what, if any, are the best method/s for fishing algaed water, any thoughts or experiances.

A reservoir I fish is currently suffering a bloom of planktonic algae, the water is green with visibility down to around a foot. It has affected the fishing quite dramatically, with little or no fish rising through the day despite massive fly life on the water. The fishing has gradually deteriorated since the bloom first appeared. It's now into its fourth week. Low visibility makes sub-surface work harder, and with few fish on the surface, top of the water fishing is all but pointless.

The owners really need to anchor a load of straw bales around the margins. I don't know how it works, but it does clear the bloom. It is in the owners interest! Some fisheries also have the aerators pumping, but then that's 'more expense'. Again, it's in the owners long term interest! Correct me if i am wrong but, algae de oxygenates the water that fish live in, they need to sort it now!

Going back to my coarse/match fishing background, those in the know would use the dreaded 'shiny black' casters on the hook in coloured water, as their silhouette was more visible. Scorned under normal conditions, these sub standard pupae suddenly became very desirable when the water was coloured.

So, as far as flies are concerned, maybe black flies? Some fluorescent contrast?

Or you could try fishing a venue where they actually bother to tackle the algae problem.

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"Angling may be said to be so like mathematics in that it can never be fully understood" - Izaak Walton

Organic barley straw works best but you need it in the water during the early spring, its not 100% success rate & for some reason does work better on some waters than others.

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www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

While I agree barley straw is the obvious means of tackling some types of algal blooms (though not all), surely it is dependent on the volume of the body of water. I've visited a few small still waters where bales have helped keep blooms in check, but surely the amount of bales required for larger waters just makes it impractical. I fail to see the point of having a pop at a fishery which has an algal bloom and does nothing about it. After all - what can they do, except wait for nature to run its course. The water I mentioned in my earlier post for example is over 40 acres and 40ft deep. Again aerators do not prevent algal blooms, as it isn't the lack of dissolved oxygen in the water which triggers it as far as I'm aware, the aerators do help lessen the effect of oxygen depletion (caused by the single cell plankton dying off) after the bloom has taken hold.

Some waters are more susceptible to blooms than others, with blame often being laid at the feet of agricultural fertilizer run-off. Whether this is always the case is difficult to confirm with any certainty. Another case for tackling diffuse pollution.

Fish on silhouette - ie Black - or violent colour - ie Flo Hot Orange .

Going home and doing something else whilst it clears also works .

It is variable and depends on all sorts of factors - water chemistry , temperature stack ups - barley straw has some believers but I reckon the actual Jury is still out on that one . One thing is for sure - if it turns Blue Green don't lay down and drink it !

Oddly enough Blue Green algae appears to have no effect on ducks and after all these years I wonder about the Dead Dogs and Sheep at Rutland Incident ! I really do !!

Best wishes and I hope it clears soon

Steve P

A generally held misconception - blue green algae, isn't an algal bloom in the truest sense. It is actually bacteria called Cyanobacteria. If that appears on a water it makes good sense to close the water.

Aerators are used on the larger deeper stillwater (drinking supply reservoirs) not for the benefit of the angler but to ensure that the water quality is fit for us to drink. We as anglers benefit from them, cooler column of well oxygenated water.

The smaller waters (fisheries) who have aerators have them for one reason only to ensure their expensive stock survive during periods as were having of high temperatures leading to high water temperatures and a drop in dissolved oxygen levels.

The down side of aerators are they can initially when switched on disturb the bottom & temporarily be the cause of an algae bloom.

Not every blue green algae turns toxic, however I would keep my dogs out of it & would ensure I wash my hands before eating my lunch. Water companies do check for the toxic blue green algae & will post warning notices if found.

__________________
www.flyfishthornton.co.uk
www.flyfishforemark.co.uk
Member Fishery: Stillwater Game Fisheries Association www.troutfisheries.co.uk

well, well gentlemen, it seems that with all your views on this subject it can't be resolved properly on the larger waters but how small is a small waterbut all in all we rarely suffer from this too often as the weather we are experiencing lately is not a regular happening these days so, as it is my halfway to getting a letter from the royal family, Birthday next week, i have an itch that needs scratching and so will be going and just suck it and see, but i will be trying out a few of the sugguestions given, but i never truly go just to catch fish, the company, the surroundings and the welcome at the fisheries is more than enough to wipe away the tears should no fish be willing thanks gents

personally it think algae makes hatches alot harder to come across due to the fact that the algae makes it harder for the imerging insects to get out of the water, if i was you id try a heavy nymph or lure to get down in the water imagine your fishing in treacle how slow your nymph sinks through the water make sure you leave it longer than you would normally to make sure it gets down if my tinking is correct and depending on how heavy the algae is id let it sink for quoite some ime in fact id probally not retrieve the fly at all

gl,

james