Thanks to our friends at Southern Water, who have kindly granted us shared access to the far gate, Ian was able to easily reach the far corner of the dam, near the tower. This new access route proved particularly helpful today, allowing us to avoid using the main entrance and preventing damage to the grass in that area.
With the help of the ever-dependable Bobby Mepham and our hardworking members, Martin Brignell and Doug Rigby, the stocking was successfully completed following a good dose of healthy manual labour!
The main challenge was the reservoir's continuing low water level. Our stocking chutes are simply not long enough to reach the water from the top of the bank.
Fortunately, Vic had set up a chute on the lower section of the dam, allowing us to form a small human chain between the fish trailer and the chute entrance. Working together, we passed the fish down, net by net, along with the occasional bucket of water to keep everything flowing smoothly, until they were safely released into their new home.
Among the high-quality fish stocked were some particularly large and impressive rainbow trout, along with the welcome bonus of several beautifully conditioned brown trout weighing up to 6 lbs.
It was particularly encouraging to see the fish surfacing and spreading out across the reservoir shortly after their release.
A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work, teamwork and good humour in such challenging conditions. Another successful stocking completed!
Contact us to book your place as we reset post the unusually dry and hot summer !
