Angling Lines Blog

By Paul Cooper

I run a small 14 man syndicate on a 5 acre estate lake in Staffordshire and it’s approaching that time of year that I like to start to prepare for the forthcoming season.

Over the past weekend I’ve had work parties on the lake clearing snags, repairing stages and walkways and trimming back reeds. The remaining snags have now been fenced off to reduce the chances of tethering fish or causing extra stress to my fish.

My lake in its winter clothes

Each winter I go through a procedure of liming the lake which improves water quality and decreases the amount of silt on the lake bottom. Liming also increases the natural life in the lake as well as eliminating pests such as leaches and fish lice which were a problem before I took over the running of the lake.

We still get the occasional leach on the fish but in 2 years I have not seen a single louse. It can be seen that all the fish have benefited from this procedure both by the increase in weights and the vast improvement in their condition.

My liming takes place over the winter months when most of the natural life in the lake is dormant. If possible I will lime the whole of the lake over 2 separate occasions. The first half will be in December and the remaining half of the lake will be limed around 6 to 8 weeks later in January or February.

The method that I use is quite straight forward. The hydrated lime comes in 25 kilo bags and I calculate 4 bags per acre (an acre being 70yards by 70 yards). So for my lake I will put in around 10 bags on the 1^st liming and 10 on the 2^nd liming.

The results pay off!

All that is needed is a boat and an electric motor and 2 persons. We both suit up with overalls, masks and goggles as the lime can burn your skin and cause major irritation to your eyes and throat.

We load the boat up with around 3 bags of hydrated lime at a time, cut the bag at one end and drive the boat in a straight line across the lake, returning in a parallel line, spreading the lime evenly as we go.

This best done with a light wind so that the lime cannot blow back in your face.

I draw an imaginary line halfway down the lake which is the cut off point for the 1^st liming. The other half of the lake is limed on the 6 to 8 weeks later, just in time for the water to settle down for Spring.

Paul Cooper
paulcooper18@sky.com

Weed can be a problem on some lakes in certain years.  Here’s an industrial sized solution!  This service is offered by one of our lake owners, Sebastian Vasseur, for any lake over one acre in size.  If you’re interested in the service his number is on the second sheet… or we can put you in touch with him.

After a short delay caused by the indian summer, Blue Lake‘s major stocking programme is under way.

A total weight of carp of 2,500lb including 33 x 30′s and 52 x 20′s is added to the existing stock.

86 carp in all with an average weight of just over 29lb.

And that’s not all………..There’s another major stocking due to take place in the new year!

The day arrived & Lauren was nice and early… let the netting begin!

We also thought that we would do a stock take at the same time, as disaster had struck back in April.  Contrary to rumour and speculation we had lost a third of our fish due to the early hot weather, which made the water temperature rise considerably and as the fish’s immune system had not kicked in it had a disastrous effect.  It certainly was not from poisoning by one of the local farmers, which has been mischievously intimated.

Larry at work...

As lunch time approached the net was out and they were starting to gather it in.  Larry the bailiff who was supposed to be taking things easy (knee probs) couldn’t help himself and ended up driving the tractor while the others gathered the net in for him to pull up the bank (boys and toy’s comes to mind, see photo).

We had given it much thought and deliberation as to whether we should remove the Cat Fish from the lake, as over the last few years they had grown to some considerable size.

Lunch over the first Cat is out, Lauren is happy he shouts we have the big one, a hefty 74lb.
The other 2 are still in the net, but he thinks they are not as big as the first.

One of the big cats...

Number 2 comes out and behold it’s another 74lb

Number 3… a 75lb Cat!

….. and now I’m on the phone to Mick (he had to stay at home business commitments) what should we do as all three are big.

Talk about putting someone on the spot!  Decision made take them all out.

The rest of the carp that were in the net were all in pristine condition, but we were already aware of that as this year’s photos had shown that the fish in the lake where in great condition.

By now it was getting dark.  The net team packed away and Lauren came up to the house to discuss the restocking which is due to take place in November.

... all the carp were in great condition

Numbers decided, size and type agreed to bring us back to last year’s stocking levels – they will arrive in early November for next seasons guests.

We will also be replacing the cats but with kittens and hopefully all the same sex!!

Watch this space… we’ll bring you all the news here.