Membership
Background
Club
Rules
Cost
of Annual Membership
How
to Join
Fishery Opening Hours
How to
find us
Background
The two adjoining lakes (Top Lake and Bottom Lake) at the
Millets Farm Centre were developed
originally for irrigation supplies and
later as a
commercial day-ticket trout fishery. When this closed in 1999 the Millets Farm Fly Fishing
Club (MFFFC) was formed and took on the lease as a members-only trout
fishery with a maximum membership of 60.
The lakes are interconnected and supplied from a partly groundwater-fed tributary of the River Ock. The Top Lake
has an area of about 2 acres and
the Bottom Lake about 3 acres. The edges are
steep and the depths relatively constant at about 6 to 8ft. Vegetation along the
banks is kept at a level that allows easy back-casting but provides cover for stalking
the larger fish and browns. The mature trees set back from the lakes enable areas
of the lake to be fishable whatever the wind direction. These conditions make it
an ideal location if you are new to trout fishing.
About 1000 fish are introduced into the lakes each year, aiming to maintain a stocking
density of at least 60 fish/acre. The fish are certified trout supplied by
Bibury Trout Farm,
Gloucestershire. About 80% of the fish stocked are Shasta strain triploid rainbows in the 2 to
3lb range, the rest being larger fish in the 4 to 6lb range with some up
to 9lb. Browns are also stocked during the Spring at about 2lb.
The Bottom Lake is particularly good for bloodworm and buzzers, whilst the Top Lake provides the best dry
fly fishing. Damsels,
sedge and corixa are abundant in both lakes.
Twin, micro-bubble aerators were installed in each lake in 2007 to maintain
oxygen levels during the summer and reduce the risk of fish mortality. The
aerators,
together with barley
straw bales, are also used to help control algae. The Lodge was extended in 2006 to
provide new toilet facilities (including disabled) and a store. A boat, outboard motors and a weed-cutter have also been purchased or
loaned.
Management advice on stocking and weed control has been provided by the
Environment Agency.
We monitor temperature and water levels and have developed our own Excel®
program to monitor fish catches, stock density. size distribution and visits by Members in tabular
and graphical form to plan re-stocking during the year.
The MFFFC is registered with Cefas and is a member of the
Angling Trust.
Club
Rules
Click here
to view the MFFFC fishing rules (opens as pdf in new window).
Our intention is to create the right combination of conditions for Members to
enjoy their fishing in attractive surroundings, experiment with
different fly fishing techniques and to join in events if they wish, and in doing so
provide a relaxed, club
atmosphere. We therefore try to keep restrictions to a minimum.
Members are expected to follow
normal Catch and Release procedures and to comply with biohazard controls in
order to ensure the welfare of the released
fish and the quality of the lakes and thereby reduce the risk of fish disease
and invasive species.
Cost of Membership
The Club is a non-profit making organisation and fees go mainly to meet the cost of the
lease, re-stocking and insurance. Club fees remained constant since 1999 but had
to be raised in 2009 by 10% to meet increasing costs. These are now as follows:
There is no joining fee.
One benefit of a subscription basis is that you can fish as often as you like
(within the opening hours) without worrying that you've paid for a day-ticket and
then find the weather prevents you fishing, or the fish just don't happen to be interested! Often
you may have the lakes to yourself. You are also entitled to four free guest
days (or eight half-days) during the season.
The annual subscription entitles you to grass 50 fish but if
you reach this limit before the end of the season you can buy extra fish in
blocks of five at £6/fish (non-refundable). This year (2011) we are piloting a
catch and release strategy which allows you take fish (up to the annual
entitlement) as when you wish to do so. However, catch and release is not
allowed if the lake temperatures exceed about 21C to reduce the risk of fish
mortality during the summer months.
A Junior Membership is available at a cost of £100 for 15 fish
(more can be purchased if you reach this limit), with the proviso that the
Junior Member must be accompanied by an adult at all times whilst fishing for
reasons of safety and for insurance purposes.
How to Join
You may wish to join simply to have somewhere local to fish but the Club also arranges events
during the year, such as pairs competitions and visits to other
waters to fly fish for trout and other species. It's up to you! As this is not a commercial fishery
the successful management of the lakes and facilities depends on the voluntary
help of its members and the Club Committee.
The application procedure is as follows:
-
You will need to complete a Membership Application Form. This can be requested
using the Contact form. You must have a valid EA rod
licence.
-
A form will then be sent to
you by e-mail together with copies of the Club Rules, By-Laws and leaflet on H&S.
-
You will need to be sponsored by another member of the Club.
If you do not have a sponsor contact the phone number given on the
Membership Application Form. Normally we
also invite prospective members to visit the lakes with one of the Committee
prior to joining.
-
On acceptance, your completed Membership Application Form should then be sent to the Chairman at the address given on the
form together with the full fees applicable to new members. You will then be
sent a membership badge and key.
The fishing season is from March 1 to December 21 but you can join at any time of the year. Also you are very welcome to come along to our AGM before joining to find out more
about the Club and meet the Members and Committee. Please use the
Contact form if you would
like to be invited. Our AGM is held on the last Sunday in January in the Lake
View Room at Millets Farm Centre. You are also welcome to come along to one of
our Fishing Open Days, which are held once or twice each year, to sample the fishing (see News and
Events).
Fishery Opening Hours
For security reasons opening hours are restricted to those of the Farm Centre,
normally about 6am to 7pm. Further details will be provided on joining.
How to find us
Millets Farm Centre is situated at Frilford on the A415 which has easy access to
the A34 at the Marcham (Abingdon) interchange less than 30 minutes from the M40
and M4 and also to the A420 linking Swindon to Oxford. It is well signposted.
To see a map location use this
link and type in Frilford
or OX13 5HB into the Search box.
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