New fishing season ready to cast off

14/02/2008

Anglers who visit Hanningfield reservoir this season can bank on more than £100,000 being spent on 47,000 trout to be reared and stocked.

Hundreds of over wintered grown-on rainbows stocked last summer at up to six pounds in weight are ready for when the fishing season casts off in March.

This year, the 2008 season will start on Saturday 8th March.  

Prices have been pegged back at only £2 more than last season with an eight-fish permit - including catch and release - costing £22 (concessions £20) and a four-fish ‘Stress Buster’ ticket available afternoons at £19.

A motor boat for the day is £24. Two wheelie boats are available for disabled angers at the concessionary rate of £12.

Anglers can now spin every Wednesday through the season and the whole of November at Hanningfield.   All artificial lures are permitted at the standard fishing prices. 

Back by popular demand is the loyalty scheme - simply collect seven fishing or boat day permits, and we will tell you when your free ticket is available.

The Café on the Water, which is next to Hanningfield reservoir, serves a range of hot and cold snacks and is an ideal place to refuel after a day of fishing.

Essex & Suffolk Water - in partnership with tackle company Hardy Greys - will again be running a friendly boat pairs Sunday competition on 28th September to raise money for international charity WaterAid - so anglers can catch trout and help save lives at the same time.

Perry Woolner, commercial manager at Essex & Suffolk Water said: “WaterAid raises money to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene education in the developing world – basic essential that we can take for granted.  In Africa and Asia that is sadly not the case but each £10 we can raise guarantees a clean water supply for someone there for their entire life.”

‘Go Fishing’ is our 2008 guide to Hanningfield – a copy is available on request. Please call 0870 240 3549.

For up-to-date information, what’s new and top tips throughout 2008 please call our leisure team on 0870 240 3549 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit our website at www.eswater.co.uk/gofishing

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For further information please contact Claire Bishop on 01245 212010.