Building the Social Swim
Another week and another list of pre season jobs that required our attention!
Top of the list was the continuation of the work to improve the swims and access to the water for the safe and easy removal and release of captures. Bouyed by our recent results we moved further down the main bank towards the corner nearest the barn. The last swim on this bank was in need of a set of steps as the platform was a little high, especially during the summer months when the water levels can drop slightly due to the lake being spring fed.
The finished Barn Swim
We decided to continue with our newly tried and trusted method, so out came the chainsaw and off we went in search of a decent tree to do the job. This found and felled it was cut into lengths suitable for the purpose and then carried around to where we could boat it the full length of the lake. The ground along this bank is fairly stony, so digging out the new steps was not the easiest of jobs. A pick axe and spade were wielded and we soon began making headway. We have found that once one or two steps are in place it then becomes much easier as the spoil from those can be used to shape the lower steps where there is less soil to play with. The four steps were shaped and logged, stakes were cut and employed and then the swim itself tidied, and raked. The willow that overhangs the swim was trimmed to give more casting space and we headed off back to the kitchen for our evening meal.
The finished Corner Swim
The next swim chosen for a makeover was the second last swim along the far bank. This swim required shoring up and steps to allow access to the water. We dug back and gave ourselves a clean edge to work with and shored up the swim with a large log. The steps were cut and logs positioned and staked into place. This swim being under trees needed clearing of leaves and stones and after a good rake and tidy it was another swim that was now ready for use.
We moved down the same bank to the next swim and basically repeated the performance of the previous day. Steps dug and installed, swim tidied and readied for anglers. This swim has much potential for the season ahead allowing access to a large area of open water, the far margin of the main island and also a lovely channel which the carp just love to frequent. On many occasions during our nightly feeding we have disturbed fish from this area and have spotted a number of fish topping and rolling along the overhung margin.
The finished Social Swim
Our penultimate swim was one that both Jack and I were looking forward to getting stuck into. It contained a small platform at the front which had partially collapsed leaving it a little awkward to fish from. Our intention with this swim was to build a larger platform area out of logs, around the existing one. This we took 1.4m out into the lake. With the logs cut, carried around and placed into position our plan was starting to take shape. A little jiggery pokery was required to find levels and make sure everything lined up and worked as we wanted it to. Once this was completed the next thing we had to do was basically line with mesh and fill as much as we could with hardcore before collapsing the old platform using the soil from that to cover the hardcore base. Once level we graveled and cleared and tidied the swim. An awful lot of hard work but sitting off the bank in the boat that evening and looking back at our handiwork we both felt highly satisfied with the end result.
The finished Willows Swim
We were nearing the end of our swim building exercise, with only one more to do to complete the task. The last swim was on the same bank as the last three, and faced the other end of the carpy little channel that I described earlier. A very small swim though we feel with huge potential. The ground dropped away quickly in front of the platform, so steps were never going to be an easy job to create, but that was our task. We started the steps high giving ourselves some extra spoil to utilise to create the lower steps. Whilst Jack dug, I hacked away at the tangle of trees and subsequently roots down near the water level. Trees were once again chosen and dropped, and cut up into the sizes we required to do the job. Once the main work of shaping the ground had been done the steps quickly came together, logs were staked into place, and after a little playing around with the lowest one which is just on water level, we were satisfied with the job.
The finished Boat Swim
Today we have wandered around, double checking each of the swims and carrying out the finishing touches required to make the place look its absolute best. With anglers arriving tomorrow to fish for the week our schedule has worked out perfectly. The work over the last few weeks has been hard and the weather hasn’t always helped, bitterly cold northerly winds combined with rain. I could not have wished for a better guy to work with than Jack Cuthbertson throughout this period. His willingness to get stuck in and attention to detail really are a credit to one so young. He leaves us shortly to work at Roseau, another of Clearview Carp Tours French lakes for the rest of the season and both Helen and I shall be sad to see him go. We wish him every success at Roseau, and I am sure we will see him later in the season for a week or two tench bashing together, one of Jack’s greatest passions. Thanks mate!!
Wally, Molyneux Bailiff
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