When Danny Jackson first took over his beloved Creedence Fishery in Essex, he wanted to preserve the lake’s intimate essence, which meant keeping all the trees and various other vegetation that surrounded it. Initially, like all other lakes in the country, he allowed casting. However, after witnessing anglers getting snagged and breaking lines, he devised a unique solution to address the issue.
The 53-year-old, who has been managing lakes since 1993, has seen the damage that broken lines and rigs can cause to the surrounding environment, especially when baited rigs are left in the water. One day, while out in a boat, Danny unfortunately found one of his beloved fish dead, tethered to a snag. Determined to find a solution, he decided to ban casting entirely. From that day forward, bait boats became the only way to position rigs in the lake.
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"I have managed lakes in the surrounding area for over 30 years, from day-ticket club waters to closed-shop syndicate lakes, and many anglers are unaware of the damage they cause when they snag and pull for a break," Danny informed us.
"As an angler, fishery owner, and wildlife lover, I have a more balanced view on how we should treat our fisheries to help everything thrive around the lake. When you do this, the quality of the fishing improves as a direct consequence."
When Danny made the decision to ban casting three years ago, he faced significant backlash from the angling community—95% of whom had never fished the lake or listened to his reasoning behind the change. Many complaints argued that he was removing a fundamental aspect of fishing, while others accused him of using the ban as a money-making scheme to rent out bait boats.
"I was surprised by the immediate and ongoing backlash I received for setting a rule on my own lake. I truly believe that if anglers had listened to my reasoning, they might have changed their opinion," he said.
"Our lake is about 2 acres, fully matured, with trees lining its entire perimeter. The majority of our issues were caused by casting, so banning it was the obvious solution."
"Initially, we charged for the use of bait boats, and I admit that was a mistake. It wasn’t a money-making scheme, though I understand how some might have seen it that way. We just didn’t have a lot of capital, and the boats we purchased were expensive."
"We sold the original boats and bought others, which we now allow all visitors to use free of charge. They only pay a fully refundable deposit to use them."
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Speaking with Danny, it was clear he was deeply passionate about making Creedence Lakes the best it could be. Since banning casting, he has not had a single issue with anglers crossing lines, birdlife or fish becoming trapped, or fish trailing lines. As a result, his fish are in pristine condition.
"Banning casting on this particular lake has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I wouldn’t be surprised if other lakes in a similar situation to ours follow suit," he said.
"Our fish are growing exceptionally well, as they aren’t subjected to the unnecessary stress of leads and Spombs hitting the water, and the risk of trailing lines is nearly eliminated."
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"We do have a few mussel beds in the lake, so all anglers are informed at the start that my phone is available 24 hours a day. If they get snagged anywhere on the lake, I will come out and retrieve their rigs rather than have them pull for a break."
"Our stock is flourishing, and we expect to see a 50lb fish soon. We reinvest all our profits back into the lake to ensure the fishery is the best it can be."
"This winter, we’re removing any fish under 25lb and will be stocking some fish over 40lb to further enhance our already impressive stock."
"This was never about ruining angling or making money. We made the decision based on experience, and the results speak for themselves—banning casting has only improved the fishery."
For more information you can contact the fishery here: www.creedencefishery.co.uk, contact Danny on: 07882083160 or creedencefishery on Facebook or Instagram
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