So I was fishing a small stillwater yesterday and it was hard going, conditions were tough with bright sunshine and flat calm, managed 3 which I was happy with and lost 4 or 5 which I was not so happy about! Just after lunchtime 2 fellas and a small kid turned up and started fishing, I recognised one of them as he had previously tried coarse fishing the fly-tactics only lake (there is also a coarse lake) and had been told not to by the bailiff. Was pleased to see he now had all the fly gear but I felt a bit bad for him when I watched him thrash around with the rod and cast no more than a rod length, thought it would be a tough day for them...he was just in my field of vision to my right and I notice that he gets into a fish within minutes, then a 2nd, then a 4th and 5th. I was intrigued so stopped to tie on a new fly and watch for a while, it was obvious one of the 2 was throwing in bait about a rod length out and then the other just dropped a baited hook into the area and they were pulling fish out. I'd guess they landed 20+ fish and lost just as many as they often handed the rod to the youngster when a fish was on,

Now the tricky part is (and I know this sounds daft) but the fishery doesnt really have any 'rules' as such, the only thing advertised at the venue is ticket prices and as long as you're sticking to the ticket you bought and are handling the fish as well as possible the bailiff, who comes down to check the lakes 3/4 times per day, seems to adopts a very liberal attitude.

I was thinking a lot about it on the way home, on the one hand they weren't technically breaking any rules so you could say fair play to them, it just didnt feel right as you want the fish to be feeding on natural fly life and the challenge be to fool them with a natural imitation of these naturals, not just to congregate round the guy throwing powerbait in. I appreciate it may sound like sour grapes (maybe it is subconciously!!) and I hope it doesnt come across as a thread where I've already made my mind up and I'm looking for support as 24 hours on I still dont really know what to think but would be interested to hear others views...

Cheers, Jon

If this is a stocked still water I suppose it is up to the owner. If this were a river or loch with wild fish it would be different.

I suppose I think that stocked still waters are an artificial set up and as such it doesn't matter if it's power bait or artificial fly. You pays your money and takes your choice. So long as the rules allow.

You have the moral high ground in my view though.

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"It is not how abundant nor how considerable our catch be, but rather to the sport, and manner in which our quarry, the noble trout is angled."
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Surely if it's a fly only lake, they were clearly breaking rules

Mat

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Rainbow-13lb Arnfield,Brown-8lb 2oz Rutland,Golden Rainbow-3lb Bellflask, Blue-5lb 11oz Stocks

If the lake was fly tactics only, then i would have thought it was obvious that throwing in bait is out of the question. Rules or no rules, its surely in the name.

If it is a fly only water, then yes they broke the rules. You have a right to be annoyed..

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Eddie
"We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation."
Voltaire

It's a Rule break to me. If it was up to me I would tell the bailiff, if they weren't told to stop / move I would find another fishery.

You have paid to Fly Fish on a Fly tactics lake, and this guy is using coarse tactics with a Fly rod in my opinion. If the fishery was happy with that I wouldn't give them any more of my money.

May sound harsh but to be honest I reckon if you told the bailiff they would be asked to leave anyway.

In a fly only lake ground baiting is usually forbidden.

BK

Thanks for the input guys, I planned to speak to the owner / bailiff but didnt see him again before I left but I'll have a chat with him next time I see him and get his thoughts on it...theres plenty of choice locally so I'm not too stuck!

Forgive me, but it sounds like a bit of a Mickey Mouse set up to me. If the owner/bailiff lets such practices go on then I personaly would vote with my feet and go elsewhere...............birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

You certainly have the moral high ground. I would speak to the staff. Give it another go. If it happens again.......find somewhere else.

Dave.

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