The Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm delivered a batch of coarse fish to Twyford and District Fishing Clubs St Patricks Stream venue.

18 month old mixed coarse fish which comprised of 200 roach, 200 dace , 200 chub and 500 barbel travelled well in oxygenated tanks following an early start from Calverton fish farm near Nottingham.

St Patricks Stream was carrying little flow for the time of year, but the fish which had already grown well in earth ponds over the summer swam off strongly looking for instream cover from plants or woody debris.

The stocking was overseen by Twyford and District Fishing Club.

Barbel released into the Loddon catchment and St Patricks Stream have been marked with blue dye spots on the underneath of the fish. The EA have been working with the Loddon Fisheries and Conservation Consultative on a barbel releasing project for several years now and have released several batches of fish in different locations.

The EA hope to learn information on growth rates, survival and how far these fish move up or down stream from the release location. Please can anglers check any barbel captured for blue dye marks, take a photo, length, and weight.

Please report any captures to a member of the TDFC committee who will then pass this information on to the EA and LFCC.

The Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm produces approximately 400,000 coarse fish a year which are distributed around the country to rivers, still waters and waterbodies where habitat improvement work has been carried out, where a fish mortality has occurred or where a fishery is being developed.