Blenheim Palace, trout and 'Fisher Management'
It looks like Bladon Lake (the one the game fair was held on) at Blenheim Palace is to be turned into a trout fishery.
I was up there today and the lake was being electro-fished to remove pike and bream for relocation into the main lake.
Now, I have quite mixed feeling about this. I regularly fly fish this venue for pike (having paid for the privilege) and obviously seeing my quarry being removed galled somewhat. The opening of a new trout fishery on my doorstep is a plus.
I would also question the waters suitability as a trout fishery, being very silty and shallow. I've not seen very much fly life there either. I'm no real expert and I'm sure that the palace have sought 'expert' advice. A few of you will have seen the water from visiting the game fair.
The lake is fed by the little river Glyme. There is a large water fall at the top end that will act as a barrier to fish migrating up-stream but there is nothing to stop them making their way into the bottom portion of the Glyme and into the Evenlode. I'm assuming that this will mean that they will only be able to stock with browns? I'm not sure who controls the fishing on the Evenlode below Blenheim (I think that Red Spinnner did have it a few years ago) but this could be very intresting.
Question is, is removing the pike and other course fish a suitable way to prepare the water for trout? The pike will inevitably return and prosper from the new food source, which is a good thing. The bad thing is I and others probably won't be allowed to fish for them...
Andy
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