Anglers upset after firm that owns Draycote Water fishery closes

Anglers have been left upset after it emerged a well-known firm with a fishery in Warwickshire is set to be placed into voluntary liquidation. Fishery Management Ltd, which owns and runs the popular large waters at Draycote as well as Eyebrook and Thornton, has announced that the business is being wound down.

The news has sent shockwaves through the local as well as national angling community. Many have expressed their sadness at the loss of the business, which ran the reservoirs for decades. Some sad it was a ‘sad day for fly-fishing’.

Yet those with paid-up season tickets say that not only been left out of pocket, but also left with nowhere to continue their hobby. Many of them hope that someone will step in and take over.

Fishery Management Ltd said that insolvency company Leonard Curtis has been called in and is due to write to all known members, creditors and other stakeholders of the company to explain the steps and the creditors’ voluntary liquidation process. In the long announcement, which has been shared many times on fishing forums across the UK, Fishery Management Ltd said that they had ‘no choice’ but to take the action after they found it was ‘heavily in debt’ with ‘little working capital’ and a ‘low asset base’.

It explained that every opportunity was explored before the tough decision was made to wind-down the business, which was originally set up by well-respected Ifor Jones, who died in January. The post ends: “We would also like to thank the long-standing customers of Ifor’s business for their patience and understanding.

“This isn’t the news any of us would want to hear regarding the business and the prospects for fly fishing Draycote, Eyebrook or Thornton reservoirs. Whilst indeed this brings to an end a chapter in fly fishing that has touched many people’s lives, including our own, we do not believe it will ultimately be the end of fly fishing on these waters.”

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