Has anyone fished at Press Manor recently?

I'm going with a couple of guys this coming bank holiday weekend, and was looking for an update on if it's fishing well, patterns etc.

Apologies if this post is in the wrong place!

ok, I've mentioned this in another couple of places without mentioning the name of the stillwater, but as there has been no progress from the Environment Agency I think it is important that people who fish this place know that there is a serious Argulus infection - I've also received a PM from another Derbyshire fisherman who is equally worried and bumped into other anglers who, like me, have simply stopped going.

If you do go to Press Manor please note that you are likely to pick up eggs from Argulus on your kit and person. The safest way to make sure you don't transfer these to another water is to let everything dry out completely before you fish anywhere else. Especially your landing net.

The safest action of all is not to go there until this is cleared up - the EA do provide advice (that's all); I think to get rid of the infection totally is very hard without draining the place.... I'm really sorry to have to report this as both the owner and the ticket man are really good guys; but they need to acknowledge this problem and sort it out.

Thanks lines.

Anyone know control measures for this horrible critter? Or is it the usual case of making sure other anglers have Checked Cleaned and Dried?

EDIT - sorry, I know lines posted some control measures, what I mean is, should it get to a big reservoir which can't be 'drained completely', are there any other options?

Ant

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Err I think you ought to check your facts before coming out with stuff that as far as I can tell is out of date.

I was over there the week before last for a casting lesson. All around me there were fish rising, I even had one grab my bit of red wool on the end of my leader. I noticed that the water level was much lower than usual and asked Bernie about it. He explained that it had been deliberately lowered as part of the treatment for argulus and so far he was pleased with the results.

I watched a chap catching rainbows and asked how many he had caught that morning, it was about 11:30. He told me he had caught six. Bernie went down to take a photo a few moments later as the angler caught another quite nice fish. It was as clean as could be. When the angler was asked about his other fish he declared that they had all been in likewise condition.

I suggest folks go and find out for themselves and take the precautions listed earlier. The stock level seems to be fair as I was literally surrounded by fish while I was learning to cast with a salmon rod.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Richard

Pleased to hear there is something of a recovery going on, although I have read elsewhere that Argulus get going at about 8 degrees C - is the water temp up to that yet?

I don't think its unreasonable to recommend that anybody fishing somewhere known to harbour the beasties follows the Check Clean Dry procedures, given the devastation that this parasite can cause, and I trust all anglers are doing so!

I do sincerely hope Press Manor is out of the woods but perhaps its a little early to say either way given that the 'infestation' was reported as recently as January.

Keep us posted

All the best
Ant

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Had a response from the EA, they have been to see the owner and given him advice, from Richardw's post sounds as if they are taking the advice.

Note that Richardw fishes the same bit of the Wye that Bernie works on from time to time, so there may be a bit of bias.

As far as I know Argulus don't just disappear that quickly - obviously newly stocked fish (the sort that throw th emselves at bits of red wool) won't have picked up lice - i'll maybe pay a visit with a camera and report back.

Be helpful if the owner saw fit to report on the situation here or on his website or even put a sign up at the fishery.

For a long time it was being ignored in the hopes it would go away, not the best approach, doesn't fill me with confidence...

I visited Press Manor fishery for the first time today, the third fly fishing trip I have made!
I wanted to make a post to make sure that the anglers on the forum are up to date on the fishery performance.
I arrived at about 8.30 down a snowy lane, to be greeted by an entrance blocked with snow and 4 cars waiting outside! The guys soon arrived and opned up, I tackled up and started fishing at about 9.15, after taking in the beautiful suroundings. There is something magical about fishing when there is snow on the ground.
Conditions were good and being a complete beginner, (with only 3 outings I wonuldnt describe myself any other way!) I tackled up with a black and green lure.

3rd cast and I was in, not a wrenching take, but obvious enough for me to strike, and I was into the first fish of the day, I estimate about 1.5lbs of beautiful rainbow trout, gleaming sliver with the pink bar running down its flank.
There has been mention of Argulus on this thread, but I can tell you that of the 6 fish I landed during the day (and the 4 that dropped of as they jumped clear out of the water!) they were all in impeccable condition, the best I have seen in my short time fly fishing.

Highlight of the day for me was a beautiful 15 yard cast, lovely and straight into an area where I saw fish moving, a little nip almost as the lure hit the water, I left it then tightened the slack and struck into a fish estimated at just under 3lbs. Again in mint condition.

While I was there, I saw some fish stocking going on, I asked about this and Bernie told me that this was a regular thing but was now programmed to ensure stock turnover which will help keep argulus at bay according to the EA. He also mentioned some other measures that had been taken to safeguard the fisheery like lowring the water level, to allow the overall water temperature to drop as low as possible again as a preventitive measure against Argulus.

To sum up, I will be going to Press Manor on a regular basis, even though it is by no means local to me, it is definitely worth the effort.

To anyone else who is considering a visit, DO IT, there is no way you will regret it. If you are concerned about fungus transfer, and there is no reason I can see that you should be more concerned at Press Manor than any other fishery, just dry your kit off afterwards!

But please do the fishery the curtesy of turning up with dry kit becasue it would be a shame if those beautiful fish were contaminated in any way through carelessness.

I would go again tomorrow if I could.

I would like to point out that the free fly that Bernie Maher gave me has in no way influenced this report, in fact he did me no favours since that fly hooked up 3 and only landed 1!

Thanks to everyone at Press manor for making it a great day out for me.

What the hell are you talking about?

This fishery is known to be contaminated with a serious parasite that has been known to close down fisheries full stop. I hope that you have been 'concerned about fungus transfer' enough to clean your own kit after you have been there today and have dried it out fully? 'Do the fishery the curtsey of turning up with dry kit' but only 'if you are concerned about fungus transfer'? Which school of logic did you go to? Oh, I know the one, 'It's nothing to do with me pal, I just love to get my kicks, I didn't see nothing wrong'. B*****cks, YOU are the reason that these things spread.

I would happily fish Press Manor and thoroughly disinfect and dry my kit afterwards, as I do after every fishing session, but the pervading nonchalant attitude that you and, apparently, the management of Press Manor - as evidenced in their lack of strict instruction to you - give clear cause for concern that none of you are taking this seriously.

Perhaps you should be considering giving a 'curtsey' to wherever you are off to fish next?

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Thanks for your reply Ant.
I don't know if this is worth mentioning, but I have fished for over 30 years, (coarse fishing) and I am aware of the impact that fish fungi can have on fisheries.
I look after my kit as well as I can, I clean boots, nets, clothes, and since I started fly fishing, lines as well.
If you think I am the reason that these diseases spread, you are very, very wrong.
You don't even know me.
I accept that these are emotive issues, but your personal attack on me is totally unwarranted.
I have made a personal judgement on Press Manor, having visited the site twice, one without fishing and once to have a really good day out.
I'll stand by that quite happily.
You have made a personal judgement on me on the basis of... what exactly?

Don't bother responding to this reply, you've made your opinion very clear you don't need to expand on it.

Best Regards, Mike

That's a bit uncalled for...