The attraction question is more complex than might be obvious. For me, I’d travel to a new fishery for a variety of reasons. If it’s fairly local, it needs to offer something different that i can’t get close to home (i.e. a nice location rather than just a hole in the ground, maybe no carp/silvers only). I’m not really worries about stocking levels on local waters, as it’s easier to research and therefore understand the tactics and set the right targets compared to distant waters. If it is a long way to get there, it needs to be capable of giving me something i can’t get closer to home, such as a huge weight.
My club travels up to 80 miles for some matches, but these are only to venues that give good chances of either high weights or a very even match. If we travel long distances, it is usually to reasonably priced fisheries, too, as this helps to control the cost. Typically, though we travel around 30-40 miles, but we only have 14 matches a year and rarely use the same venue more than once in a season. Also, as age takes it’s toll, local facilities (short walks, breakfast, toilets, proper platforms, safe parking) becomes more important. On site tackle shops for me are not something i regularly use, as i prefer to give my custom to my regular shops as often as possible. Whilst i understand and accept the need for bait restrictions, i also won’t use fisheries that insist on using their own pellets and then charging over the odds for the privelege.
In the current climate, I’ve actually spent more on gear rather than less, as it’s more of a buyer’s market at the moment.
Hope this helps
TF_danny griffiths.
