NEW CHIPPED STOCK!
Birchmere
This is part of the TTAC club waters and as I was a member of the club for 5 years I'm very well judged to give my opinions on TTAC lakes.
Birchmere now has a new Club Secretary and bailiffs who are looking to bring the Lake into the 21st century. All sounds good, please see below.
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One main lake - The lake is 11 acres
Facilities: 0/5
There is none.
This is being looked into. As it is a public park, this is out of the clubs hands to a certain respect.
Quality of fishing: 2/5
New Score 3.5/5
I've only given this a 2 instead of a 1 coz you can get some half decent float fishing for small Silver fish, Perch and Roach but considering what it used to be like it's shocking. For an 11 acre site there's hardly any fish in this lake. As proof of this the EA recently did a stunning on the lake and no carp came up to the surface. A 20+ Pike did but one Pike is not good enough.
With the new introduction of a new Secretary etc they have started a chipping process of all the fish. Not only to stop poachers but also for protection and checking on growth and welfare of the fish.
The first time a chipped fish comes out, it can be named by the person who caught it which seems very popular with the members. Also, there are now at least 15 active bailiffs which are all local people that can be called at very short notice, this should also deter potential poachers.
Disabled Facilities 2/5
New Score 3.5/5
There is plenty of space for disabled anglers to fish, this isn't down to the club though this is a public park so it has walkways around it
but as you can see from pics above, not very well kept.
The new committee are very aware of what needs doing and it may some take time but they will get there. Maybe they could contact either the BDA or even The Angling Trust
Fish Stocks: 2/5
New Score 4/5
What stock?? Over and over again people moan about the stock in this lake and nothing ever gets done. They moan about money, well stop spending the money on beer in the pub and put it back in the lake then..(ohh and I've got witnesses to that quote which was made by the bailiff).
Since this they have had two stockings from the EA of over 30k fish. Tench, Bream, Rudd and Roach with a further stocking of Tench this year. As well as that, over 250 Carp have gone into Birchmere from 2lb-20lb along with Crucians and smaller fry with a further stocking of Carp, Ghosts and Crucians to go in later this year.
THAT'S BETTER!
Pricing: 3/5
New Score 4/5
Bailiff on the bank £5 one rod, £10 two rods from dawn till dusk (night fishing for members only). I would have given it a 4 but as there is no decent fish in it the score is for the float fishing.
With the introduction of the new look club, they have had 2 stockings from the EA of over 30k fish. Tench, Bream, Rudd, Roach and with a further stocking of Tench this year the fishing is going to be a lot better and a tenner is well worth it. Before I wouldn't have bothered but with the new staff and the new stocking I'll def be going back.
Staff: 2/5
New Score 5/5
Talk a great game..'oh yeah, there is plenty in here, you've just got to find them'. Trust me they ain't there no more. They can be quite rude at times as well. They make you feel they are only there to collect the money.
Since the new guys taking over there has been a lot more clarity and honesty within the club and that can only be a good thing. I myself received an e-mail to explain what the plans are and yes, it will take time but that's the 1st time in years and there's a little buzz back about the club.
Security 0/5
New Score 4/5
None! Take a bat or tent peg with you, it's an open public park.
Since this review the introduction of 15 new bailiffs will help with any problems people may have and as they are local they can be called upon at very short notice.
The club now understand being park lakes, extra care has to be taken with security. Tidying, anti-social behaviour and actively encouraging all members to bailiff while they are at the lakes which is the way it should be.
Overall: 1/5
New Score 3.5
This lake has had the potential to be a wonderful lake. It is set in a lovely park, they have added the odd island to the lake and done the swims but two bouts of blue/green algae due to laziness has let this lake down. It's been let down for far too long. It needs a change of ownership, it needs to be closed off from the canals and fish stocks reintroduced.
The movement on the lake is apparent with not only the introduction of aerators, new signs letting people know where snags are, the chipping, feeding and stocking program, more bins etc. It's the little things that make a difference. How hard is it to put new bins and signs up? The last lot just didn't seem bothered and it showed as the lake went downhill dramatically.
If, what I have been told and that the club are going to do what they say they are going to do, then I will happily buy my membership again after 2 years.
The future does look bright but talk is cheap and I very much hope things keep moving in the right direction.
The club secretary Nick Paraskou quite rightly said anything that has happened before this year he can't be accountable for and this is spot on but he is accountable for the future. That being said, he has already shown more interest than the previous people.
"The vibe and feeling of the club is definitely better and the members have a real sense of change in the air, the new approach is to actively listen and act on any ideas, problems that the members have whether they're popular or not"
Lets hope so Nick and as before I will always be happy to offer any ideas.
This is part of the TTAC club waters and as I was a member of the club for 5 years I'm very well judged to give my opinions on TTAC lakes.
Birchmere now has a new Club Secretary and bailiffs who are looking to bring the Lake into the 21st century. All sounds good, please see below.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
One main lake - The lake is 11 acres
Facilities: 0/5
There is none.
This is being looked into. As it is a public park, this is out of the clubs hands to a certain respect.
Quality of fishing: 2/5
New Score 3.5/5
I've only given this a 2 instead of a 1 coz you can get some half decent float fishing for small Silver fish, Perch and Roach but considering what it used to be like it's shocking. For an 11 acre site there's hardly any fish in this lake. As proof of this the EA recently did a stunning on the lake and no carp came up to the surface. A 20+ Pike did but one Pike is not good enough.
With the new introduction of a new Secretary etc they have started a chipping process of all the fish. Not only to stop poachers but also for protection and checking on growth and welfare of the fish.
The first time a chipped fish comes out, it can be named by the person who caught it which seems very popular with the members. Also, there are now at least 15 active bailiffs which are all local people that can be called at very short notice, this should also deter potential poachers.
Disabled Facilities 2/5
New Score 3.5/5
There is plenty of space for disabled anglers to fish, this isn't down to the club though this is a public park so it has walkways around it
but as you can see from pics above, not very well kept.
The new committee are very aware of what needs doing and it may some take time but they will get there. Maybe they could contact either the BDA or even The Angling Trust
Fish Stocks: 2/5
New Score 4/5
What stock?? Over and over again people moan about the stock in this lake and nothing ever gets done. They moan about money, well stop spending the money on beer in the pub and put it back in the lake then..(ohh and I've got witnesses to that quote which was made by the bailiff).
Since this they have had two stockings from the EA of over 30k fish. Tench, Bream, Rudd and Roach with a further stocking of Tench this year. As well as that, over 250 Carp have gone into Birchmere from 2lb-20lb along with Crucians and smaller fry with a further stocking of Carp, Ghosts and Crucians to go in later this year.
THAT'S BETTER!
Pricing: 3/5
New Score 4/5
Bailiff on the bank £5 one rod, £10 two rods from dawn till dusk (night fishing for members only). I would have given it a 4 but as there is no decent fish in it the score is for the float fishing.
With the introduction of the new look club, they have had 2 stockings from the EA of over 30k fish. Tench, Bream, Rudd, Roach and with a further stocking of Tench this year the fishing is going to be a lot better and a tenner is well worth it. Before I wouldn't have bothered but with the new staff and the new stocking I'll def be going back.
Staff: 2/5
New Score 5/5
Talk a great game..'oh yeah, there is plenty in here, you've just got to find them'. Trust me they ain't there no more. They can be quite rude at times as well. They make you feel they are only there to collect the money.
Since the new guys taking over there has been a lot more clarity and honesty within the club and that can only be a good thing. I myself received an e-mail to explain what the plans are and yes, it will take time but that's the 1st time in years and there's a little buzz back about the club.
Security 0/5
New Score 4/5
None! Take a bat or tent peg with you, it's an open public park.
Since this review the introduction of 15 new bailiffs will help with any problems people may have and as they are local they can be called upon at very short notice.
The club now understand being park lakes, extra care has to be taken with security. Tidying, anti-social behaviour and actively encouraging all members to bailiff while they are at the lakes which is the way it should be.
Overall: 1/5
New Score 3.5
This lake has had the potential to be a wonderful lake. It is set in a lovely park, they have added the odd island to the lake and done the swims but two bouts of blue/green algae due to laziness has let this lake down. It's been let down for far too long. It needs a change of ownership, it needs to be closed off from the canals and fish stocks reintroduced.
The movement on the lake is apparent with not only the introduction of aerators, new signs letting people know where snags are, the chipping, feeding and stocking program, more bins etc. It's the little things that make a difference. How hard is it to put new bins and signs up? The last lot just didn't seem bothered and it showed as the lake went downhill dramatically.
If, what I have been told and that the club are going to do what they say they are going to do, then I will happily buy my membership again after 2 years.
The future does look bright but talk is cheap and I very much hope things keep moving in the right direction.
The club secretary Nick Paraskou quite rightly said anything that has happened before this year he can't be accountable for and this is spot on but he is accountable for the future. That being said, he has already shown more interest than the previous people.
"The vibe and feeling of the club is definitely better and the members have a real sense of change in the air, the new approach is to actively listen and act on any ideas, problems that the members have whether they're popular or not"
Lets hope so Nick and as before I will always be happy to offer any ideas.
