Syndicate Fishing

[Pross]

I've been invited to fish a syndicate's lakes for free with a view to joining. I have to admit the idea is very tempting, the lakes sound well stock with a nice variety and they have some good facilities (toilets, hut with cooking area etc.) and the idea of fishing a private water where you don't have to put up with people messing about is a big appeal also my daughter will be able to fish for free and learn on a quiet water. Does anyone else on here fish on syndicate waters? The price here is £150 per year which seems reasonable for 2 private lakes, my only worry is that I'll feel the need to fish there whenever I get out to justify the cost rather than trying new places - are there any questions I ought to be asking or any catches I need to look out for? I've already been told I could bivvy there 24 hours a day 365 days a year if I wanted to so there are no restrictions on fishing time.

[baitmaster]

thats not exspensive for a syndicate lake at all especially when you think your average day ticket around the country is about £15 to £25 and some are over £50
as far aas syndicate prices go here in norfolk again they can vary wildly but waters i,ve look into joining are around £350 now the question you should really be asking is how good is the stock and i think the most important question is to ask is how many members there are cause if lets say the lakes are not big and on a full day it can hold 20 anglers you don,t want to find out you have 300 members and its all ways full
the trouble is as angling is now a big bussiness and some syndicated waters are becoming over subscribed so ask before you pay

tightlines
kevin

[Pross]

I thought the price sounded good although most day ticket waters around here are between £5 and £10, I pay £30 a year to be a member of the Newport AA and can then fish 4 ponds, all the Newport stretches of the canal, a section of the River Wye with another 2 sections available outside the salmon season so it sounds like fishing is good value around here. I'll get to see how well stocked the lakes are on my trial session but it sounds like they are regularly stocked in decent numbers, not sure if there are many big carp but that isn't my main aim when fishing I like to catch a nice variety and a decent quantity. The issue about membership numbers is a good one and was something I was wondering as well especially as membership is reasonable and they appear to spend a fair amount on stocking.

[robm]

Hi Pross
The price you mention seems very reasonable for 2 syndicate lakes especially as you say you wont be targetting any particular species but looking for some good mixed bags.
You could do with knowing how many members are in the syndicate to get an idea how busy the venues will get and have a good read through the rules.
When you go on your free invitation trip have a walk round and have a chat to as many other anglers as you can to get their views but beware take what some of them tell you with a pinch of salt,you can come across some very dodgy characters in syndicates that could try to put you off joining to keep the fishing for themselves also some tossers that wont even speak to you especially if you start catching more than they are and it can give some syndicates a bad atmosphere which unless you just get on with the fishing and ignore them you might not enjoy being a member don,t get me wrong i have met some great blokes in the syndicates that i fish but there are always 1 or 2 rotten apples.
Another warning is ,i fish the Syndicated Meres around Staffs and Cheshire on private country estates of which the member bases are small really and most of the time you get the place to yourself which does tend to spoil you as to when you go any other day ticket places you feel uneasy fishing with people around you when your not used to seeing anyone else .
Another point is are their boats there and would you need your own boat to get the most out of your fishing or if there are syndicate boats what is the access like for them.
On the whole fishing and being a member of a syndicate can be very rewarding as it can keep you away from the crowds and see you in some of the most tranquil places in the country.
I hope that is some help to you Pross.

robm

[Pross]

I got some more info earlier. It sounds like a new set up, membership is limited to 50 per year although members can have their kids fishing with them so I suppose it could be more than that (only 6 members so far), there are 40 pegs being built and unpegged areas for stalking etc. The fish stocks are common carp, wild carp, crucian carp, koi/goldfish carp, tench,bream,skimmers,roach ,rudd and eels with 500 mirrors being delivered in a few weeks with 100 chub,100 perch, and a mix of 300 blue and golden orfe to be confirmed. The guy also has a busines selling tackle and bait cheap. All sounds very tempting and certainly worth a go for a year to see if the trial session is a hit.

[Greenheart]

I've allways felt that spending a lot of mony on a season ticket for one water tie's you down a bit. You then feel obliged to fish that water all the time to justify the cost of the ticket. Personally in this area, there's so much good cheap day ticket water, "much of which hardly ever gets fished" that it would take a lifetime to fish it all. I just enjoy the variety & I think you learn more that way.

[Mik]

Hiya Pross.
I think I know the water you are on about. Ive heard one of the NAA bailiffs talking about it.
Im trying to get back home to Cwmbran myself to live, but lord only knows how long that will take.