Policy
We aim to provide high quality recreation at reservoirs and land holdings and to achieve a balance both between different activities and between recreation and conservation. We will encourage all sections of the community to use our facilities and we will make special provision for the disabled.

TROUT FISHING 2007 SEASON
One of the mildest winters on record was the prelude to one of the best ever starts to a fishing season. The previous year had seen an incredibly hot summer and poor autumn during which time the trout fishing was very difficult. The result was many thousands of fish left in the lakes at the end of the season. The warm winter weather allowed these fish not only to survive, but to grow on and remain in top condition through to the opening days.

Bristol Water traditionally start the fishing season with a blast on a klaxon at seven am. Within seconds of the hooter signalling the start of the 2007 season, rods were bending into fish all around the lakes. And what fish they were too! Five pounders were common place, many caught six pounders and there were quite a few anglers who went home with limit bags including fish over seven pounds and all in fin perfect condition. The warm water encouraged the fish to feed on the plentiful natural insect life so small flies and floating lines were the order of the day.

Up until May the fishing was spectacular from all venues with plenty of large over-wintered fish supplemented by 30,000 fresh stock fish. Things were looking set for a record season until Mother Nature stepped in with some of the worst spring weather on record - gales, cold and very heavy rain. This weather continued through June and well into July deterring anglers from fishing the lakes. Although the fishing was often very good, few anglers decided to brave the poor conditions.

The rest of the summer was fairly normal with no extremes and the autumn was generally very pleasant. But the very high water levels made fishing difficult especially for the bank fishers. The usual October bonanza never really happened although there were occasions when some spectacular fry feeding frenzies occurred on Chew Lake.

So in the end an average season catch but of very high quality fish with some very large fish taken. Two browns of over sixteen pounds were captured and several rainbows tipping the scales at more than ten pounds were recorded.

October saw the start of the pike fishing trials on Chew Lake. This now annual event is much anticipated by the fanatical pike anglers as the lake has proved to be the most consistent and best pike fishery in England. And this year was no exception. During the three boat sessions ten fish of over thirty pounds were reported, the best weighing a massive 38lb 06oz.  Nearly seventy others over twenty pounds were also caught. Fish of this size and quality are very rare and anglers fishing the water are always very generous in their praise for the fishing and the staff.
Bob Handford – Bristol Water Fisheries Manager

SAILING
Chew Valley Lake
2007 has been an excellent year for Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club. The lake has been so full that we have not had any problems with the shallow areas. During the warm, summer months the weed seemed to grow strongly – so strongly that even the fast dinghies could be brought to a complete standstill if they ventured into a thick weed patch. Happily, as per usual, the weed disappeared by the end of August and simply finding the wind became te key factor for sailing on the lake.

We started the year with a superb social with the fishermen in the shape of a quiz night. The comedian quizmaster was side-splittingly funny and we mutual lake users found much common ground which has helped the season to flow smoothly.

The highlight of the racing year was, once again, the Wednesday evening racing series. Up to 80 dinghies each night contested the races and then enjoyed the excellent curries and chillies prepared by our new caterers. What better way to spend a warm summer evening? The professional catering at the sailing club has
transformed our activities – predictable food available on Saturdays and Sundays not only encourages the sailors, but also their families and supporters who can enjoy a meal while watching the action.

The summer junior training week, ‘junior july’, was once again over-subscribed. 100 young members enjoyed fun in the sun, water fights and learning to sail in the very best learning environment. This was followed by our Family Regatta with the ‘Round the Island’ race, when dinghies race around Denny Island. Youngsters dressed as pirates go and explore the island looking for the buried treasure. This was a lovely day with sunshine and a good breeze.

In August the club was host to 180 young Topper sailors from all around the country. These colourful, small, single-handed dinghies are a pivotal part of the National junior training programme aiming to produce future Olympic medal winners. This event was a selector for the national squads. With full support from Bristol Water, who permitted everyone to park on their Woodford Lodge field, the event ran like clockwork. So many families left with the very best impressions of Chew Lake, Bristol Water and our sailing club. The winner was a 14 year old young lady from the Norfolk Broads – girl power!

2007 was the sailing club’s 40th Anniversary which was celebrated with a spectacular Commodore’s sail past, followed by a pursuit race for the Anniversary Trophy. Television cameras and some excellent musical entertainment in the evening made this a day to remember for over 300 members and their guests.

Our University, Police, School and Disabled corporate members have all made good use of the Club over the year. These groups all help to make the sailing club a vibrant place to be. We have plans and funds in place to build a lift to gain access to the first floor main club room for our disabled members.

The winter months see the big University team racing events and are the principal training times for our junior competitive sailors. Racing series tend to be much better supported because the sailors who travel to events around the country in the summer, come back to compete on their ‘home patch’ during the colder, windy months. Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club is a year-round hive of sailing activity.

Children from a total of eight local Cheddar Valley schools including the Kings of Wessex, Hugh Sexey Middle School and Wedmore First School have participated.  Independent schools and local Pupil Referral Units have also been involved on a regular basis as the club is keen to make the sports accessible to people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. Several other local schools and youth groups are also planning to participate.

Several young members of the sailing club, who have recently qualified as instructors, have also had the opportunity to develop their skills and pass on their enthusiasm for the sport

As well as introducing young people to the sport, OnBoard aims to encourage them to continue their sailing or windsurfing outside of their OnBoard sessions by joining their local sailing club.
 
OnBoard is a national programme developed by the Royal Yachting Association to make it much easier for young people to have access to these exciting sports, be it through their local youth club, school or via open sessions with their local sailing club.

Over a ten year period the scheme aims to introduce at least 500,000 young people to sailing in the UK. To date over 30,000 beginner sessions have been completed.

LEASED FISHING
Cheddar Angling Club continues to lease the Clay Pits from Bristol Water as well as controlling the fishing on Cheddar Reservoir. The Clay Pits are open to members only and they enjoy two beautifully maintained lakes. The match lake, which is occasionally used for competitions, is mainly used by pleasure fishermen who can catch anything from small roach & rudd to very large carp.

The specimen lake holds mainly carp and tench and fish have been caught weighing well over twenty pounds. There are a few small silver fish and some
large trout have been introduced to eat these nuisance fish. These also offer a surprise catch to the dedicated specimen hunters. 
The Reservoir is fished as a day ticket water and is famous for its huge tench and very large pike. Tench of under three pounds are seldom caught and double figure bags of fish weighing up to nine pounds are common. In the winter the attention is on the large predators and spinning and dead baiting is the main method.

Knowle Anglers lease Chew Magna, a small reservoir, and a stretch of the Upper River Chew. These are trout only waters, fly fishing only. The reservoir is stocked regularly with rainbows. The river has brown and rainbow trout. It is stocked but a large proportion of the fish caught are ‘escapees’ from Chew Valley Lake. These can often be fish of six pounds or more and can be challenging on very light tackle in the confined spaces of the tiny river.