BRADFORD No1 Angling Association and their members are already reaping the rewards from the project at Knotford Lagoon as they continue to invest in the future of their still waters.

The club have spent a significant sum over the past five years to install an otter fence around the water and stock 100 C4 carp from VS Fisheries, which weighed between 8lb and 11lb when stocked, to improve the number and quality of fish on offer.

The investment is already proving successful with at least one of the new fish, stocked at 9lb in 2009, being caught recently weighing 21lb.

“The newly-stocked fish are showing tremendous weight gains, with many growing over 2lb a year. A number are already coming out at over 20lb and it’s anticipated that some will be over 30lb within five years, with a rare ‘Yorkshire 40’ in the not too distant future”, the club states.

The 13-acre former gravel pit near Otley already holds large stocks of carp to over 30lb and is complemented by good numbers of roach, perch and pike over 20lb, specimen bream into double figures and tench to over 8lb for coarse anglers.

Members have reported excellent catch rates throughout the summer, with more than ten double-figure carp achievable in a single session.

Coarse anglers have also been rewarded with good nets of large tench and bream being caught on feeder tactics.

Alongside the restocking of the water, the club have also installed an otter fence around the lake to protect their stock from the predators which have plagued other waters nearby.

The fence is just one of four to be constructed by the club, with others at Queen Mary’s Ponds in Ripon, Raskelf Lake and Kirklees Lagoon.

These waters had previously been targeted by otters but the fast action of the committee have enabled the majority of stocks to remain intact.

The club added: “The work undertaken at our still waters to construct four otter fences and significant restocking at Knotford and Raskelf Lake will lay firm foundations for the club for years to come.

"These waters are already popular fisheries but the steps taken will ensure they reach their potential, not only for current members but also for future generations of anglers to enjoy.”

Despite the difficulties facing most clubs around the country, Bradford No1 boast over 70 waters and a membership of around 2000.

In a bid to attract more anglers to the sport, for the last five years junior membership for the club has cost just £5 a year and has included free entry to two annual junior matches.

Club membership for the remainder of 2014 is still available and can be purchased online at www.bradfordno1.com.

A limited number of night permits are still available for Knotford and Kirklees Lagoon from the ticket and licence secretary Simon Freer on 01706-526356.