It is now common knowledge that Hanningfield reservoir allow all methods for both trout and coarse fish.

Is this the thin end of the wedge and will all the other large water supply reservoirs open up in a similar way? Certainly a lot of potential young anglers would like to catch trout, but learning to cast is not an option. They want results and they want them now!

But what do you think?

.........like a stockie on a tequila blob, I go for it......

Who cares! especially if it gets more youngsters fishing and keeps a trout water open....Ok it will be a bit more challenging for them on the fly but they are more likely to persevere if they can have a crack with a fly rod and then switch methods if it is too hard - either due to conditions of their casting ability

If its catch and kill and there is a sensible stocking policy, then why not!

I cannot see any practical difference between stripping a lure and spinning with mepps.

I've taken wild fish:
by hand - guddling.
Worm
mepp/spoon
traditional wet fly
dry
stripped lure.
And a friend assures me that salmon roe - properly prepared - is a devastating bait.

Now the only onle of these I'd count as improper is the Salmon Roe.

It may well be that once an anlger feels he has mastered a method, he will be tempted to try another - and that fly fishing offers an unending series of challenges and opportunities - which is why many of us do it.

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

I'm a regular at Hanningfield, so can speak from my experience, although my own views do not necessarily represent those of others or Hanningfield Flyfishers, of which I am a member.

1. The fishing at Hanningfield has been first class this year. The latest I have been out for an 8 fish limit in a match this year has been 1.30pm and there have been a number of very big fish caught.

2. The attendance and boat usage has been significantly increased, presumably being casual anglers trying their hand at trout fishing, so there has been a big revenue spike for the water company.

3. My anecdotal observation has been that there are quite a lot of folks spinning, but very few bait fishing. I have especially noticed a larger number of children (with parents) and couples (man and woman) fishing from boats together.

4. The fly anglers have largely outfished all other methods. One day, when we were there I was catching literally every cast on buzzers while spinners were plopping in from nearby boats without the same success.

There are rumours of bait being found in boats and other misdemeanours, but the wardens have been quite regular in searching bags etc, from what I have seen.

So...............draw your own conclusions, but I have seen no negative impact and could see that certainly spinning is not going to cause any issues other than the same ones we have with novice fly fishers of poor boat etiquette, anchoring on drifts, etc.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Thanks for your very valued input Charlie. This is what I wanted to hear. There is no doubt that fly fishing methods over all will catch far more trout than bait or the use of spinners.

Reservoirs like Hanningfield contain some huge coarse fish which are worth persuing in their own right. Certainly I, as an all round angler, would have a go for the big coarse fish If I lived closer.

Living in South Yorkshire, we do have a reservoir that allows all methods and that is Scoutdyke. This is a water I have fished from time to time and have had some good catches too - all on the fly, especially buzzers.

The bait boys, although catching lots early season, soon have a very lean time indeed, especially when the trout wise up to worms and maggots.

floating trout pellets...are they allowed??

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an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

Just to be clear, no groundbaiting, other than through the feeder, is allowed at Hanningfield.

Actually Ron, very few coarse fish of any substance there either, unlike Grafham for whatever reason. Seen a few pike anglers out but biggest caught has been 15lbs, which is nothing special really, and not that many taken so far.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

are trout pellets suerglued to a hook allowed?....sorry ..on a fly line
or do you have to have a fly on when fishing a fy line?

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an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

I can't see they would have a problem with pellet on the hook of a fly line - there is plenty of Powerbait on sale in the lodge for use by the bait anglers.

However, given that you cannot feed, I am not sure why you would choose that method

Overall, as I have said, fly anglers have done consistently the best.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Salmon roe was called mickey, or Toffee,a well known local poacher who could make top class stuff, taught me how to make it, deadly on sea trout, but strictly illegal.