not to provide anyone with an income like a commercial venture does (or is supposed to).
Keith
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