A POPULAR fishing venue is hoping to put its summer of troubled waters behind it and be a big catch again.

Wal Goch Fishery in Nannerch saw its summer business turn into a washout after pond weed began to dominate the fishing lake.

The soaring temperatures in May and June caused the blue green algae to multiply preventing any type of fishing in the lake.

Farm manager Phillip Robinson had no choice, but to close the waters.

He said: “It just made it impossible to fish. The water looked like pea soup. It’s a natural occurrence, but we have never had it so bad.”

Located on Wal Goch farm, the summer problems stemmed from the extreme temperatures and lasted for longer than the fishery bosses could recall.

Mr Robinson, added: “In the past 20 years we have had this problem two or three times before but never as bad as this year. We will do what we can next year to try to prevent it happening again.

“We lost fish and business. Our regulars were gutted about it.

“It last happened about five years ago, but not as bad as this. This year it was horrendous.”

Now the temperatures have dropped the algae has cleared and the owners are looking to reel in anglers in the coming months.

Mr Robinson said: “We now have a nice flow of water coming in and business is picking up again. A lad caught 10 fish this week and another said he had just seen the biggest fish he’d ever seen. It’s good we are properly up and running again.”

The fishing lakes cover two-and-a-half acres and are stocked with brown and rainbow trout.

To mark the fishery’s return to action, a £250 prize is being offered to whoever catches the heaviest recorded fish in October. The annual turkey competition for the heaviest fish in November and December will also be staged again.

For more details visit www.walgochfishing.com or call 01352 741378.