Bayeswater syndicate has really become a much sought after ticket now it’s getting there with the size of fish I wanted to grow on.  I can still remember the years when I had a job to get enough members but now I’ve got a massive waiting list of over 300 names and other anglers, who I did warn to get their name and details to me trying to jump the list.  In a way it’s become a bit of a monster.  I've got really close friends who I thought would have supported us from in the early years coming out the woodwork and one or two have been quiet upset when I have to tell them there simply isn’t any places available. 

I’ve decided to keep to the waiting list in the future; it’s only fair to the people who bothered to put their names down.  Trouble is it's a very slow waiting list because less people drop out now the fish are bigger and it’s also getting a bit busier so I’m going to reduce the membership so there will be less places.  I can't say how long the wait might be but it could be as long as 10-15 years to join the existing syndicate. 

I'm also actively searching out new waters and if I can get any I'll use the waiting list as my bank for potential members.  On reflection many anglers now wished they had joined the syndicate earlier, when places were available and a lot of anglers on the list have said they will join any new waters I get from year one if and when I find a new lake and start to get one up and running.

I recon I can get a new lake up and running quicker than the original.  I only ever stocked 4 fish over 20 pound in the syndicate but have already got about 50 x 20’s to touching 30 available should I get a lake soon so a new Bayeswater syndicate wont take as long as the original to get going.

It is getting harder to find good syndicates now and I wish I had more places but I simply haven't.  Below is a quick run down about the lake that I have sent out as a general sort of thing when people have asked. 

Below this is also the original 2006 intro for the syndicate, I left it out of interest, if you reed it and were one of the early year member we wish you a big thank you for the early years support.

The cost for Bayeswater syndicate for 2011-2012 season was £400 running April to April.  However I had a rent increase so had to increase this.  In an effort to be fair to the anglers who have been with me for years, before the fish had grown I'm leaving it at £400 for members of 5 years or more but charging £500 for everyone else. I try to run the lakes as fair as possible and might have to increase the syndicate cost in the future.

I tell everyone these points about the lake but some don't seem to listen so please note.

Irrigation, the lake is an irrigation lake and can loose up to 7-8 foot of water during the summer, the farmer calls it irritation rather than irrigation as it seems to upset people but it shouldn't, irrigation lakes always produce good fish and the better growth years have defiantly been heavy irrigation years.

Trees and are in short supply on the lake, although I have just planted 200 and have more in tubs at the lake and at home to go in next year.  It’s a fairly new lake and the banks have been re-worked a few times, it's settling now and looking not so new but it's a far cry from being a mature lake above the surface.  This summer I made the swims and paths up better than they were and did some more planting of reeds etc. and will be doing further work as soon as it's dry enough to do so.  I prefer wild, mud and high foliage but the modern angler seems to want to fish in house slippers, it will always be a bit wet, it's an irrigation lake and there will always be raw bank.

Below the surface, it's a weedy lake and on heavy irrigation years the weed grows up and the water comes down so making it appear even weedier as the 2 meet.  We have never had a season where any swim is un-fishable but it's not just a matter of casting out anywhere.  The lake is settling down a bit from the extreme weed you get with new lakes and there was less than other years this season but except for a bit of clearing in the edge no weed control is possible or even wanted by me.  I've seen lots of lakes weed poisoned only to turn into silk weed hell, good lush Canadian pond weed and other broad leaved weed is so much easier to fish in.

Boats are allowed on the lake for landing weeded fish, I provide 5 but the angler must have there own oar and life jacket, this is compulsory, I never want to see anyone pulling for a break on a weeded fish.  I have insurance for members only on the boats.  Oars must not be left near the boats and the boats must be locked up when not in use.

Shooting happens in the shooting season on the site; the shooting syndicate pay a lot more than us and have priority.  It's a pain but only lasts around an hour or so and all we ask is you just sit in your bivvy or car until it's over.  Usually there is a load of young ducks put on the lake, they aren't a problem but in the spring there is still a lot left and they love diving on bait, do not bring a gun or try to harm/kill any ducks, they are not ours.

I have 9 swims on the lake, all with a good amount of water to fish.  Each swim has features, weed, clear spots etc. and I have seen fish caught from several different area’s in the same day quiet often so it’s a fair lake in that respect, not one of those with just a couple of hot spots.

Guests are allowed although on many waters this is not the case.  I had moans about it last year but can’t see the problem myself.  Guests are by appointment only and each member is limited to a maximum of 5 per year on the syndicate, this might be reduced.  Guests have to fish from the same swim as the member.  Guests can not use the boats.  Cost for a guest is the same as day ticket money, £25 for 24 hours.

Syndicate members can fish the day ticket lake but pay half price.  If you are looking for some good winter fishing then the day ticket lake is worth joining, it has 5 different 30’s and a good head of 20’s.  I emptied the stock pond last year and we stocked 12 more 20's to just over 30.

The syndicate lake has 6 fish that have been caught over 40, up to 48.12.  We don’t know how many 30’s are in it, possibly 30 ish with about 60-80 other 20’s.  It’s very hard to gauge as there is a lot of home bred fish, several into high 20’s.  We know of 100% definite home bred fish to 28.12 but suspect that several other fish over 25 are also babies.  This year the rule will be to remove any syndicate fish less than 25 pound to try to keep stocks down and the top weights up.