David Clewer
Senior Member & Supporter
For further clarification, don't forget that the lease was not just for the river (including Lifelands, although that hasn't generated much revenue of late) but also Somerley Lakes (Meadow & Kingvincents), Mockbeggar and Hamer (trout). It also included the salmon rights on the river.
So, apart from the members who joined just for Somerley (as Dave T has pointed out), we have the salmon rods (who were paying over £250 - £300 each for the privilege), the trout anglers (including those who paid the additional £20 to fish the trout stream and carriers) as well as the day ticket revenues from Meadow and Lifelands. On top of this is the revenue generated by the sale of night fishing permits on Meadow and Mockbeggar. With around 60 salmon members and perhaps 500 members who might join just for the ability to fish the river on the Estate, you have almost covered the full rental for all the Somerley waters. Even if you reduce the number who join just for Somerley, you still have the ticket sales to factor in, so it is not that difficult to see how Somerley might pay for itself.
As for Spinnaker, all that I can say is that this is now almost certainly a water that costs the Club money, as the Committee's desperation to retain it (and not lose another water, especially its prime specimen water) led us to offer too much for the new lease. Mockbeggar has the potential to become a very good water (the roach in there are pristine and run to a very good size) but is massively overstocked with small to medium sized common carp and needs serious work to remove these to allow the remaining stock to grow on/be supplemented with larger fish (there are 50s reputedly) from Ibsley Water (otherwise known as the Inland Sea!)
Dave
So, apart from the members who joined just for Somerley (as Dave T has pointed out), we have the salmon rods (who were paying over £250 - £300 each for the privilege), the trout anglers (including those who paid the additional £20 to fish the trout stream and carriers) as well as the day ticket revenues from Meadow and Lifelands. On top of this is the revenue generated by the sale of night fishing permits on Meadow and Mockbeggar. With around 60 salmon members and perhaps 500 members who might join just for the ability to fish the river on the Estate, you have almost covered the full rental for all the Somerley waters. Even if you reduce the number who join just for Somerley, you still have the ticket sales to factor in, so it is not that difficult to see how Somerley might pay for itself.
As for Spinnaker, all that I can say is that this is now almost certainly a water that costs the Club money, as the Committee's desperation to retain it (and not lose another water, especially its prime specimen water) led us to offer too much for the new lease. Mockbeggar has the potential to become a very good water (the roach in there are pristine and run to a very good size) but is massively overstocked with small to medium sized common carp and needs serious work to remove these to allow the remaining stock to grow on/be supplemented with larger fish (there are 50s reputedly) from Ibsley Water (otherwise known as the Inland Sea!)
Dave
