I see adverts for this place every year and always tempted as it looks a beautiful mature pit. What worries me is the high turnaround, for a stock like that you would have thought it would be packed year on year.
Anyone been a member and friends been a member?
Anyone been a member and friends been a member?
In reply to Post #1
Stocked full of fast growing strains of fish. Used to be a decent stock of nice looking fish with some old big fish. Been turned in to a high stocked cash grab now. Original strains polluted forevermore.
I know a few that have the ticket. If you want to catch a lot of fish and have to wade through them in the hope of an original then it's for you.
From what I've heard, they have little respect for the protected status that's been on the place for decades. Such a shame.
Stocked full of fast growing strains of fish. Used to be a decent stock of nice looking fish with some old big fish. Been turned in to a high stocked cash grab now. Original strains polluted forevermore.
I know a few that have the ticket. If you want to catch a lot of fish and have to wade through them in the hope of an original then it's for you.
From what I've heard, they have little respect for the protected status that's been on the place for decades. Such a shame.
In reply to Post #2
Is that Croatian strain or similar?
Is that Croatian strain or similar?
In reply to Post #3
Something like that. They posted the pictures of what they stocked.
Something like that. They posted the pictures of what they stocked.
In reply to Post #2
Are you sure you aren't referring to the Moon Lake day ticket lakes behind Marys?
Are you sure you aren't referring to the Moon Lake day ticket lakes behind Marys?
In reply to Post #5
Mary's was stocked as well. All Owned by the same people.
Mary's was stocked as well. All Owned by the same people.
In reply to Post #1
A ridiculous stock of big young fish, countless 30's and 40's. seemingly no limit to members or number of people on the waiting list plus a fee to get on the list. Busy, and overstocked. Not for me but each to their own.
A ridiculous stock of big young fish, countless 30's and 40's. seemingly no limit to members or number of people on the waiting list plus a fee to get on the list. Busy, and overstocked. Not for me but each to their own.
In reply to Post #7
In what way are the fish 'wronguns'? I just had a quick look at their Facebook page and it looks like there's a mix of fish in there?
In what way are the fish 'wronguns'? I just had a quick look at their Facebook page and it looks like there's a mix of fish in there?
In reply to Post #8
Wronguns was possibly a bit harsh. Fast growing strains would probably be more fitting. I've edited my post.
The owner spent a fortune buying the place and needs to make his investment pay back, hence the heavy stocking, expensive tickets and too many members. It's a shame as it was once a lovely lake, but its been turned into a commercial cash cow.
Wronguns was possibly a bit harsh. Fast growing strains would probably be more fitting. I've edited my post.
The owner spent a fortune buying the place and needs to make his investment pay back, hence the heavy stocking, expensive tickets and too many members. It's a shame as it was once a lovely lake, but its been turned into a commercial cash cow.
In reply to Post #8
Yeah the originals are nice fish, the bigguns both gone sadly but the originals are old. Can see why you'd stock it but it's forever ruined a very old line of fish with the fast growing strains being introduced. If you're local and know the history I guess you feel about it differently to others maybe.
Yeah the originals are nice fish, the bigguns both gone sadly but the originals are old. Can see why you'd stock it but it's forever ruined a very old line of fish with the fast growing strains being introduced. If you're local and know the history I guess you feel about it differently to others maybe.
650 fish in 50 acres is considered a high stocking level? 13 fish an acre!
Viv Shears recently mentioned that they've stocked out fish that have put on 12lb in a year, that is some growth rate. Are we now suggesting that stocking anything that grows quickly in the right environment is a bad thing?
I'm honestly baffled by anglers sometimes.
Viv Shears recently mentioned that they've stocked out fish that have put on 12lb in a year, that is some growth rate. Are we now suggesting that stocking anything that grows quickly in the right environment is a bad thing?
I'm honestly baffled by anglers sometimes.
In reply to Post #11
High stock level compared to what it was before they took it over and what the locals valued. Like I said, if you're local and know the history, you look at it differently. The fish they stocked are nowhere close to the original stock in terms of looks.
It's gone from a low stock, highly sought after venue with bags of history behind it, protected as that, to a commercial "syndicate" venue. Then you could goon to the flagrant disregard for the protection designations on the place, which shows an attitude of the owners I guess.
High stock level compared to what it was before they took it over and what the locals valued. Like I said, if you're local and know the history, you look at it differently. The fish they stocked are nowhere close to the original stock in terms of looks.
It's gone from a low stock, highly sought after venue with bags of history behind it, protected as that, to a commercial "syndicate" venue. Then you could goon to the flagrant disregard for the protection designations on the place, which shows an attitude of the owners I guess.
It was an Otter infested sh!thole before the current owners took it over. As for the comments about the protected status they do the best they can to preserve this and by fencing the lake properly, it has also allowed the birdlife to flourish that were also being predated.
Left alone it would have just become another desolate Nene Valley pit.
Left alone it would have just become another desolate Nene Valley pit.
In reply to Post #13
It was certainly otter infested Matt but I don't think it was a sh!thole. Unless you knew the right people it was pretty much impossible to get a ticket (I was on the waiting list for 8 or 9 years and still never got one before it got taken over)! The old stock, and particularly the leather (which as far as I'm aware to this day is the biggest 'proper' leather to ever live in the UK), was very, very special indeed.
It's basically the Wraysbury story all over again innit. What it was was probably not sustainable. What it's become is a very, very different beast. Times change.
Interesting story for you Matt - the original biggun (which is still going strong as far as I'm aware) in the lake that we fished together is rumoured to have come from Marys back in the day. I don't know how true that is but fish were moved all over the Valley back then so I could easily believe it.
It was certainly otter infested Matt but I don't think it was a sh!thole. Unless you knew the right people it was pretty much impossible to get a ticket (I was on the waiting list for 8 or 9 years and still never got one before it got taken over)! The old stock, and particularly the leather (which as far as I'm aware to this day is the biggest 'proper' leather to ever live in the UK), was very, very special indeed.
It's basically the Wraysbury story all over again innit. What it was was probably not sustainable. What it's become is a very, very different beast. Times change.
Interesting story for you Matt - the original biggun (which is still going strong as far as I'm aware) in the lake that we fished together is rumoured to have come from Marys back in the day. I don't know how true that is but fish were moved all over the Valley back then so I could easily believe it.
In reply to Post #14
Hi Ian...
...OK, sh!thole was probably a bit harsh!
That Leather was a gorgeous fish, John Iggy had it twice in successive weekends a good few years back as you probably know and agreed, must have been the biggest Leather in the UK at the time and would still be if still alive!
You are right, times change and things have to evolve. Marys still holds some very nice fish and IMO is far from a manufactured water, unlike the day ticket lakes on the venue. The guys down there work extremely hard so credit where it is due.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the fish you are referring to originated from Marys, like you say, it was rife back in the day! I'm sure you remember the syndicate being kicked of Waterville due to a famous fish that had taken a trip down the Nene and ended up in there! Mind you, anglers fighting with local dog walkers didn't help either...
...shame, as that was a lovely place too....think there is still a bit of fishing on there now but not sure who has the rights?
Hi Ian...
...OK, sh!thole was probably a bit harsh!That Leather was a gorgeous fish, John Iggy had it twice in successive weekends a good few years back as you probably know and agreed, must have been the biggest Leather in the UK at the time and would still be if still alive!
You are right, times change and things have to evolve. Marys still holds some very nice fish and IMO is far from a manufactured water, unlike the day ticket lakes on the venue. The guys down there work extremely hard so credit where it is due.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the fish you are referring to originated from Marys, like you say, it was rife back in the day! I'm sure you remember the syndicate being kicked of Waterville due to a famous fish that had taken a trip down the Nene and ended up in there! Mind you, anglers fighting with local dog walkers didn't help either...
...shame, as that was a lovely place too....think there is still a bit of fishing on there now but not sure who has the rights?