The beginners bait pond extension has now been completed. The pond is now two and a half times the original size, and deeper, averaging 6 feet. The problem with the original pond was twofold --- it got crowded with only 6 fishing, and if fished heavily, was quickly depleted of fish between weekly stocking.

This meant that fishing was good immediately after stocking, and tapered off quickly. For children in particular, they need to catch at least one fish, and quickly, before they get bored or distracted.

It is important for a good fishery to have a beginners pond which produces fish and thrills, this engenders an interest in fishing, and not long before they notice the bigger fish being caught on the fly-fishing lochs. Their progression to fly-fishing creates the next generation of anglers.

The extended pond will hold up to 15 fishing at one time, and hold an average of 120 fish, ensuring continuous good catches between stocking.

The extended pond took a tracked excavator, working on flotation mats, 3 days to complete, a job very well done. The finishing touches have been carried out over the past few weeks - the surfaces seeded over with a grass & wildflower mix, and the pond edges planted out with rushes to strengthen them, and to provide cover for damsels, corixa etc.

In order to let the grass and wildflower grow properly there is restricted access until spring 2007. The pond can only be fished currently from a short stretch of the original banking. The wait for full access to the whole pond in spring will be well worth it.