PLANNING AND FINANCIAL ISSUES
Type of development
Whether you are a private fishery, or an Association creating or upgrading a fishery, you will need to be sure of the type of fishery that you are developing, and for what type of angler you intend to develop. A fishery can be primarily for match anglers, for specialist carp anglers, for a specific species, for junior coaching or for purely pleasure fishing. A mixture of the different types of user can be achieved but only if it is carefully thought through , e.g. angling stations used for matches on certain days, and for pleasure anglers or junior angling development, on other days. Alternatively separate areas can used for pleasure or match fishing. Communication is key in mixed type fisheries so people do not attend on the wrong days, or use the wrong areas for pleasure fishing or match fishing; it creates friction which should always be avoided. Do not be too ambitious in your developments, make sure your expectations are realistic. Ensure you have planning consent for any work that you need to undertake, where it is appropriate. Liaise with the Environment Agency on stocks that you intend to introduce, etc.
If you have a range of waters, then each water should be carefully evaluated to get the best from the fisheries, should each be used as a match water, a specimen water, a pleasure fishing water, a water for junior coaching, etc. Liaise with the Environment Agency if fish transfers between different waters are considered.
Costs and returns
The type of fishery will have a major impact on your expenditure. For example- fish stock types, types of angling stations, environmental changes, inflows and outflows, etc.
Obviously it is essential that you know your expected costs for the development together with the the expected returns from your angling users, it is pointless spending thousands and thousands of pounds on fish stocks and other changes if the returns do not justify the investment.
Associations sometimes see their role as a local amenity. which is supported either financially or practically by the local authority in some way. Obviously that is good for the locality and the reputation of your Association, but it must be affordable for the angling organisation to continue in the longer term.
Ensure that your charges for the anglers using the fishery are realistic and value for money for both the anglers and your angling organisation. Knowing the charges made by other Angling Associations in your area for similar type waters , or the charges made by other waters visited by your expected anglers is very important . Don’t be over ambitious on the numbers of anglers who you expect to use your waters. Make sure that all your development costs and income estimates are checked by all your committee, and not left to only the treasurer or single official.