has anyone got any info on this venue? i dont often fish stillwaters but i really like the sound of the catch nd release option also the floaing line dry and nymph rules. any info on how its fishing, how busy it gets will be great. they dont seem to have a website?

cheers jon mcmillan.

If you go on www.flyfishingvenues.com you will find the details. John Barnes has just turned two of the lakes into boat only. Not got any reports on it yet but the saying is that they are stocked with good sized fish.We are just up the road at Blenheim Palace so if you are in the area for a few days pop in and see us. Bailiff

thanks for your reply bailiff i am based in berkshire so not that far away. i was at the game fair last year and didnt realise you had a trout fishery there! is it the lake where the fly fishing demos were taking place? i am really a running water angler of the rivers of wales but with the rain at the minute i am getting cabin fever. i may look you up next weekend if i can get a pass from the better half.
thanks again,

jon.

I went there a couple of years ago. Very pretty small lakes and you are fishing pretty much in his back garden so he comes out and chats to you, also no doubt checking you are abiding by the many rules.

Quite expensive but I saw some big fish and the ones we caught were in good nick.

Farmoor 1 is much better value, for the area, in my view.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Yes the water used at the CLA is now a trout fishery but it runs the full length of Bladon Lake which is a mile long and headed by a large cascade so although classed as a still water is in fact a widened stretch of the river Glyme which in its self is a trout river.
As for Johns place i fish it mostly in the winter not that easy but a place i can get away from things.Price wise most waters around here are around the same except Farmoor which is subsidised and after all is a concrete bowl.

im off to barnes lakes tomorrow. phoned to book my ticket and the lady on the other end told me (without me asking) that it was really difficult at the moment.
excellent to get honest information from the owner now i can't wait to get up there. i don't care how difficult it is, it will just make the fish more rewarding to catch.
first time stillwater fishing this season. freshening up the casting for the first week in september on the wye.

good luck mate, have you got the contact details as i wouldnt mind giving this place a bash aswell,

regards,
matt....

If you fancy difficult and local you should go over to Felix Farm in Binfield, there's no C&R but I'm yet to witness any "C" so it doesn't make much odds (plenty of fish jumping though). Highly addictive, can happily spend 7 or 8 hours there.

Good luck. J

i have fished it a few times but cant stand the sound of the M4 rattling away behind me. i have always caught there though i havent fished it for a few years.

im just back from barnes lake and the lady wasnt kidding when she said it was "hard work". only 1 fish for my efforts and it was covered in argulus. the owner john was honest in telling me his problems. it is a delightful setting and i will be back after a couple of frosts. that should kill of the argulus. great value and the place is full of decent fish, just a shame they are concentrating on ridding themselves of the parasites rather than feeding.
i hope it gets sorted soon because i cant wait to get back.

regards jon mcmillan.

I don't get to go fishing nearly as much as I like - a one year old sees to that! ;-) But I am very fond of Barnes Lake and although I do occasionally use Farmoor, I far prefer this place. The surroundings are far lovelier and the fishing much more intimate and interesting. It can be a challenge, but always rewards, whether I catch or not (wherever I fish this tends to be more often the latter - but that's another story...)

Last fished there the day after Boxing Day this Christmas just gone, plenty of ice on the water, but there was sufficient clear water to be fished. Montanas proved to be the recipe of the day and both my brother and I got decent fish which were in great nick - one just shy of 2lbs and one just over - which made up for the cold fingers and made for excellent post-turkey eating!

There are two lakes (Barnes - the one nearest the lodge - and Kingfisher) that can be fished from the very well tended banks and I understand that John is aiming to get two more lakes up and running as boat only.

I really recommend the place!

John