Darren
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Weeding at WoodfordA 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
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lol look hard at work there
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FIREY BROWN
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weed removalHard work indeed Darren
ermmm just one question,,how come you`re not in the photo 
were you just using your supervisory skills for the day 
FIREY BROWN
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ChrisDickey
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he was taking the picture lol
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fossil-fish
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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.
Will be at Woodford today and will check out the improvements.
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tack4
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slacker
darren no fry for fossil m8
nah tight lines
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Darren
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Re: weed removal | FIREY BROWN wrote: | Hard work indeed Darren
ermmm just one question,,how come you`re not in the photo
were you just using your supervisory skills for the day
FIREY BROWN |
There's no point in having a dog and barking yourself
Only joking, I was up to my waist in water just out of shot 
Darren
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FIREY BROWN
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WeedingYea Yea Darren they all say that,,more like up to your waist in cups of tea 
FIREY BROWN
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fossil-fish
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I could certainly see the results this morning. A big difference, especially on the northern bank. A job well done.
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FIREY BROWN
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WeedFossil 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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fossil-fish
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Canadian Pondweed is an invasive and aggressive species that can completely choke a water. It is very difficult to control but on some waters seems to find it's own balance after a few years. A water which I once fished for carp had to be given up completely because of it. I also have noticed it in large quantaties in North Woodburn over the last few years. It does have some benefits as it is an oxygenating plant and can provide food and shelter for fish. It seems to be spreading and turning up in more and more places each year.
Woodford doesn't seem to have an excessive amount of weed apart from the cananian but this year there was a dramatic and stunningly beautiful display of yellow flag irises which lasted a long time. Not sure if Darren got any photographs, but if not he should make apoint of it next year. They are one of the most beautiful aquatic plants.
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