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Woodsetts Pond
Gordon Ledger a founder member of the Deepcar Fishing Club and now a long standing member of our Club has kindly provided the following information.'
Fox Covert ~ Woodsetts History
Deepcar Fishing Club was formed in 1963 and had eight members. It was named after the farm that owned Fox Covert, Woodsettes pond after permission was given from the farm owner, Sir Wilton Lee.
Sir Wilton was the Chairman of Arthur Lee and Sons the well known steelworks company.
Deepcar Farm was his hobby and means of relaxation from the pressure of business and his main interest was breeding prize Friesian cattle. (today the farm is no longer in existence and the buildings form part of Lindrick Golf Club).
In 1963 the water was in a very neglected state totally covered from bank to bank in weed and the surrounds like the Amazonian jungle!
The first three years were spent working on the water and surrounds. The first priority was putting fence posts and wire around the boundary and replacing the broken down five barred wooden gate. Within this task completed we then started making paths down to the water and digging banking level at the waters edge. With this work completed we purchased a weed cutter and inflatable small dinghy. Many weekends were spent dragging the weed cutter from bank to bank and eventually the weed was cleared and we had nice open water to look upon.
The last task was dragging the areas straight down from the gate. Gypsies had used this area for many years as a dumping ground and from this area we recovered hundreds of feet of power cable sheathing, a Ford Anglia car body and remnants of a car engine.
1966 came and we were able to fish the water for the first time. We found that the water was teaming with perch in such numbers that they were becoming stunted and so we embarked on a thinning out programme. With this completed it gave us scope to start a stocking policy.
At this time I was working on a contract at the Biology Department at Sheffield University and took samples of weed and water taken at various levels for analysis. The results of which were that the weed and water quality was perfect for the health and feeding of the fish.
The South Yorkshire Police Angling Club signed a ten year agreement with Joe Thorlby, the then land owner in 1999. That agreement was renewed in 2009 with David Thorlby, the current land owner, as his father Joe sadly passed away a few years ago. The current agreement runs until 2029.
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