I do think its daylight robbery at times but i guess as an angler and not a lake owner i only see it from my own selfish veiw.
In reply to Post #16
How else should you see it though ? I appreciate people expect renumeration for their labour but if prices are sky high, take your hard earned elsewhere or pay the toll. Most of these costs are based on convenience, it's convenient to have nice scenery, it's convenient to have relative solitude, pretty fish, large fish, easy access, privacy and security. That comes at a cost.
The wild waters are increasingly more attractive, less about the exclusivity and material 'gains' and more about the reward.
Rivers are the key.
How else should you see it though ? I appreciate people expect renumeration for their labour but if prices are sky high, take your hard earned elsewhere or pay the toll. Most of these costs are based on convenience, it's convenient to have nice scenery, it's convenient to have relative solitude, pretty fish, large fish, easy access, privacy and security. That comes at a cost.
The wild waters are increasingly more attractive, less about the exclusivity and material 'gains' and more about the reward.
Rivers are the key.
It can be expensive but you just have to work out yourself if it's worth it. I like to flit around between venues and types of angling (carp, coarse, sea and fly). Currently pay £1000 a year for my fishing but tend to go every weekend and longer during school holidays but my grand gets me the following:
Two carp syndicates (25 acre gravel pit and one with 2 small waters - both have fish that would break my PB)
Two clubs (one with 1 dedicated carp lake and 4 match ponds and I with small carp water- both within 15min drive from home)
One 60 acre fly fishery (March to November)
Access to a private pier on NE coast for sea fishing.
Plenty of variety, fish all at different points each year and allows we to target certain types of fishing when I fancy it. 20 quid a week is a bargain in my opinion.
Two carp syndicates (25 acre gravel pit and one with 2 small waters - both have fish that would break my PB)
Two clubs (one with 1 dedicated carp lake and 4 match ponds and I with small carp water- both within 15min drive from home)
One 60 acre fly fishery (March to November)
Access to a private pier on NE coast for sea fishing.
Plenty of variety, fish all at different points each year and allows we to target certain types of fishing when I fancy it. 20 quid a week is a bargain in my opinion.
Running a fishery is a lot more than it used to be, maintaining, trees, tracks, lease costs, the water and various other insurances including the cost of stock - I can't think of one item that has not gone up significantly.
I guess supply and demand also the further north you go typically the cheaper the venue but then you have your own fuel costs and time.
When you think some manufacturers charge a £1000 for a tent , ticket prices I'd say are still pretty reasonable.
I guess supply and demand also the further north you go typically the cheaper the venue but then you have your own fuel costs and time.
When you think some manufacturers charge a £1000 for a tent , ticket prices I'd say are still pretty reasonable.
I guess it all comes down to how deeps your pocket and what you want from your fishing.
Changes in times, at one point most of the waters around me were clubs and a book could be picked up for sub £50 that had a lot of waters for the money!
Enter businesses and people cashing in on the popularity, whole different game now, be prepared to pay for it.
When you look at other pastimes angling has just gone stupid, 3 or 5k of gear and a grand for a ticket, not to mention fuel and bait it has become a very expensive pastime, again due to people cashing in on it and the popularity of the pastime now.
Look at golf, 1k willl probably get you a decent set of gear, and another 1k and you will probably get a decent ticket for the year, who said golf was a rich man's sport, it's carp fishing now
Changes in times, at one point most of the waters around me were clubs and a book could be picked up for sub £50 that had a lot of waters for the money!
Enter businesses and people cashing in on the popularity, whole different game now, be prepared to pay for it.
When you look at other pastimes angling has just gone stupid, 3 or 5k of gear and a grand for a ticket, not to mention fuel and bait it has become a very expensive pastime, again due to people cashing in on it and the popularity of the pastime now.
Look at golf, 1k willl probably get you a decent set of gear, and another 1k and you will probably get a decent ticket for the year, who said golf was a rich man's sport, it's carp fishing now
If you are on a Syndicate prices change with up keep and Stockings!! Guess you question in your own mind is it worth it?
Unfortunately for those that moan and say they won't pay it...theres a list of guys on the waiting list to take your place so weigh it up
Unfortunately for those that moan and say they won't pay it...theres a list of guys on the waiting list to take your place so weigh it up
In reply to Post #13
The lake I was referring to has no facilities at all.
The lake I was referring to has no facilities at all.
In reply to Post #14
Brilliant post and so much (regards member number) I had never considered.
I am lucky to have both options, a brilliant but now hard to get into club, that is diligently run by committee and has enough waters for a decades fishing - I really enjoy it but it does bring out the snob in me. Cheaper waters IMO mean more litter, more anti social behaviour and the like - I get it, everyone needs these type of clubs to keep the sport going.
My syndicates (!) I love because the anglers are better, more respectful and generally quieter with better surroundings / security. My only comment, is the rise of the ‘pay for fish weights' that seems to be very common now. Years ago if the fee was £500 and there was a good stock then membership was consistent and few dropped out, as soon as these places now get a bigger fish (existing stock) there is a temptation to double the fee as there is now x and y in there - this grates me. A stable low churn syndicate creates a loyal and respectful environment- you double the fees you get the sponsored bounty hunters that want to empty it in a month and move on - it may work short term, but what if you have a kill, there is no loyal base left to stand by you and help work through the devastating impact.
Sensible fees that provide a return I love, ones where only a few members drop out per year and not because Gutsy was the only fifty and that's now dead .
Euroaqua, RH and the like obviously have a place and are far smarter than me, but it's my worst nightmare, paying inflated prices for the chance of a bloated pig to get a bait deal.
All I will say is if you want good loyal members that aren't going to tear the arse out of you piece of heaven, vet well and price long term stability rather than short term greed.
Brilliant post and so much (regards member number) I had never considered.
I am lucky to have both options, a brilliant but now hard to get into club, that is diligently run by committee and has enough waters for a decades fishing - I really enjoy it but it does bring out the snob in me. Cheaper waters IMO mean more litter, more anti social behaviour and the like - I get it, everyone needs these type of clubs to keep the sport going.
My syndicates (!) I love because the anglers are better, more respectful and generally quieter with better surroundings / security. My only comment, is the rise of the ‘pay for fish weights' that seems to be very common now. Years ago if the fee was £500 and there was a good stock then membership was consistent and few dropped out, as soon as these places now get a bigger fish (existing stock) there is a temptation to double the fee as there is now x and y in there - this grates me. A stable low churn syndicate creates a loyal and respectful environment- you double the fees you get the sponsored bounty hunters that want to empty it in a month and move on - it may work short term, but what if you have a kill, there is no loyal base left to stand by you and help work through the devastating impact.
Sensible fees that provide a return I love, ones where only a few members drop out per year and not because Gutsy was the only fifty and that's now dead .
Euroaqua, RH and the like obviously have a place and are far smarter than me, but it's my worst nightmare, paying inflated prices for the chance of a bloated pig to get a bait deal.
All I will say is if you want good loyal members that aren't going to tear the arse out of you piece of heaven, vet well and price long term stability rather than short term greed.
In reply to Post #21
They haven't stocked the lake since 2017 so what you are saying doesn't quite add up in this example but I get what you are saying.
Yes, the stock have gained weight, but no new stockings have been made.
It is the same with a lot things these days, some firms jumped on the bandwagon and have increased prices of raw materials when in fact the cost to them has not increased by nearly that much. Some syndicates are run very well and some are investing a lot of money each year but others aren't (Can't/Won't) yet they still increase their prices each year.
I just think no I'm not paying that... I can't justify it. It's not like it has hardly any members and it offers the tranquillity I'm after.
They haven't stocked the lake since 2017 so what you are saying doesn't quite add up in this example but I get what you are saying.
Yes, the stock have gained weight, but no new stockings have been made.
It is the same with a lot things these days, some firms jumped on the bandwagon and have increased prices of raw materials when in fact the cost to them has not increased by nearly that much. Some syndicates are run very well and some are investing a lot of money each year but others aren't (Can't/Won't) yet they still increase their prices each year.
I just think no I'm not paying that... I can't justify it. It's not like it has hardly any members and it offers the tranquillity I'm after.
In reply to Post #23
In 2021 I joined a lake that I had been waiting for years to join (10+) it was very expensive (with the joining fee for the first year) - The stock was fantastic.
All the fish died before I could wet a line, complete oxygen crash, nothing survived.
Gutting for me, but more gutting for the people who ran it. I could see how gut wrenching it was for them. So nobody asked for their money back and we all helped with work parties etc and they spent a lot of money doing a lot of work to the lake (drained etc) and I think it was just over a year before they opened the lake again. They didn't put the price up by much at all, I guess as a bit of thank you to the members and likewise I think only 2 or 3 members dropped off. Decent people
In 2021 I joined a lake that I had been waiting for years to join (10+) it was very expensive (with the joining fee for the first year) - The stock was fantastic.
All the fish died before I could wet a line, complete oxygen crash, nothing survived.
Gutting for me, but more gutting for the people who ran it. I could see how gut wrenching it was for them. So nobody asked for their money back and we all helped with work parties etc and they spent a lot of money doing a lot of work to the lake (drained etc) and I think it was just over a year before they opened the lake again. They didn't put the price up by much at all, I guess as a bit of thank you to the members and likewise I think only 2 or 3 members dropped off. Decent people
In reply to Post #25
On one of the lakes I fish we had a disease which wiped out nearly 400 carp in the lake. Luckily they had a stock pond with fish already. So they restocked the lake then put prices up by 30% due to restocking the lake when it was pointed out they had already brought the fish prior to wipe out they claimed it was for something else. Like quite a few people have said people are in fishery management different things
On one of the lakes I fish we had a disease which wiped out nearly 400 carp in the lake. Luckily they had a stock pond with fish already. So they restocked the lake then put prices up by 30% due to restocking the lake when it was pointed out they had already brought the fish prior to wipe out they claimed it was for something else. Like quite a few people have said people are in fishery management different things
A true syndicate is not run for profit. Which brings into question just how many of these venues can even claim to offer such angling. Limited members pay lake seems far more accurate.
In reply to Post #27
They're Private Members Club's.
They're Private Members Club's.
In reply to Post #28
I've been to a private members club one and there was absolutely no fishing going on 😂
I've been to a private members club one and there was absolutely no fishing going on 😂
In reply to Post #29
Been to a few too, saw fish nets but no fish.
Been to a few too, saw fish nets but no fish.