Anybody checked out Church Paddock near Winchester? Not seen it yet myself.

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Didn't even know it was there, Darren....thanks for posting.

The lake looks a bit raw right now...I'm sure it'll be fine later in the year, and it's in quite a nice area. .

About the only thing I would say is that they are up against quite a lot of competition, with Avington, Meon Springs, Holbury, Chiphall and Moorhen quite close by plus Avon Springs, Rockbourne and Haywards Farm only a little further away...nine small fisheries within about 35 miles. I wonder what's different and special about Church Paddock to tempt anglers to visit it ?

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

I called-in there for a quick look-see a few weeks ago. (whilst on my travels)
At that stage, it was still very much a "work in progress" site, but I was given a guided tour by one of the guys working on the site.

I gather that they hope to open in late March or early April, and I could not fault him for his enthusiasm or courtesy, particularly so as I had just turned-up at the gate out of the blue so to speak.
I certainly plan to make a visit there when they finally open



Aidan

Catch and kill only will put me off.

I forgot John O'Gaunt - that's 10, not 9, and the point made even more firmly.

I know Moorhen (used to ?) offer limited c'n'r, but apart from that very few Southern smallwater fisheries seem to. A contrast to the Midlands and the North. Not really sure why.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Plus Dever and Amport

I heard about Church from someone fishing at Avington late last year, but had never found out anymore about it until this post, so good to know.

Tbh John, you are obviously correct in what you say, the competition is massive, but I may well take a look at some point. As much as I love Avington etc, it is nice sometimes to find a tucked out of the way and quiet fishery.

i think whinwhisle does still offer c&r as well john

I popped in to Church Paddock yesterday. Although it opens on 1 April, a couple of chaps working there enthused about the fishing, showed me the fish, and let me snoop around a bit.

I like the look of it mainly because it's only about a mile from where I live. It's a single lake unlike Avington and it wasn't obvious where the fish are grown, so it'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

Any news on the average stocking size, browns/rainbows etc?

The trout that surfaced were large and silver coloured. Looked like rainbows to my newbie eye. Why not ask the owner (and then post back here please)?