Draycote, Eyebrook, Thornton reservoirs

[paintman]

According to the latest AT the managing company of the three waters Fishery Management Ltd headed by the late Ifor Jones who died in January was found to be heavily in debt & has gone into voluntary liquidation.
Be interesting to see what happens.

[Danoutdoors]

Grew up near draycote and was told by many 30 years ago that it had no pike in it. Would love to know if that’s still the case? Anyone know?

[piker al]

According to the latest AT the managing company of the three waters Fishery Management Ltd headed by the late Ifor Jones who died in January was found to be heavily in debt & has gone into voluntary liquidation.
Be interesting to see what happens.

I think demand for trout fishing isn’t there anymore, they need to get lads on the boats piking or even after perch fishing these places

[paintman]

Grew up near draycote and was told by many 30 years ago that it had no pike in it. Would love to know if that’s still the case? Anyone know?

Trout fished it a lot during the 80s & 90s & didn't hear of any being caught, but at that time the fishing was trout only & fly so would have been a bycatch & regarded as a nuisance.

[Fentiger01]

I grew up a few miles away from Eyebrook, we used to wait until Jan/Feb and fish the little river which ran into it. The Roach used to shoal up heavily at the back-end of the Season and we'd often get bumper catches of real quality fish. Every now and again you'd get a decent Trout to take home for tea. I remember seeing a massive dead Carp on the bank one Summer, I don't know what had happened to it but it was the biggest I've ever seen.

If I remember correctly, Matt Hayes had a bumper catch of big Perch from Eyebrook on one of his shows.

[paintman]

Wouldn't surprise me.
Not fished it for years but the last time I went they'd netted & removed a lot of small pike, several big blue bins of them.
Before they started doing predator tickets.

[paintman]

According to the latest AT the managing company of the three waters Fishery Management Ltd headed by the late Ifor Jones who died in January was found to be heavily in debt & has gone into voluntary liquidation.
Be interesting to see what happens.

I think demand for trout fishing isn’t there anymore, they need to get lads on the boats piking or even after perch fishing these places

Eyebrook does pike fishing, but not the other two.

Thornton was just up the road from where I grew up & my late father fished it when it was a syndicate water so back into the early 60s.
I had season tickets in the 70s until I moved away.
Trout fished it occasionally in the 80s and 90s & Ifor never said anything about pike in it.

Also fished Cropston in the 60s & 70s for trout & had some cracking perch on the fly.
No pike but their website shows that it now allows predator fishing with some decent pike pics so they must have been there all along.
It's season ticket only, bank or boat & bring your own electric motor for the boats. If it was day ticket I'd be interested in having a day or two.

[martin(rockape)]

I grew up a few miles away from Eyebrook, we used to wait until Jan/Feb and fish the little river which ran into it. The Roach used to shoal up heavily at the back-end of the Season and we'd often get bumper catches of real quality fish. Every now and again you'd get a decent Trout to take home for tea. I remember seeing a massive dead Carp on the bank one Summer, I don't know what had happened to it but it was the biggest I've ever seen.

If I remember correctly, Matt Hayes had a bumper catch of big Perch from Eyebrook on one of his shows.

We used to fish the Eye Brook river like yourself on a day ticket, no idea if it's still possible to do so now.
Also see the Eyebrook being netted for it's coarse fish. And one year I see a Flamingo there.

Regards

Martin

[paintman]

Still day ticket for the reservoir on the website & I only fished it on day tickets - I presume whoever takes the fisheries over will do the same.

More details as to the situation on their Facebook page.
The 01788 number goes straight to an answer machine & a quick look at the Draycote Fly Fisher's Association website says Draycote is closed until further notice. I expect that will also apply to the other two.

[Fentiger01]

I grew up a few miles away from Eyebrook, we used to wait until Jan/Feb and fish the little river which ran into it. The Roach used to shoal up heavily at the back-end of the Season and we'd often get bumper catches of real quality fish. Every now and again you'd get a decent Trout to take home for tea. I remember seeing a massive dead Carp on the bank one Summer, I don't know what had happened to it but it was the biggest I've ever seen.

If I remember correctly, Matt Hayes had a bumper catch of big Perch from Eyebrook on one of his shows.

We used to fish the Eye Brook river like yourself on a day ticket, no idea if it's still possible to do so now.
Also see the Eyebrook being netted for it's coarse fish. And one year I see a Flamingo there.

Regards

Martin

Hi Martin, it was run by a farmer who used to keep a few horses in the field and charged us the princely sum of 50p per day. That said, it was a good long cycle ride to get there. The day ticket was stunning value to a 14 year old on £1.50 per week pocket money. Especially if you managed to snag a 3 or 4lb Trout to take home for tea, or a couple to sell on when you got back.

Last I heard (20+ years ago) when talking to a mate of mine who I fished with as a kid, he reckoned one of the farmers horses sadly got hurt on some discarded tackle and he stopped letting people fish. There's always some nugget who ruins it for everyone else........

[greencard1]

Any update on this story?
I used to like a trip to Thornton.

Thanks
John.

[paintman]

Last thing on their 'Fly fish store' face book page was March 4th.
"An announcement on behalf of Fishery Management Limited.
The board wishes to announce that in the interim period prior to the liquidators appointment every effort is being made to secure the future of the fisheries and achieve the best outcome for creditors.
To that effect we have engaged the services of a specialist independent agent SIA Group to advise the board and manage the process.
Further details of the insolvency process will be communicated to creditors shortly following the conclusion of the efforts to market the business and assets for sale.
Any parties interested in acquiring the business and assets are asked to contact Kevin Counihan @ SIA Group on 07585 425 545 or preferably kevin.counihan@sia-group.co.uk to register their interest by no later than 15th March 2024.
The board would like to ask all creditors, stakeholders, members and wider community to extend their patience and support whilst we seek the best possible outcome for these important fisheries and all involved."

There's a post on the Draycote Flyfisher's Assoc facebook from 2nd April:
"Interested parties have registered their interest. It is now up to the water company, Severn Trent, for Thornton and Draycote, and TATA Steel for Eyebrook, to look at the submissions and decide if/who to lease the fishing rights to. I would expect some news in the next few weeks, if there is a successful bid. with luck we will be back fishing at Draycote later this season "

[greencard1]

Thanks paintman.

[paintman]

Post on Draycote Flyfisher's Association facebook today - still no news.

Overheard a conversation recently that Anglian Water approached Tata Steel about Eyebrook but apparently they wanted silly money.

[piker al]

Post on Draycote Flyfisher's Association facebook today - still no news.

Overheard a conversation recently that Anglian Water approached Tata Steel about Eyebrook but apparently they wanted silly money.

Any big company who own any big area of land will now be holding out for the rewilding money

[paintman]

Latest from Draycote FFA facebook.
Hopefully restarting the new season March 2025.
No info as to who it is though.
https://scontent.fbhx4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=66DFB434

[Oldskoolfool]

similar story put in fly fishing and fly tying so looks hopeful.no news on Eyebrook or Thornton

[Steve Dennington]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

[Bob Watson]

I grew up a few miles away from Eyebrook, we used to wait until Jan/Feb and fish the little river which ran into it. The Roach used to shoal up heavily at the back-end of the Season and we'd often get bumper catches of real quality fish. Every now and again you'd get a decent Trout to take home for tea. I remember seeing a massive dead Carp on the bank one Summer, I don't know what had happened to it but it was the biggest I've ever seen.

If I remember correctly, Matt Hayes had a bumper catch of big Perch from Eyebrook on one of his shows.

Just watched those two seasons yesterday, laid up with covid and the worse case of the squirts since time began.

He had two over 3lb and quite a few 2+

The 24 hour rod race shows a more mature and likeable, IMO, Matt chasing targets texted to him by AT's Richard Lee.

Not sure about the editing but it seemed legit to me, targets hit and missed and some good angling thrown in. I think he came across better without trying to bounce himself off MB.

Worth a watch and available on prime.

[NSW77]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

Heard on the grapevine this is going to be a coarse fishery next year. A real shame in my opinion but I’ll get a season ticket as it’s just up the road from me.

[paintman]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

Heard on the grapevine this is going to be a coarse fishery next year. A real shame in my opinion but I’ll get a season ticket as it’s just up the road from me.

Which one?

[NSW77]

Sorry, Eyebrook.

[Steve Dennington]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

Heard on the grapevine this is going to be a coarse fishery next year. A real shame in my opinion but I’ll get a season ticket as it’s just up the road from me.

The problem is that it clearly wasn't viable as a trout water, the place needs to become profitable, and which section of the angling community will throw money around like confetti? Yep, carpers.

The problem is that you start with a fishery that is open to all, then they stick a bunch of carp in and nobody's very excited because they're only doubles, but the timebomb it ticking. When those carp hit thirties there'll be so many bivvies that you won't get a swim and when they hit 40lb+ it will become a closed shop syndicate with a ludicrous waiting list and an eye-watering annual fee.

It might be good for pike for the first winter or two though, so I'd enjoy it while you can!

[paintman]

The problem is that you start with a fishery that is open to all, then they stick a bunch of carp in and nobody's very excited because they're only doubles, but the timebomb it ticking. When those carp hit thirties there'll be so many bivvies that you won't get a swim and when they hit 40lb+ it will become a closed shop syndicate with a ludicrous waiting list and an eye-watering annual fee.

It might be good for pike for the first winter or two though, so I'd enjoy it while you can!

One carp/pike runs water I fish has gone the other way, mainly because there is a lot more money in selling daytickets (or 24 hour & multiples thereof) to the carpers.
Bookings are via GoCatch & there's no turn up & pay on the bank so the fishery owner doesn't have to do much other than patrol the water, either himself or the bailiffs.
But it's already got to the point that the popular swims are booked up from Friday night to Sunday night for weeks ahead.
As the weather's got colder it's getting a bit easier to get a swim during the week.

[Steve Dennington]

As the weather's got colder it's getting a bit easier to get a swim during the week.

Winter carping has had a real resurgence in popularity with the mild winters of recent years too. A few years back, I was on a local syndicate that has a particular swim that's a real hotspot for pike, but one winter I didn't manage to fish it even once - every single time I turned up there was a bivvy in it!

[paintman]

Just had a quick look & the really popular ones already weekend booked until mid January!

[Runaway Train]

https://flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/d ... -in-march/

AW https://www.facebook.com/groups/1035267106806535

[paintman]

https://flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/d ... -in-march/

AW https://www.facebook.com/groups/1035267106806535

Excellent. Look forward to a visit.

[NSW77]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

Heard on the grapevine this is going to be a coarse fishery next year. A real shame in my opinion but I’ll get a season ticket as it’s just up the road from me.

The problem is that it clearly wasn't viable as a trout water, the place needs to become profitable, and which section of the angling community will throw money around like confetti? Yep, carpers.

The problem is that you start with a fishery that is open to all, then they stick a bunch of carp in and nobody's very excited because they're only doubles, but the timebomb it ticking. When those carp hit thirties there'll be so many bivvies that you won't get a swim and when they hit 40lb+ it will become a closed shop syndicate with a ludicrous waiting list and an eye-watering annual fee.

It might be good for pike for the first winter or two though, so I'd enjoy it while you can!

I have a season ticket at AW’s Hollowell and if they run it the same way as that it’ll be fantastic. I think they have 200 or so season ticket holders but it’s always empty in winter and not busy at all in summer. I’ve literally had 140 acres to myself at times. They stocked a few carp a few years ago and that’s been it. Whether they run it the same way is anyone’s guess but you’re right the pike fishing might be great at the start.

[martin(rockape)]

My money's on all three being stocked with carp in the near future...

Heard on the grapevine this is going to be a coarse fishery next year. A real shame in my opinion but I’ll get a season ticket as it’s just up the road from me.

The problem is that it clearly wasn't viable as a trout water, the place needs to become profitable, and which section of the angling community will throw money around like confetti? Yep, carpers.

The problem is that you start with a fishery that is open to all, then they stick a bunch of carp in and nobody's very excited because they're only doubles, but the timebomb it ticking. When those carp hit thirties there'll be so many bivvies that you won't get a swim and when they hit 40lb+ it will become a closed shop syndicate with a ludicrous waiting list and an eye-watering annual fee.

It might be good for pike for the first winter or two though, so I'd enjoy it while you can!

I have a season ticket at AW’s Hollowell and if they run it the same way as that it’ll be fantastic. I think they have 200 or so season ticket holders but it’s always empty in winter and not busy at all in summer. I’ve literally had 140 acres to myself at times. They stocked a few carp a few years ago and that’s been it. Whether they run it the same way is anyone’s guess but you’re right the pike fishing might be great at the start.

I used to fish it donkey's years back when it was day ticket I can't recall seeing more than 1 other angler there in fact I always had the dam wall to myself. I've been thinking about giving it another crack.

Regards

Martin