Reading posts on controls for fish welfare by fishery managers and "pellet pigs" ,"stockies" "grow them fast to record sizes" "Stew ponds with diseased fish" to name but a few.

It has prompted me to ask what your thoughts are that being a fishery manager/owner involves?
How could they improve if need be?
Why do fishery managers/owners do it in your opinion?

Its a thread I hope will cause interest and opinions,no doubt ,some will disagree which is good ,but at the end of it hopefully both the angler and the fisherymanagers/owners will learn something on both sides and a bit more understanding on both sides can only help improve the sport for all involved,both wild and stocked waters.Remember though its not just the fishery manager/owner who makes the fishery but the angler has a big input into it aswell.

I sit with Flak jacket on and tin helmet.

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Kevin

I think part of it is deciding on a market and sticking to it. There will always be a market for heavily stocked small stillwaters with maicured banks and platforms, purist waters with light stockings and seclusion offered by wild surroundings, or dare I say it bait waters. I think the manager has to decide on what they are trying to offer and not start dabbling.

Ok, here goes...over the years I have visited a few stocked dams where the owners have tried to cash in on the bait market by netting off sections of the water. This is always a mistake as you get twice as much hassle from bait customers and there is nothing more likely to ruin your day than a load of half-cut tracksuited neds flinging out bubblefloats the size of tennis balls on spinning rods. It tends to put me off the water altogether.


I also think a good owner is quick to have a word with those that are unwittingly antisocial....the sort of guys that see you catching, come and stand beside you and cast over your line while asking 'what you catching them on'.

I think a manger has also got to be brave enough to make a rule that may be an inconvenience to the responsible majority to drive off the idiots...eg Alex Cairnie saying he has banned alcohol. Similarly there are many tactics that have their day but the knuckle draggers will use as a default....boobies cast out and rods laid down (illegal). If a manager has to take the bold step of prohibiting a fly or tactics use to drive off the bampots then sadly it may be necessary.

You should get many diffrent answers for this one some good some bad , but overall you will know yourself kevin what you think is best . set your rules , make sure everybody adears to them , most important when i go to fishery if you open the door and the owner is welcoming up for a bit of banter , to me thats half the battle . As ive said before on previous threads the quality of the trout going in for me is the best advertising you will get for your place size dosn,t matter who needs 10lb pellet pigs give me a 3lb naturally grown on trout any day of the week . But most importantly enjoy and i wish you all the best.

stevie j

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[SIZE="4"]BRITISH BY BIRTH , SCOTTISH BY THE GRACE OF GOD..[/SIZE]

Managers and owners of small stillwater fisheries stock with big fish because that is what their customers want. They pay much more per pound for big fish than fish of a standard size. It wouldn't be worth their while to just indulge themselves. The anglers make commercial fisheries through supply and demand. Few people will admit to wanting artificial finless monsters but the fact that they swim in most put and take lakes tells a different story.

[QUOTE=warrenslaney;292430]Managers and owners of small stillwater fisheries stock with big fish because that is what their customers want. QUOTE]

Sorry but I have to disagree with this part of Warrens post. Managers/owners may think that's what customers want, but I believe first and foremost we want quality fish. The odd big fish wouldn't go amiss though.

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Tight Lines.
Brian.

Having worked at Avington, Dever, Two Lakes, Toft, Lakedown and loads of fish farms supplying put and take fisheries, I have an idea what the majority of anglers want. I can clearly remember a chap who, while buying a ticket was moaning about put and take fisheries stocking very big fish. He then spent all afternoon walking round with one on his finger, telling everyone who would listen, how he caught it and from where.

You lads dont realise how much work goes into growing and keeping big fish alive and well. They are not designed to live in small ponds and tanks and it takes some pretty strong chemical solutions to keep them alive. If you didnt want them, the farmers wouldn't grow them.

[QUOTE=Capeldrae;292440]I totally agree. If you want to fish for big fish take up carp or pike fishing. I am happy catching trout sized trout. Would far rather see better fish than bigger fish. If a fishery offered stocked fish that were in fin perfect condition but of a smaller average size, That is where I would fish.

My club water stocks with best quality browns of 11-13'' as we found that stocking big fish brought out the worst in many anglers ,fish of roughly a pound in weight give a very good account of themselves,and given the chance grow on well.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Spot on. Its the same as any other business - an owner will (should), assess what market they are aiming at and develop their business plan to suit. Good fishery managers/businessmen are generally successful, because they get it right, bad ones aren't, regardless of what type of fishery they run and what market they are aiming at. There is no right or wrong here, just different types of business decisions for the fisheries concerned, because some of us like one type of fishery, others like something else. Personally I don't much like small water/big fish venues, so even though I have one on my doorstep I rarely fish it. Doesn't mean its no good, its just not my cup of tea thats all. They seem to do well well though, so they must be happy they have enough customers and good luck to 'em.

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Warren Slaney must be right. In life, you get what you pays for, if you are lucky, and people in business, generally, survive only if they provide what their customers demand.
Personally, I would sooner fish for fit and furious 2lb to 4lb rainbows than the heavyweights. A personal best is 11lb, and I sure as hell am not looking to top that. Before I am slanged by anyone, let me say that when I used to fish one of the lower Eden's privare beats weekly for salmon, I came to enjoy fishing with light tackle for summer grilse more than fishing for the dwindling run of the bigger spring salmon. That is simply my choice. And while I preferred fly to spinner, I found out that there is more to that method than the fly-only fisher might think.
Why grilse, because fishing for them is nearer to fishing for my first love, wild brown trout. Those who have a wide choice should thank their lucky stars.
TC