Saw an article in Trout Fisherman this month on stalking at Avington, thought it looked a nice place to go for a trip so looked them up on the internet......

I think I've only just come round from the shock of their prices. £80 for a 4 fish ticket is insane (whatever the sizes they promise are in there).

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm happy to pay extra for big fish venues but this is mad....as catching is never guaranteed and an £80 blank would hurt.

What is it with prices/venues these days? Its starting to get as expensive to fish for trout as when I fish for Salmon.

I quite agree with you,i think its mainly the cost of stocking those big fish that bumps the price up.Its not a place you could go once a week is it.Its not just the lake fishing that is starting to cost a bit now just have a look at some of the river fishing around derbyshire and the chalk streams?These days it is not just the cost of the days fishing it is all the added extras,petrol and food i know it has cut down the ammount i fish now.

I agree, absolutely ludicrous. I've seen the venue on the telle, overweight lumps crusing around waiting to be caught. He has a niche business built up over many years and people are willing to pay so there we are, can't blame him I suppose.

I know plenty like the idea but not for me, give me a fit fiesty 1/2 lb wild brownie any day. 80 quid indeed, silly.

Chris.

well i went to stocks res and blanked i live 88 miles from it so with food and fuel, cost of the ticket it was about the same and i have to travel like that most of the time so if i went there its close to 200 its not good is it 80 is far to much.

phil

__________________
stop buying bottled water we have,nt got enuff to fish in now so stop it get the water companies to do there job and clean the water every where!!!!

Dever Springs can match that at 4 Fish..£70 3 Fish.£55. It's becoming a rich mans sport these days

I have always concidered the cost of a permit just that. A permit to fish. Not a ticket to take away x amount of fish flesh.
The most I have spent for a days fishing was £125 plus VAT for a day on the Tay. The place was heaven on earth!
Stunning beyond belief, and a first class ghillie to direct us.
I lost one fish that day but enjoyed the whole experiance.
Just to be allowed to walk the banks I would have paid for.

__________________
It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

I always weigh up the price of Avington and many of the other similar fisheries in Hampshire which being close are where I tend to fish and you escape the fact that for some people they are not affordable, but you have to say for many people they certainly are.

The way I see it... firstly yes you are right, this is not something I could justify to do every week, well certainly not without the wife having a say in matters, but on a once in a while I don't find it that bad.

The difference maybe is that I compare it to a day out rather than a day at other fisheries. If I went to go to watch a rugby match I would be paying easily the same amount for the best rugby games, so to me it is actually quite good value at £80 for a day out at one of the best fisheries (and by that I mean nice atmosphere and look of the place, not just fish size).

The fish and potential of big fish is just an added extra benefit in my book. Considering the cost of 25 - 30lb of trout in a supermarket, a very worthwhile benefit to be honest.

Is it any wonder that the England Youth team hasn't had a single entry from Avingtons part of the world for some time. Infact, i can't even recall any ever.

The prices are shocking. All to fish a low density stock pond with little sporting challenge.

An alternative reason might be that the two large trout reservoirs closest to Avington - Sutton Bingham and Farmoor 2 - are both over 60 miles away, and neither has any great concentration or history of serious competition fishing, although social matches are held there from time to time.

Care to share with us your specific experiences of, and catches from, Avington ?

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

Never been.....but it aint rocket science is it?

Kids simply can't afford to fly fish places like Avington.