Bayeswater - A personal adventure!

It’s every anglers dream to run a fishery, preferably to own one outright.  Second best is to lease one where you can have total control of the fishing. Bayeswater lakes are leased, not owned by me, Gary Bayes.  Obviously this isn’t as good as owning the lakes but with a little lee way from both sides, Bayeswater is going to be a premier fishery in the future, of that I am sure.

On Bayeswater fishing site there are three lakes; the largest, with the island in the middle is the Syndicate Lake.  The next biggest is the Day Ticket Lake and the smallest is the Trout/Stock Pond.

The stock pond, at the time of writing, is strictly NO FISHING.  It originally contained trout, all of which have since passed away.  It will be used as a stock pond only in the near future with the intention of growing on further fish for Bayeswater Fishing lakes.  Do not even dream of fishing this lake; the farmer’s house overlooks the site, and I’m in total agreement with him that anyone caught fishing will be expelled from the site, it really is a no go zone.


BAYESWATER DAY TICKET LAKE

The day ticket lake is starting to mature nicely, with marginal weed and plant life. It’s taking its time in my opinion, but then I am impatient as far as Mother Nature is concerned.  There are a lot of carp, roach, rudd, perch and tench in the Day Ticket Lake.  Although it is primarily a carp water all of the other species are doing very well.  There is some good float or feeder fishing to be had.  Don’t fish too close in though; the best distance is around two rod lengths out or more, at 20-30 feet.  I don’t know why this is but except on the odd days the margins can be very slow, it’s worth remembering this.

The carp though are catchable close in, especially on the windward banks.  It’s worth bivvying up well back from the waters edge to milk this, especially on hot days.  The shallows at the far end of the lake are always worth a go, especially in hot weather.  Multiple catches are possible for the quiet angler in the shallows.  Don’t think you have to cast all rods to the sanctuary side either; the spinney bank is just as good, just keep back as far as possible and the carp will come to you.  The best catch, numbers wise, from the shallows is seventeen fish in an afternoon, that’s hectic, well done Steve Copplestone, I could have done with some photos though!

Bayeswater carp are not rig shy, bait shy or over complicated in any way except that they are natural food eaters.  They regularly colour big areas up, digging the naturals out.  Try maggots, worms or other more natural foods as well as boilies.  I’ve caught quite a few on maggot and worm when feeder fishing and some of the members have really done well doing the same.  It can turn a tricky days fishing into a very interesting one.

We managed to get the carp going on the surface pretty well last year.  The seagulls, ducks and swans are sometimes a pest though but then that’s floater fishing.  The upside of getting fish eating floaters is that zig rigs work better, i.e. fishing pop ups on long hook links either on the surface or sub-surface which equals less trouble with the bird life.

All methods will catch on the right day at Bayeswater, as will all baits. Unlike some waters there are no bait bans or restrictions.  Providing safe, well cooked, particle bait is used they are allowed.  I hope never to have to get heavy on rules of any kind, especially anti angling ones like you see in some fishing venue rule books. There are obviously some rules that must be adhered to, without fail. 

The biggest is NO LITTER I’ve had to pick up far too much this year.  Alright, most of the items have been small but the odd sweet wrapper, the ends of milk cartons, ring pulls off cans etc., are all classed as rubbish as far as I’m concerned.  Please take all rubbish home with you.

Anglers must not drive on the grass, even I don’t do this and I could probably get away with it.  No fires, unfortunately no dogs, no fishing from the sanctuary bank, baiting up of the sanctuary is ok, plus all the sensible rules we have are conditions of the lease or just plain sense to ensure we fish in peace and harmony.

Now the lake has matured nicely and the fish are doing very well, I’m working on obtaining more stock.  Keep an eye on this web site for further stocking dates and details. You will be welcome to come and help.  Don’t come in your Sunday best though because you’ll be asked to help hold a few for the fish identity photos.

Bayeswater Fishing has an e-mail address, Bayeswater@aol.com, feel free to ask or enquire.  We’ll try to reply as promptly as possible.

You can also e-mail any pictures and news you have. To get us up to date send in previous, pre-2007 pics as well.  Please don’t forget to include weights, dates, etc. also your name would be nice.  If you have slides or prints I can get them scanned to include on the web site.  Don’t forget your name and address though so we can return them to you.  I’ll send anyone who submits photos of 10lb plus fish caught before January 2007 a free £10 day ticket to chip in on your next session so don’t forget your address.  Before you ask, NO, not per fish, cheeky!

I am going to introduce some more photo incentives or competitions in the future, on a monthly basis.  One will be a pair of £10 day tickets for the most impressive catch.  Not necessarily the biggest fish.  There’s a carp called Quassimodo, an ugly brute, but very very special, that would win.  A 2lb roach, 3lb perch, 8lb tench or a 2lb rudd could also win.  So could a young angler with a big grin holding a personal best fish, so take some photos please, and don’t forget to smile.


BAYESWATER SYNDICATE LAKE

This is a syndicate member’s only lake, out of bounds to non-syndicate members.  Like the day ticket lake, the fish love the margins, so please don’t wander over to chat to any one fishing, you might scare the fish, spoiling the anglers chances.

It is not a high stock density water because we want the fish to grow large. To date 10th November 2006 the biggest fish caught is 32lb, the same as on the day ticket lake.  The carp are growing well though, on both lakes, but the lower number of carp per acre on the syndicate lake will allow for greater weight gains.

The only other species present are perch, a very efficient predator to keep the carp population in check.  I don’t ever intend to over populate the syndicate lake; the intention is to create a big fish water.

Both lakes are irrigation reservoirs; the syndicate lake will always be up and down, water level wise.  At this moment the water is 5ft below maximum level after the hot, dry summer we’ve had.  This exposed parts of the plateau and some other areas, reducing the fishable area by about one quarter.  The low level has also exposed several feet of bare margin, which can get a little bit sticky after a shower or two.  This is simply a fact of life with irrigation reservoirs.  I know from fishing the Essex Manor and other such venues that it does get better over the years, as the clay compacts and vegetation gets a hold.

The upside is that irrigation reservoirs do produce big fish; the nutrients from the water are exposed to sunlight on the dry banks in the summer.  In turn the plant life becomes more prominent in time, on the exposed banks, providing we get a few summer showers.  As the lake is re-filled this plant life goodness is re-absorbed into the lake.  The new water is also fresh, picking up nutrients on the way to the ditch where it’s extracted.  This water will also be free from a chemicals that fish give off which restricts growth to suit their environment, a sort of fail safe to reduce the risk of over biomass population.  The biomass is weight of fish per acre or water volume.  So in effect the syndicate fish will gain extra growth just by having a yearly part water change.  Anyone who keeps fish in tanks at home will have noticed that part water changes make fish grow faster.  I always over filtered my tanks to hold back growth.

The down side of irrigation reservoirs is that they don’t look so pretty as stable water level lakes.  Marginal reed beds are hard to sustain, as are shallow water plants, some natural food sources i.e. swan mussels and some types of plant life, because the banks are lined with sub soil clays. It does take time to build up the above water environment. I’ve recently planted Norfolk reed, a ferocious invasive plant that can grow very fast.  Other plants have been planted but have not yet taken too well. I’ll try to nurture as much plant life cover as possible but at present the banks are a bit exposed.  In time, I know we can turn this round, Mother Nature will win.

In the meantime the sub surface environment is coming on well.  As with the day ticket lake, it’s now intended to add more stock as and when the right fish become available.  I’m also planning to remove as many home bred fish as possible.  The perch canned this year’s fry (2006) but there is a few too many off the first years offspring about.

All the above is inevitable with such a young lake, 2006 is only the second years syndicate.  The first year was just for stocking and feeding.  I for one can’t wait to see the whole site flourish.

Last season I didn’t fill the syndicate places, partly because I didn’t want to, low-pressured fish grow better.  I do have a list of potential members but now I’ve learnt a little bit more regards running my own fishery.  Some anglers really mean maybe instead of yes, they want a ticket.  So if you are genuinely interest in joining, what is a very new lake, with I hope a very bright future, e-mail or post your name, address and phone number to us, and you could be part of it.

E-mail Bayeswater@aol.com.  I’m not necessarily looking for anglers with years and years of experience but, as with the site as a whole I want members who will appreciate Bayeswater Lakes, the fish and the other anglers, it’s that easy.

Bayeswater fishing Lakes are behind locked gates, access is really for members only.  We know this is a little awkward for anyone wishing to have a walk round but security for fishing tackle and vehicles is important, many of the members have even commented on this, having had bad experiences on other venues.
Anyone wishing to view the lakes can do so by appointment only.  Phone Steve on 07960 486143 or Anne on 07746 050657.  Alternatively join at either of these two fishing tackle shops  Beven Carp Tackle Chelmsford  01245 266833 or Angling Direct At Rayleigh 01268 777127. You will need two passport photo's and will be issued with an ID card and key,  Cost is £25 and membership is for life.  See day ticket prices for further details.
 
Bayeswater Fishing is located at Generals Farm, Boreham interchange, A12, Springfield junction Chelmsford Essex.  From the Ipswich direction leave the A12 at the above junction and you will see the farm entrance directly in front. Turn immediately right on concrete road once you have left the roundabout.
 
From the London direction, take the right hand lane, keep turning right, as if returning to london direction.  Immediately before the london slip road (on the third roundabout you encounter) is the entrance to Generals Farm,  again turn immediate right after leaving the roundabout.
 
It's easier to find than it sounds, you can actually see the lakes from the A12, London side of Boreham interchange.
For road map click on link fish4venues.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
 
Gary Bayes

Tight Lines…

Gary Bayes