Hurston Carp Pond

We appreciate that the fishing in the Carp Pond at Hurston Lane Fishery has been difficult during the last few seasons due to the weed problem. Despite the sterling efforts of a very small number of members who have given up their spare time on numerous occasions to clear the weed we have been unable to solve the problem other than for short periods.It is unfair to expect those few members to keep trying to make this water fishable especially as some of them don’t even fish the water themselves, they do it out of a sense of loyalty to the club. We have been seeking methods to resolve the problem permanently and hopefully without incurring too much cost, after all, none of us want a big increase in membership fees.

Unfortunately due to the proximity of the River Soar we have been unable to find any suitable chemical or biological methods to control the weed but after taking professional advice from both the Environment Agency and private contractors we have now embarked on a plan which we hope will solve the problem in the long term.

The first phase of the project to improve the Carp Pond got off to a good start last week and what a great job was done by our contractors Water Plant Ltd and our own members who came along to assist.

This machine made the job of clearing the weed look easy (click for bigger pics)

The weed cutting boat was launched at around 8.30 and the job was done by 3.30. The Carp Pond is now almost free of weed and ready for the next phase which will be lowering the water level and netting out the fish for temporary transfer to the Match Pond.

That’s the first phase almost completed

We had an excellent turnout with an average of twelve volunteers available at all times throughout the day. Volunteers were rewarded with a fish and chip lunch and hopefully went home with a feeling of satisfaction for a job well done.

Some of the volunteers who turned up for the first phase – well done lads!

We hope to start the next phase the week commencing 21st March when the water level in the Carp Pond will be lowered and we will start netting the fish out. Watch the web site for news and labour requests.Finally thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard for the good of the Club and our members. Its nice to see so many come forward to help and not just write disparaging remarks on notices put up at the fishery.