Published at 11:50, Thursday, 16 October 2008

IT’S every angler’s dream to own their own venue – and it came true for John and Carol Wright 12 years ago when they moved from Lancashire to the outskirts of Annan.

Hooked on a dream: John and Carol Wright

The barren land they bought – 200 acres of the former ICI site – has now been transformed in to arguably the best course and trout fishery in Scotland - Broom Fisheries. The Wrights have transformed the wasteland into five fishable course ponds and two trout ponds that draw in more than 10,000 rods a year to the day ticket waters.

Linked with Premier Fisheries UK group, Broom is starting to get the recognition it deserves.

“Premier Fisheries is a media group in itself and it’s growing,” said John, 48, who started course fishing as a youngster and moved on to sea fishing and fly-fishing before getting back into course into a big way.

“All shareholders are fishery owners and we are pushing the sport in a very big way. It’s a self-help organisation and caters for in excess of half-a-million anglers a year.

“Although we have seven fishable ponds at Broom, we have a total of 13 and work is ongoing to transform some of these ponds into day-ticket and match waters.

“Because we want to get up with the big boys, we have to have a venue that will draw people up from the south.

“We need a venue that will attract people from a wider audience, and we still have five years hard work ahead of us to achieve our aims.

“Our main target is to consolidate what we have and build for the future,” he added.

As a a former match angler I can vouch for the water.

A few visits to Broom in recent months yielded some very good nets of skimmer bream, carp, roach and perch. Chub and barbel have, to date, been elusive. But you can also expect to land very nice nets of ghost, crucian, koi, common, F1 and mirror carp, as well as bream to 10lbs.

The match scene is also growing at the venue with the local economy also benefitting.

“We have filled every hotel in the district on weekends where we have held Scottish Nationals,” said John.

“We are attracting more than 10,000 anglers a year to the area and we are hoping to hold some British National open events next year.

“The Queensbury Arms Hotel in Annan sponsored a big match series this year with the winner, Donald McLean, going away with the £1,000 first prize after winning the final. We will be running open events throughout the winter.

After all the hard work, you might think that John and Carol would get away for a break that didn’t include fishing.

They have now been bitten by the Big Game bug and swordfish and sailfish are a few of the species regularly on the menu.

Carol, 46, added: “I started fishing when I was four and went with my dad sea fishing.

“It developed into an interest in fishing in general, and John and I have been to Cuba, Mexico, Florida, Australia and Thailand – places where we can always go fishing.”

One other thing Broom offers is a one-stop fishing tackle shop. Whether it’s bait, tackle, luggage or clothing you’re after, it’s all there. And you mustn’t forget the free advice on where to fish when you get there.

Fishing costs £5 a day on the course ponds, and £16 a day (two fish limit) on the trout ponds.

For further details on future matches and other information, John can be contacted on 01461 700209, or visit their website at www.broomfisheries.co.uk

Tony Harrison

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk