Gallions
This is part of the TTAC club waters and as I was a member of this for 5 years, I'm very well judged to give very good opinions on TTAC lakes.
Gallions 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.
Twitter
Facebook
website (which looks like it's done by a 5 year old)
No address given on their website but if you do want to fish it, it's opposite Belmarsh prison
This has been improved a little bit
One main lake and a canal.
Facilities: 3/5
There is none, their website advertises the following and I quote
"Facilities: Toilet facilities none - on site tree"
Their is a Tesco Express a 5 min walk from the lake that you can get the odd bits and bobs. The closest tackle shops are Erith Tackle or Danson Angling.
Quality of fishing: 3/5
This is a hard one for me because I have destroyed this lake on some visits. I've had 11 out in a little 2 hr session but there's times it switches off. The quality of fishing has 100% definitely gone down hill over the last 5 years and is probably at its worst.
The snags in this lake were something awful.
Finally last year after so much moaning and disgust from members they did something about it. They have dotted signs about to let people know where these are and also there is a buoy in place warning that although it's fish-able there are snags there so beware but is definitely not snag free.
A de-snagging initiative has been started at Gallions and constant work is being carried out at both lakes including a feeding regime for the fish.
There was some very nice fish in this lake but after two blue/green algae issues they lost a lot of these fish. I do know there is a 28lb in this lake but I'd say the average is 8-10lb.
Since this review the club have actively been involved in a stocking and feeding program that can only bode well for the future.
Disabled Facilities 4/5
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 at least it's kept clean and tidy with the introduction of more bins.
Fish Stocks: 3/5
New score 3.5/5
As I said a hard one. Apparently they've been told by the EA that its over stocked. I cannot believe that, if that was the case everyone would be pulling out fish. I know people who only fished it last week and all blanked so that's rubbish. They have had trouble with poachers as well so fair do's but still as they don't net the lake ever they really have no idea what is in it.
With the new introduction of 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 chipped 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.
Pricing: 3.5/5
Bailiff on the bank £5 one rod, £10 two rod’s from dawn till dusk (night fishing for members only). You can have a good days fishing down Gallions (sometimes) but when you do, a tenner is nothing these days.
Hopefully with the introduction of new and improved welfare, stocking, chipping and other things listed a tenner will be dirt cheap and I will be more than happy to move that 3.5 to a 5.
Staff: 2/5
New Score 3.5
Talk a great game..'oh yeah there's 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 and make you feel they're only there to collect the money.
I've been met with contempt and anger on their forums when you try and suggest change or give any ideas as if to say we're happy with our little lake and we don't want to share it which is ridiculous. Will always tell you to use bread....trust me, use pop up corn yellow.
Obviously now with the club Secretary and bailiffs the above will change. This review has been up for nearly two years and I've never had a conversation with anyone from the club about it due to them not being interested. I got a decent e-mail from the new Secretary to tell me what is planned for the future and how it can improve and it all sounds very promising so I'm putting the 2 to a 3.5 and hopefully that can be put to a 5 within the next year when we see some more action.
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 encourage all members to bailiff while they are at the lakes which is the way it should be.
Overall: 3/5
I've seen this lake go downhill in the last 5 years and that's why I didn't renew my membership because all I heard were excuses.
I was contacted by Alan Blair personally who wanted to do an Urban Banx session at Gallions and wanted me to join him for the day as the expert. The lake refused to have him come down because of the damaging advertising they would of got instead of thinking the money we get of the back of this could improve the lake.
Could do with new ownership.
My last comment on this review said enough. New ownership needed, this has happened finally! 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, its 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 this for 5 years, I'm very well judged to give very good opinions on TTAC lakes.
Gallions 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.
Twitter
Facebook
website (which looks like it's done by a 5 year old)
No address given on their website but if you do want to fish it, it's opposite Belmarsh prison
This has been improved a little bit
One main lake and a canal.
Facilities: 3/5
There is none, their website advertises the following and I quote
"Facilities: Toilet facilities none - on site tree"
Their is a Tesco Express a 5 min walk from the lake that you can get the odd bits and bobs. The closest tackle shops are Erith Tackle or Danson Angling.
Quality of fishing: 3/5
This is a hard one for me because I have destroyed this lake on some visits. I've had 11 out in a little 2 hr session but there's times it switches off. The quality of fishing has 100% definitely gone down hill over the last 5 years and is probably at its worst.
The snags in this lake were something awful.
Finally last year after so much moaning and disgust from members they did something about it. They have dotted signs about to let people know where these are and also there is a buoy in place warning that although it's fish-able there are snags there so beware but is definitely not snag free.
A de-snagging initiative has been started at Gallions and constant work is being carried out at both lakes including a feeding regime for the fish.
There was some very nice fish in this lake but after two blue/green algae issues they lost a lot of these fish. I do know there is a 28lb in this lake but I'd say the average is 8-10lb.
Since this review the club have actively been involved in a stocking and feeding program that can only bode well for the future.
Disabled Facilities 4/5
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 at least it's kept clean and tidy with the introduction of more bins.
Fish Stocks: 3/5
New score 3.5/5
As I said a hard one. Apparently they've been told by the EA that its over stocked. I cannot believe that, if that was the case everyone would be pulling out fish. I know people who only fished it last week and all blanked so that's rubbish. They have had trouble with poachers as well so fair do's but still as they don't net the lake ever they really have no idea what is in it.
With the new introduction of 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 chipped 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.
Pricing: 3.5/5
Bailiff on the bank £5 one rod, £10 two rod’s from dawn till dusk (night fishing for members only). You can have a good days fishing down Gallions (sometimes) but when you do, a tenner is nothing these days.
Hopefully with the introduction of new and improved welfare, stocking, chipping and other things listed a tenner will be dirt cheap and I will be more than happy to move that 3.5 to a 5.
Staff: 2/5
New Score 3.5
Talk a great game..'oh yeah there's 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 and make you feel they're only there to collect the money.
I've been met with contempt and anger on their forums when you try and suggest change or give any ideas as if to say we're happy with our little lake and we don't want to share it which is ridiculous. Will always tell you to use bread....trust me, use pop up corn yellow.
Obviously now with the club Secretary and bailiffs the above will change. This review has been up for nearly two years and I've never had a conversation with anyone from the club about it due to them not being interested. I got a decent e-mail from the new Secretary to tell me what is planned for the future and how it can improve and it all sounds very promising so I'm putting the 2 to a 3.5 and hopefully that can be put to a 5 within the next year when we see some more action.
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 encourage all members to bailiff while they are at the lakes which is the way it should be.
Overall: 3/5
I've seen this lake go downhill in the last 5 years and that's why I didn't renew my membership because all I heard were excuses.
I was contacted by Alan Blair personally who wanted to do an Urban Banx session at Gallions and wanted me to join him for the day as the expert. The lake refused to have him come down because of the damaging advertising they would of got instead of thinking the money we get of the back of this could improve the lake.
Could do with new ownership.
My last comment on this review said enough. New ownership needed, this has happened finally! 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, its 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.
