Four of us turned up to fish the last four hours of the day on Wednesday light breeze from the south, overcast,it looked good. We went into the lodge paid up £ 20.50 for three fish and half a boat each no problem . Then the " Fishery Manager " comes out with because of the wind this morning i dont want you going out more than 200 meters past the cages Apx 200m the lodge side of hutt point ( about a third of the lake ) . We couldnt believe it there wasn't a white wave on the water , he wasn't having it and assured us that Ifor would back his decision . He didn't even look out of the window to see what it was like. So we demanded a refund and then went to another venue. Anyone on the forum come across a restriction up there because of this ?

Sounds like the same bloke who told me I couldn't even walk on the pontoon without a life jacket, massive health and safety risk apparently.

i think you will find that is the case at all STW sites where ever, doesnt matter if your fishing/staff/member of the public your will get a telling off, i know as i have been told off as well but not at foremark, and seen it numerous times at other STW sites,

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You got to watch thoughs big rolling waves that have built up over that massive 500m tops of water at foremark you might end up getting some water splash on you. (massive risk of drowning) guess you better take your 50m swimming badge from now on and you might get a full drift in. Heaven knows how we're able to fish the likes of rutters in a good blow aye ?

I dont know about a swimming badge may be some vouchers from specksaver s would be a better idea ,you get buy one get one free at the moment one pair for looking long range out the window, and the other for reading the angling times thats on the lodge coffee table .

Ah yes, the legendary STW Health & Safety zealots Technically, I believe their procedures require the wearing of a lifejacket anyhwere within 2m of the water. Its incredible how we've all survived this long on our own really isn't it? When will start having to reverse park the boats I wonder? Health & Safety used to be a means to an end - now its just an end in itself, with a whole industry built up around it. There's only one good reason for many of STW's rules, and thats to keep their H&S staff in jobs. If only they spent as much effort fixing leaks.... Don't expect much sympathy towards anglers/angling though. Their attitude towards our sport appears to be one of "grudging acceptance".

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Sorry for not replying sooner as I've been away & only just caught up with Richard at Foremark today.

Last Wednesday the forecast on the BBC website & metcheck were giving severe weather warnings as the remnants of hurricane bill (or whatever name they gave it) swept across the Atlantic & across the UK. I was up on the east coast of Scotland salmon fishing & had an horrendous days fishing due to the wind.

Richard on arriving at the fishery that morning having checked the weather forecast went out in the rescue boat to see how bad it was, the wind as forecast from the south did not make it look that bad however as Richard went further across the reservoir conditions worsened with conditions as he neared the cascade in his words “horrendous” on his return to the lodge he took the decision to not let any boats out.

Richard then informs me at around 2.30pm the first of the four anglers arrived he went across to him in the car park & advised that although conditions (he had been out again to check conditions) had improved he was going to allow boats out but limit the boat fishing area to the lodge side of hut point across to the sailing club committee boat to the cages leaving the sailing club bay & flamingo bay fishable.

When the other rods arrived two of them paid and as the second pair went to pay Richard once again went through the conversation he had with the first arriving angler.

Following a discussion he refunded the first pairs money there was no problem in him doing that.

He felt that although they all appeared to understand his decision they did question his judgment.

On a further point lifejackets have had to be worn at Anglian water & Eyebrook for a number of years its therefore understandable that STW when drawing up the lease put in that clause.

I'm happy to meet the anglers involved at Foremark if they wish to discuss it further but will not enter into any email or forum debate.

Ifor

Hmmm what ever next

As ever, two sides to every story.

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Roy