New funding from Environment Agency

Great news that our recent funding application has been successful. We won financial support from the EA which we plan to use to clear blockages on our Durbridge stretch of the River Leadon. We’ll also be able to manage some dead Alders which hopefully will regrow after coppicing. The work will take place in September when it’s not going to impact on bird nesting and before the trout start to spawn. We’ll use a professional tree surgeon supported by club volunteers. If you are interested in helping out drop me a line.

Taskers - Highs and lows of developing a fishery

This short video looks at the main events of 2021 down at Taskers our Crucian Carp and Tench pond including dealing with fluctuating water levels, struggling aquatic plants and anglers, 24 tonnes of topsoil and finally a nice surprise from the Environment Agency.

Dry fly session at Durbridge

A short session on the Durbridge stretch wading upstream between the weirs.

Taskers coming along nicely

I popped down to check out our development pool Taskers earlier today and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. As you can see from the pictures below the banks are now green and it’s looking a lot less like a bomb crater. Tim the farmer sowed a mix of barley and grass and it finally came through. It’s given the whole area a much more natural look.

But the biggest improvement is the water level and condition. Taskers is full! I would estimate the average depth at 10 foot and it will be up to 15 foot in places. The solar pump is currently switched off.

Tim has nearly finished fitting out a fishing cabin which features wood burner, cooker, sink and a sleeping area. The decking features a fire pit and barbecue area. The idea is that the cabin can be rented out so that anglers can take advantage of dusk to dawn angling.

There is still lots more to do and the focus in the spring will be aquatic planting. We know the Crucian and Tench are thriving and the water was buzzing with activity during the early autumn. Cormorants are still a worry but Tim is doing his best to frighten these away.

We are encouraging members to give it a trial fish as what we really need are some pictures of anglers and fish. To date only one Crucian has been caught but fear not they are elusive creatures! Let me know if you fancy popping down

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Improved access at Upleadon

Chosing one of the wettest days of the year a club working party managed to install three styles on the Upleadon stretch of our waters. Earlier project work led by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust had fenced off large sections of this stretch to prevent bank-side damage and poaching by cattle.

Thanks to Malcolm, Steve and Mark who worked alongside Richard Spyvee of the GWT who also provided the club with additional materials that can be used for further access points.

We struck gold!

Fisheries officers Laura Bullock and Sam Chapman from the Environment Agency carried out a sample netting of Taskers today to see how the Crucians and Tench were doing. Water levels have returned to near normal and Sam struggled to cross the pond with the depth at 5 foot plus in places.

The INTREPID Sam Chapman crossing Taskers

After two fruitless passes their persistence paid off with a third run behind the islands and around 20 golden fry proving that the Crucians bred last summer.

Crucian fry