ANGLINGIRELAND

Darren · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: Weeding at Woodford

A few of the members at Woodford Fly Fishery, Carrickfergus recently got together to help out with removing some Canadian Pond Weed that had grown quite thick in front of some of the fishing stands. Most fresh water lakes would have some form of aquatic weed growing around its shallows but this year the weed at Woodford has grown really quickly and about a month later than normal, when really at this time of year it should be starting to die off.
Tactics for the evening were to have a 20ft length of barbed wire with 4 house bricks attached, to take the wire to the bottom of the lake, at either end of the barbed wire two 50ft lengths of rope where attached, to pull the barbed wire back to the bank. We used barbed wire instead of some form of blade because the barbed wire would pull the weed out by the roots and limit its re-growth and not cut the weed as cutting makes it grow back thicker.
Most of the weed was growing up-to 15ft from the shore in around 7ft to 8ft of water, so the use of a boat was required to drop the barbed wire out past the furthest growth of weed from the shore. When the Barbed wire had sunk to the bottom of the lake the members slowly retrieved the barbed wire with weed attached back to the shore.
Once on the bank the weed was carefully removed from the barbed wire, this was when it was noticed that the weed was teaming with corixa, hoglouse, damsel nymphs and fry, so it was decided to just take a 10ft to 15ft wide channel of weed from just in front of the fishing stands and leave the area water between the stands alone. This would mean that the angler would have plenty of water to land and release fish-in and there would be enough weed to sustain natural feeding with-in the lake.
In the few days since clearing the weed anglers have reported an improvement in the condition of the lake and their catch rates, with the trout feeding around the weed beds that were left alone, including fish of 6lb+.

Darren

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harry_lfc · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject:

lol look hard at work there
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FIREY BROWN · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 582 Location: belfast

Hard work indeed Darren

ermmm just one question,,how come you`re not in the photo Laughing

were you just using your supervisory skills for the day Shocked

FIREY BROWN
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ChrisDickey · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 213 Location: Ballyclare

he was taking the picture lol
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fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

Canadian pondweed really is a curse. I had to miss all the fun due to work, but Darren tells me that he will make sure that doesn't happen again. Shocked

Will be at Woodford today and will check out the improvements.
Very Happy

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"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
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tack4 · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:49 am Post subject:

slacker

darren no fry for fossil m8

nah tight lines
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Darren · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: weed removal

FIREY BROWN · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 582 Location: belfast

Yea Yea Darren they all say that,,more like up to your waist in cups of tea Rolling Eyes

FIREY BROWN
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Work is only for those who dont know how to fish
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fossil-fish · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 668 Location: Carrickfergus

I could certainly see the results this morning. A big difference, especially on the northern bank. A job well done.

Very Happy

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"The world and the universe is an extremely beautiful place, and the more we understand about it the more beautiful does it appear."
Richard Dawkins

FIREY BROWN · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 582 Location: belfast

Fossil what types of weed are common at Woodford ?? and are there any particular types that are harder to keep under control ??

FIREY BROWN

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Work is only for those who dont know how to fish
http://www.troutandfly.co.uk/