Latest water quality results are showing that conditions are improving. We have a further reduction in levels of total ammonia (0.27 mg/L, pH 8.3, 7.3 °C), and water clarity remains stable. It is also encouraging to see the oxygen levels increasing to similar levels to the river (10.7 mg/L, 90.5 % sat.), which is good news for trout that need well oxygenated water.
The latest water quality tests are showing that total ammonia levels are continuing to fall (0.37 mg/L, pH 8.1, 4.3 °C). This is a very good sign and may be due to the dilution of the water and action of the microorganisms converting it to less toxic nitrite and nitrate (although it is very cold for high levels of microbial activity). Oxygen levels are also good (9.49 mg/L, 72.5 % sat.). The amount of ammonia Read more…
Membership Renewals The renewals process is currently underway. You should have received a notification from the Treasurer calling for your payment for the 2022 season. Just a reminder your payments should be received by no later than 21st February 2022. Upon receipt of your renewal instruction and payment the Treasurer will post your receipt, guest tickets and the gate code. It is important to keep your address and contact details updated on our system. We Read more…
Following recent stabilisation of the water chemistry and the low temperatures, we have taken the decision to cautiously restart the stocking programme. Today (05-Jan-2022), we released 100 rainbow and 100 brown trout in to Darlow Water. So, we are very pleased to announce that normal fishing can resume from today! Currently, we do not require members to sign in, boats are currently free to use, and guest visitors are still not permitted, but we are Read more…
Happy New Year to you all! The latest water quality tests have been completed and are continuing to show that ammonia levels have stabilised (0.42 mg/L, pH 8.1, 9.7 °C), even slightly declining, which would be fantastic news. Oxygen levels are good, and are now close to matching those in the river (Darlow – 9.5 mg/L, 84.2 % sat.; River – 10.0 mg/L, 89.8 % sat.). The FFFC Committee are reviewing the situation in light Read more…
Ammonia levels have begun to stabilise (0.45 mg/L, pH 8.0) and oxygen levels are improving with the falling temperature (9.5 mg/L, 74 % at 4.8 °C). The lake is now open again after chalking, and clarity is dramatically improving with visibility down to 3.5 m using the Secchi disc – during the algal blooms we were barely seeing to depths of 0.5 m.
AJS Fisheries began the process of chalking Darlow Water today. Weather conditions declined throughout the morning, but the team made very good progress. We’ll be watching the water conditions closely over the next few weeks to see if it has any immediate effect on ammonia levels, oxygen and pH, but, hopefully the chalking will finish the job of settling the suspended material in the water and start working on that organic silt.
The last water tests before the chalking have shown that oxygen levels look like they are increasing significantly (8.9 mg/L at 73 % saturation). This is a really good sign and may be linked to the reduction in suspended organic matter in the lake. Ammonia level are still increasing, but are more or less similar to last week (0.48 mg/L, at pH 7.9, 6.3 °C), so this may also be stabilising.
As last week, no major improvement in conditions to report. Ammonia has increased to 0.46 mg/L, at a pH 7.7 and temperature of 9.0 °C, the rate of increase was lower than previous weeks. Water clarity has continued to improved. Testing next week will be carried out later due to availability and to ensure that we have a data point just before the chalking starts.
Disappointingly, we still don’t have any major improvements in water quality to report. Ammonia level has continued to creep up (0.42 mg/L, pH 7.7) and oxygen levels remain relatively low for the time of year (6.2 mg/L, 54.6 % sat. at 9.7 °C). Water clarity is continuing to improve.