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Viewing 1 to (11 Total) Walcott Lake |
Total Posts: 156
Joined: May 24, 2016
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Really sad to hear about Walcott Lake closing.
I haven't fished there since the 80's as it's too far away from me now, but I remember it as a stunning fishery. I nearly always managed to get a few tench out and even lost a big carp a couple of times.
I hope something is sorted there. I'd also be interested to know it the other half of the lake has suffered similar problems. I think it used to be run by Ludlow AC - anyone got any info?
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Posted on August 28, 2016 at 10:01 PM
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Total Posts: 53
Joined: September 1, 2016
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Re: Walcott Lake
Meatman (and anyone else interested in the saga):
Yes, the western part of the lake suffers equally from weed problems, although when I visited last night the western arm looked much clearer: sometimes its the other way round with the Birmingham side relatively clear and the Ludlow side solid. Ludlow have given up the fishing on this side of the lake and it appears now that it is run by a syndicate.
The lake was relatively weed-free and easily fishable until 2005-2006. Something happened over the winter of 2005 and since then the lakes have been choked with weed (Elodea - Canadian Pondweed), and floating filamentous algae ever since. I have heard that a small sewage works that used to discharge into the feeder stream to the lakes was upgraded, which resulted in lower levels of nutrients entering the lakes, which caused the algal colour to drop out allowing rooted weeds to thrive.
Some years and seasons are worse than others and there have been attempts to deal with the weed in both halves of the lake but with very limited success, the weed returns within weeks. I have to say I don't think the weed is as bad as it was in the mid 2000's.
Fishing is HARD. I fish exclusively for tench but rarely get any despite seeing signs of them on most visits. I have had up to five in a sitting (to 6.5 lb) but I haven't caught one for three years! I usually catch a few bits, roach, perch, rudd and hybrids. I have not seen any bream since 2010, there are some large carp but these are rarely seen, and there are jack pike.
I'm not sure what the future of the fishery is, since the announcement from admin suggests that BAA will retain the fishing rights on the lake but close it to fishing, which is intriguing. A great shame, as despite the difficult fishing I have grown rather attached to the place. I do hope a plan for the fishery can be worked out.
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Posted on September 1, 2016 at 11:12 PM
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Total Posts: 156
Joined: May 24, 2016
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Re: Walcott Lake
Thanks for the info Yorkie. I can understand how you got fond of the place, I used to love it there. The surrounding with the house across the lake were really pretty, plus it's actually quite remote there. I always had the feeling I was miles from anywhere.
Shame to hear about the place slipping into decline, but I'm not sure what could be done about it. Apart from maybe engaging the services of a fishery scientist/expert who could assess the situation and advise best action.
Though I guess that could become an expensive process.
Posted on September 2, 2016 at 1:29 PM
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Total Posts: 821
Joined: July 4, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
The EA do such as a matter of course, if you don't ask you don't get. No need to pay for expensive consultants, we as anglers pay our licence fee's, that does entitle us to some support.
Posted on September 3, 2016 at 8:50 AM
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Total Posts: 61
Joined: September 17, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
You mention the EA I thought they would address the flooding problems at Uckinghall but they
weren't interested. They are quick enough to take our money but loathe to spend it.
Posted on September 3, 2016 at 12:07 PM
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Total Posts: 61
Joined: September 17, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
You mention the EA I thought they would address the flooding problems at Uckinghall but they
weren't interested. They are quick enough to take our money but loathe to spend it.
Posted on September 3, 2016 at 12:08 PM
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Total Posts: 86
Joined: June 8, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
Gutted to hear this as like many it is a special place. Can't help but think this could've been avoided had the baa managed the situation. It's not the only lake in the uk to have weed growth.
Posted on September 6, 2016 at 10:52 PM
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Total Posts: 245
Joined: August 23, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
Ive not fished here for some 15 years but have fund memorys of the place. I dont think its just the weed problem, sure the weed will cause oxygen problems and potentially fish deaths. But along with this I hear its heavily silted up with hardly any depth in places, gin clear and has been decimated over a number of years by cormorants. Didnt some one go out on a boat on there recently and found very little fish activity? I think to bring this place back to its former glory would be one hell of an undertaking. Yorkie would you agree with that ?
Posted on September 9, 2016 at 3:22 PM
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Total Posts: 72
Joined: July 23, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
I don't know the place, I've never fished it.
I would imagine the silting would require dredging. I can't think of any other way of removing it. I've no idea how much this would cost.
Previously I lived in the south many of the still waters had a bad weed problem. I used to rake a swim out then feed with particles, the fish constantly rooting around for food would keep the weed down quite well. It was a bit of a losing battle, by July the weed would win but by then I'd done enough tench fishing anyway. Most of those waters contained tench and carp.
There were a few waters that held a few grass carp. Not many but obviously enough because they never had weed problems. Last time I checked it was still possible to buy them and stock them into waters. They don't breed in this country so they are never going to take over a water and wouldn't be a problem if they got into the wider environment.
I've never been a carp angler but I have caught the odd grass carp, they do fight well
Posted on September 10, 2016 at 6:38 PM
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Total Posts: 86
Joined: June 8, 2015
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Re: Walcott Lake
I'm not sure the BAA truly value their assets. Walcot has been in a state for some years and allowed to decline. If action had been taken then they would still have one of the finest estate lakes and tench fisheries in the driving distance of B'ham. Instead, the usual 'slow turning oil tanker' approach has seen it come to this.
Posted on September 23, 2016 at 9:06 PM
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Total Posts: 72
Joined: September 6, 2016
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Re: Re: Walcott Lake
here here I agree being a specialist tench angler myself good tench lakes are hard to find an if have one its uniqe an should be treasured .
im one angler who does not fish for carp an have no wish too lets see these special tench lake returned to its former glory .
I had 2 double figure tench few seasons ago which were fish of a lifetime for me were so many clubs being carp mad the tench lakes are in real danger for the future
Posted on September 26, 2016 at 8:07 PM
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