Hi all

I decided to spend yesterday 27/08 bank-holiday fishing a South Midlands water. After ringing round various places (Farmoor, Watermark, Gailey, Lechlade) we decided to hit the road and make a decision when we were somewhere near. From the telephone conversations, Farmoor seemed honest and said fishing was hard going although there had been people catching well at times, Gailey echoed Farmoor, Watermark just rang through to answer phone EVERY time (which I find rude) and Lechlade said Bushyleaze was fishing really well and that there were 8 people fishing it. As we got nearer to Lechlade we pretty much decided to give one of their waters a try. When we arrived at the lodge we were told a) Lechlade was closed and b) There were 28-ish anglers fishing Bushyleaze! Now, I cannot believe 20 anglers arrived in the time it took me to get to Gloucester, I also cannot believe that the woman in the lodge didn’t bother to mention the fact that Lechlade lake was closed as a) we might have fished it and b) it will most likely have a bearing on how many anglers fish Bushyleaze. Anyway, we decided to try Bushy as we were assured it was fishing well (maybe a bit naïve of us). There were four of us present and each had £30 four-fish tickets. We have fished here 2 times in the past 2 years as well as a couple of Airflo classic finals (in the days where you had to progress through a regional final first). We have struggled here pretty much every time and in the past just put it down to the conditions etc. It was a reasonably warm day although breezy at times. I must have seen SIX fish move at the most ALL DAY. Talking to pretty much every angler we passed, we discovered the most anyone had caught from the bank at least was 1 fish.

Two of the four of us managed to catch one fish, both of which were absolutely covered in lice and the one well under two pounds. Disappointed is putting it politely - the place is a disgrace. At £120 for two diseased fish I wouldn’t go back there if they offered free fishing. I’m not exactly loaded with money so I was looking forward to this for quite a while only to be made to feel like I have been robbed. No body likes the fishing to be too easy, you don’t even mind not catching if you can see a few fish! The water is very clear and at times I could see my nymph/lure a long way out with not the slightest sight of a fish. Everywhere felt like dead water. We stuck it out until just before dark – can you believe there was absolutely no evening rise? Between 6 and 8, I can only remember seeing two fish surface! Pathetic! To be told the water was fishing well only added insult to injury – there is no way on earth that place is fishing well. Bemuses me how so many people seem to like the place, my advice is don’t go anywhere near it!!

Stewart

Sorry you had a dissapointing day stewart here is Davids account of his local water recently.

25-08-2007, 12:32 PM


bushleaze news
it was a brilliant day at bushy yesterday will lots of fish rising all day and i got 2 fish just under 5lb,barclay34 had 1 under 5lb to and steve had 1 at 3lb so all was good. lechlade is closed so they are putting a lot of lechlade fish in bushlease so it is well worth it with 1 man catching 2 6lbs and their are a lot of big ones out their i got some pics so i will put them under bushleaze 24th august
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David (little machin)



maybe he could shed some light on the problems afoot.

Pete

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Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011

Mmmmm.. Not the way to win friends and influence people!

I went to Colwick Lake, a little pond here in Nottingham, on Sunday. The bailiff said something like "You didn't want to be here yesterday and I don't see it being any better today"

Well, he was right, but I had been warned and I had made my own decision. Spent a fruitless, but quite pleasant day bobbing around in a boat. At least I did come home with something - confidence in the information I was given. In my opinion, that's worth something.

Jeff

Stewart,

Don't be put off if you get the answerphone at Watermark, they get back pretty quick and the info you receive is good.

The water is a gem, often quiet and has fished consistently well all summer.

Steve

This is probably rubbing salt in your wounds Stewart, but I've just had a very pleasant afternoon at Gailey - 3 very nice fish (although from the catch book it looks like maybe I was a bit lucky). Very friendly, helpful staff and the best bit was it only cost £15 including boat

it must of been my lucky day

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David (little machin)