2017 has been another incredibly popular year for fishing at Hanningfield Reservoir, with over 11,000 anglers catching over 21,000 fish.
The 2017 fishing season at Essex & Suffolk Water’s Hanningfield Reservoir closed on Thursday 30 November, having been open since March.
Over the course of the season there were 11,185 angler visits and 21,602 fish caught, showing again why Hanningfield is now established as the UK’s number one any method trout fishery.
Boats were hired over 2,500 times during the season by anglers keen to get out and explore the various sections of the Reservoir.
The largest trout caught during the season weighed in at a whopping 13lbs, while the largest pike was 16lbs, and the largest perch was over 5lbs. The reservoir was re-stocked with 48,000 trout between March and the end of November.
Jim Norquay, Senior Ranger at Hanningfield Reservoir said: “It’s been an incredibly busy but rewarding year here at the fishing lodge. It’s been fantastic to welcome some new anglers who have given fishing a try for the first and now become completely ‘hooked’, as well as our regular visitors who really help to make this place what it is. When you’re welcoming visitors old and new to this wonderful fishing location, you’re always learning about the best spinning reels for the money and what the most reliable fishing baits are. It’s daily conversations like this that make you look forward to coming into work every day.
“This year we extended our opening hours and added extra capacity for trout due to demand, and we will continue to look for new ways to improve the fishing experience for our visitors.
We’re already looking forward to the start of the new fishing season here in March 2018!”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Hanningfield Reservoir, which was officially opened in September 1957. Operated by Essex & Suffolk Water, it provides drinking water to over 317,000 homes reaching a population of over 793,000 people. A historic landmark in the Essex countryside, the Reservoir is also home to a visitor centre and nature reserve operated by Essex Wildlife Trust.
