THE Dane Valley Fishery at Rudheath was opened on Monday, but that’s not the half of it.
The Fishery has two pools and a third one, bigger than the others put together, will be open next spring. That will then conclude a project that has been, so far, eight years in the making.
Northwich Anglers Association paid £100,000 for the 10-acre site and then shelved the project. It was revived four years ago, the pools were stocked in the autumn and they opened to anglers four weeks ago when Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien performed the official opening.
By the time the scheme is complete Northwich AA will have spent about £140,000 on the site off Shipbrook Road, which also borders the River Dane. Grant aid has been given by the Environment Agency.
The fishery was completed as a community project, but will enable Northwich to compete with private fisheries whose rise in popularity has decimated attendances at matches throughout Mid Cheshire, especially on the River Weaver.
Dane Valley also means they can now coach children in a purpose built facility.
Secretary Roy Garton said: “We have spent £12,000 on fish and it is fishing its head off. The fish, lakes and site need to mature, but it is producing 20 to 30 fish per session and that is brilliant for kids to keep them enthusiastic and it will be for matches, too.”
The pools have been named after stalwart servants, chairman Russ Moores, committeeman for more than 50 years Ron Lambert and late president Fred Egerton, whose name will be attached to the 10,000 sq m 60-peg water being built.
