I've just been informed that the Carp Society have acquired a new fishery with details to be announced soon. Does anyone have any information on this yet?

Wondering if it's going to be a syndicate or booking only venue like Farriers/Little Farriers or if it will be accessible for Carp Society members in the same way as Horseshoe

In reply to Post #1
I heard the same, I do wonder if Orchid is in the running???

In reply to Post #1
more to the point whats the ultra private syndicate lake the Carp Society have by Drayton manor park in the West Midlands ?

In reply to Post #3
Haven't heard that one mate - The BCSG have a water in that area.

In reply to Post #3
I believe it's called Dallows.

In reply to Post #3
. . .Dallows is BCSG.

Looks a nice water by all accounts . . .was up there just the other day - empty!

In reply to Post #6

In reply to Post #2
Wouldn't be surprised if it was Orchid. Marsh Pratley was involved with the Carp Society. Maybe he put something in place with them before he sadly passed away.

In reply to Post #8
I think you will find it was mentioned at the AGM that it's not Orchid

In reply to Post #9
I think we'd also find that you are the man in the know.... 😉🤐🤔

Care to share???

In reply to Post #10
Probably been sworn to secrecy. Under pain of being excommunicated from the Carp Society..

In reply to Post #11
Just keep watching the Society Facebook page, and they will announce it.

I lead on the bid for it, its a great fishery.

In reply to Post #12
Did it belong to a college previously???

In reply to Post #13
Think he has signed the secrets act

In reply to Post #14
Fair play for keeping a lid on things. We'll know soon enough.

In reply to Post #15
Yes, agree 100% respect to Paul for his integrity and discretion.

Now can you tell us ppppppppppplease??? 😩

In reply to Post #1
Any more news on the new lake?

In reply to Post #17
Ashmead it would appear

In reply to Post #18
Yeah just seen it on FB.

Post from the Ashmead page on FB...


LAST DAY AT ASHMEAD

All good things must come to an end, and it is with very mixed emotions that we have to let you know that as of 11th February 2022, we will be leaving Ashmead.

We have enjoyed an amazing 15 years, with many very happy memories of restoring the wetland and sharing it with so many good friends. It will be an especially poignant move for Skeff, who has enjoyed a connection with Ashmead for over forty years. At this point in our lives, new adventures are there to be explored and the time is right for us to move on.

From 11th February 2022, Ashmead Fishery will be owned and managed by The Carp Society. We are pleased to know that the wetland has a secure future, with a new owner that understands the ethos and values that have underpinned our own management: respect for the environment, the fish and the anglers who enjoy the unique Ashmead atmosphere.

We would like to thank everyone very much for the support, the friendship and the belief you have had in Ashmead and us, whilst we have looked after the wetland. It has truly been an amazing experience for us to have created and been custodians of such a special place. It will take some time for us to reflect on what we have all achieved at Ashmead but our memories will be happy and affirming ones.

We hope that you will continue to fish the wetland and appreciate all that Ashmead has to offer. We believe The Carp Society will carry on the custodianship of this special wildlife haven and fishery in the best spirit and maintain the essence of what Ashmead means too so many.

Thank you again for your friendship and your support. It has always been so very much appreciated.

With our warmest best wishes

Skeff and Shona

In reply to Post #20
Just read this and have very mixed emotions. I love fishing there and Mark and Shona really do add to the overall experience so will be sorely missed. I wish Skeff and the family all the best but I am a bit concerned at how bookings will be handled going forward and how easy it will be to get future bookings as these trips are the highlights of my angling calender

In reply to Post #21
I think this is realistically the best thing that could have happened in this situation. There are a Lot worse people or companies that could have acquired it.

In reply to Post #22
Definitely could be a lot worse without doubt. There is no way Mark would have sold to anyone he felt wouldn't continue to run with a similar level of passion

In reply to Post #22
I probs agree.

In reply to Post #24
cant help but be really gutted about it

Doubt i'll ever visit it again now

I got a personal invite from Skeff to fish it a few years ago ..


Wish I'd taken him up on the offer ,too late now ...

In reply to Post #26
I had the pleasure of fishing the place on the old syndicate.... great times with skeff and a few somerset and devon retrobates it was a real privilage and the friends made are still friends today... good luck to skeff and his lovely clan.

In reply to Post #20
Ashmead Fishery will be owned and managed by The Carp Society. We are pleased to know that the wetland has a secure future, with a new owner that understands the ethos and values that have underpinned our own management: respect for the environment, the fish and the anglers who enjoy the unique Ashmead atmosphere.

Times change and things move on. For me there is an opportunity here to keep it great, manage it correctly and keep it in alignment with the history of this magnificent pastime. Careful stocking policies, British farmed fish if required etc. Could look at it as part of our heritage and I wish they would make more waters the same. One word, meaningful

When the carp circus finally crashes there will be a few genuine gems left instead of all the crap that has sprung up over the last decade or two and diluted a lot of the pastimes credibility down for me. Greedy ****s stocking over grown fish of ridiculous proportions to coin in on it and fame seekers getting their mugs on the internet to gloat in their 5 minutes of fame with said fish

Give:me somebody with GENUINE passion for the pastime ANYDAY

They have an opportunity. The rest as they say will be history

In reply to Post #28
Well said👍

In reply to Post #28
I am with you on everything you said.

I wish Mark and Shona all the best for the future.

In reply to Post #20
In the Carp Society statement it says "The Carp Society can confirm that we will honour the existing bookings made for 2022, (subject to Carp Society membership, to confirm the booking). "

So if we have a booking for this year we have to join or lose the booking. Disgraceful. They should honour this years booking end of then say you have to be a member to fish from 2023.

Good luck tp Skeff and the family but it won't be the same without them.

In reply to Post #31
wonder if they will honour the winter syndicate and its members?

how long is it going to be before its full of simmos

In reply to Post #32
The Carp Society while not so perfect as to please all the people all of the time is a very positive element in a carp fishing scene that is increasingly greedy, unethical and exploitational. Rather than insinuation have the courage of your convictions and speak plainly. The fishery has changed hands and agreements have been made. Did the previous owners consult with the winter syndicate? offer money back? Are we talking about the current winter which is nearly over? Have they had to stop fishing? Do you know?
Having fished Horseshoe I would be happy to fish any lake with similar fish, they are beautiful and the pics of Farriers commons are stunning and the society is bringing on their offspring for restocking its lakes. The society also stock at sensible levels and run quality fisheries with top facilities. What's your problem.
It is, I think, a constitutional issue that you have to be a member to fish society waters. Anybody can join and the previous owner could have covered membership for those people with outstanding bookings. Deals can be done.

In reply to Post #33
The Carp Society while not so perfect as to please all the people all of the time is a very positive element in a carp fishing scene

Must admit, about the only one with a real genuine interest in the pastime at moment for me

This forum just gets filled up with negative comments from the same old people.

Do people not remember how loads of people said Ashmead would be ruined when they dropped the syndicate and let the general riff raff book and fish it? And look how it thrived.

Just give it a chance. Who would people rather had taken it on?

Even Les Bamford has said he hopes that the carp society takes over Redmere. I think they will do a great job preserving it. People just load to be negative on the internet. Must be exhausting.

In reply to Post #35
They seem to run Horseshoe ok,never fished up but don't seem to read any negativity about the place.

In reply to Post #33
i have NO problem, i may however have an opinion.

rightly or wrongly

time will tell hey

In reply to Post #37
i will add, i know Derek well...hes a top bloke.

In reply to Post #33
In answer to your questions:

No they didn't consult anyone and why should they
No money offered and again cant see why they should
Current Winter Syndicate ends 26th Feb
No we can still fish on until then
Yes I do

In reply to Post #37
You haven't expressed an opinion, just insinuated negative outcomes. One of which has crashed and burned, the winter syndicate will be able to fish out their tickets. Seems they were treated reasonably.

In reply to Post #39
Sorry, no offence intended. It seems that the anglers involved, you being one of them, have been treated reasonably and are happy with the situation. So a positive result. Thanks for the information

In reply to Post #41
mate, it will take alot more than poxy carp angling to offend me

In reply to Post #40
if they join an old boys club

In reply to Post #42
Wasnt talking to you. Was talking to a man who has the facts"bigfishnet". Probably one of those people, like me who participates in and enjoys "poxy carp angling"

In reply to Post #44
my apologises

In reply to Post #46
Fair enough. 👍

Out of interest.
What (other) benefits are there for joining the Carp Society if I don't live anywhere near the lakes they control?

In reply to Post #48
Probably none.

In reply to Post #48
None that I am aware of

In reply to Post #48
none that im aware of either

In reply to Post #48
I suppose you dont have to live closeby to fish Horseshoe

In reply to Post #48
A free badge.

In reply to Post #53
nice

In reply to Post #53
Don't you mean a £25 badge?

In reply to Post #55

In reply to Post #55
I renewed an old expired membership the other day to keep my Ashmead bookings for this year and they were out of stock for badges, so don't even get that at the moment

In reply to Post #57

In reply to Post #57
Never mind the badge, you're now one of the glitterati

In reply to Post #52
The amount of waters I would drive past going from east to west of the country to fish Horseshoe is insane.
So basically no benefit to joining unless you live west of London ?

In reply to Post #60
You'll be able to book on Ashmead

In reply to Post #61
Only benefit I can see then.

In reply to Post #61
and that will be even more difficult to do

Even with the best will in the world, I cannot see this move as doing anything positive for the majority of CS members, nor can I see it having a positive effect on the fishery.

I had always harboured a wish to make a return visit to this most iconic of venues, but this news make such a wish nothing more than a pipe dream.

In reply to Post #64
It would be enlightening to know why. What are your reasons?

Other than the wish to fish any of their waters I can see no reason or benefit to joining the Carp Society.

In fact with the exception of Pike Angler's Club, I can see no reason for any single species society.
The PAC is an exception as money is used to preserve and educate clubs and angler's on the benefit of pike as a species. They do appear to be trying to protect stocks, and not just pike. (See Hoveton Broads)
They also have local regional groups, living in Suffolk I am lucky to have an active regional coordinator.


NASA, National Association of Specimen Angler's was a group that I felt was of benefit to angler's and fishing and in my mind it should have been them who had taken on Horseshoe etc.

In reply to Post #60
I suppose it depends on what you want from your fishing. Certainly years ago it had a pull where it would attract carp anglers from all around the country, fishing for arguably the nicest looking fish in the country. Those hacienda days are gone, but it still has some cracking looking fish, and a water steeped in history, whatever floats your boat I guess

In reply to Post #67
Given the choice between a CS water or a Korda water it would be a CS water all day long.

I don't understand why the carp society still have a joining charge for a membership card I see it these days as just an extra stealth tax, as I understood it original Horseshoe and Daiwa lake 61 tickets were sold as ten year debenture tickets to secure the buying of the lakes (I had a ten year Daiwa 61 ticket Farriers as its known now).

They were bought and set up to secure fishing for the future, in the same vain it is what Mr Fairbrass has done on a lot larger scale to which there is no upfront annual subscription you either pay your syndicate fees or day ticket prices for Norton Disney.

I know there was a dark period within the society years and some scheming ****s trying to sell it and make money but surely over the years and currently the society have made and are still making enough money from syndicate or day ticket fees to drop a membership scheme.

Whats a syndicate fee these days 400? a year for Horseshoe a 1000+ for farriers then little farriers at X amount a week day ticket fishing at 30 for 24 hours sales from the onsite tackle shop as well as breeding fish for sale I would say they are setup well enough to drop the stealth tax joining fee these days, buying Ashmead would take a few dollars in the pot no doubt.

Whats was Ashmead currently charging 400 notes for 5 days fishing 7 pegs/ they will fill a water like this week in week out probably review cost and squeeze a few more pegs in, just at current cost 7 non carp society members book the lake for a jolly for 5 days is nigh on 3000 grand a week 2800 if they're all members 36 weeks a year then a winter syndicate as well as the Ashmead fish farm returns.

How many society members are there these days at £25 notes who knows 4000 is 100'000 return nice little bit of money if you can get it.

At best just add it to fishing costs to hide it rather than pretend its a benefit your getting.

I have a horseshoe badge for 25 pound if anyone wants it

In reply to Post #69
The Carp Society do not own Farriers - it is leased.

In reply to Post #70
Regardless I'm sure they make enough to cover it.