![[carp image]](carp.jpg)
Looking after the environment should always be top of the angler's priorities. To this end it is imperative that members should be constantly vigilant and report any activity or condition which they consider may pose a threat to the quality of the water,its environs and to the reputation of the club. Reports should be made to a member of the committee and when pollution is involved to the Environmental Agency; all contacts with the Environmental Agency shall be made known to a member of the committee.
All personal rubbish shall be removed from the site as well as any other litter you may find. Plastic materials are of particular concern due to their resistance to biological breakdown which means they can remain a hazard for many years. Plastic bags for instance can block drains and sluices; fishing line and can-holders will entangle birds and wild life ensuring a premature and unpleasant death. All plastic materials contain processing materials which will elute into the water over a number of years releasing a number of toxins. All these potential problems can easily be avoided by ensuring that all your litter is removed from the site along with any other litter you come across. Refuse bins are provided but if they are full, then please take your rubbish home.
Any violation of the club's rules pertaining to the use of forbidden tackle and methods will result in loss of membership.
All fish shall be returned to the water as soon as possible; ensure that when you are fishing for carp that all weighing, handling gear and cameras are to hand.
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY TEL. NO. FREE PHONE 0800 807060
Another different environmental issue has arisen in New Mills recently. In addition to the cormorant, goosanders have been seen on Derbyshire lakes and reservoirs. The goosander has a specialised diet of fish, reputedly eating 1.5 kg of fish per head. The goosander was first seen in the UK in 1871 but now winters as far north as Cheshire and Derbyshire and has been seen on a number of local waters. The Watford Lodge water in New Mills has shown a dramatic deterioration in the last twelve months, hardly any fish were caught there last year. Water quality was found to be good and there was no evidence of pollution. The water was then netted by the Environmental Agency and showed a serious imbalance of the fish population, a few small fish the rest were large tench, bream and carp. The water is very clear and weed growth is poor. The club has reacted by introducing four artificial islands on the water, their purpose to afford protection for those smaller fish which are particularly susceptible to predation. The islands are anchored to the botton of the lodge using concrete blocks. The islands are each constructed of two rectangular cages with a 3-4" square mesh allowing fish to pass through but not the bird. As the weed on the islands develops we envisage that they will afford natural protection outside the cage and a location where the fish may spawn.A diagram of the setup is shown below.Photographs of the islands are located on the Watford Lodge section