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Hi Tom,

Thanks, yeah, no Tier 4 which used to be the Leybourne ticket. Worryingly tier 3 includes 'Larkfield'. One of the dreaded options was losing fishing on the Road and Island (The householders don't like looking at us, can't imagine why....), the fishing might continue on the Railway, Larky 2 and the Ocean.

But I'm in love with the Road and Island. It's just like....lets say, an Interesting Woman. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes not so. Sometimes The Best, sometimes a kick in the marbles.....but always leaving you wanting more and endlessly fascinating.

There are men fishing there now, with kids and wives at home, who I taught to tie knots and to whom Simon Lush, CT, Little Tony and I gave strong hooks and good boilies. They grew up to be good men and good anglers. All my great angling friendships were forged there.

Last year, after not fishing for 4 years with spinal illness, Johnsons gave me the best summers tenching that I have ever had.

So I hope against expectation.

Blimey! I'm emotional!


Tony and I go way back. First met him in about 80. I was piking a big pit in Kent. Every Saturday we fished on the opposite bank to the match anglers (we were naughty and fished THREE rods!!!). Well the match guys decided at the last minute to change from north bank to south so we were buggered. My mate Mick and I went to 'sort it out' and ran into a short gnomish bloke with a beard and a tall elfin guy. I was considering clocking one of them when the wind caught Tonys coat and it revealed a "SOUTH EAST SPECIMEN GROUP" sweatshirt! Pikers not match men after all! So Tony, Steve Jellybone, Dave Cable and the rest have been firm friends pf mine (and a bad influence on me!) ever since.

I had a looooong talk with Tony a few months ago and he's a little embarrassed about his success! He says he's just doing what we've all done for years but the fish have been BIG lately. Frankly, I'm dead chuffed for him. Take away the big fish and he's still simply a bloke I admire - a working man, a husband and a dad. In about 99, he and I were fishing The Stables swim at Johnsons together. He had that terrible white-finger from working on the roads and couldn't work. I seem to recall that we were so deep in conversation that I kept striking with the bait-runner on and finishing up on my arse in the nettles!

This is the community of tench men - I wouldn't swap it.

Thanks again for the post Moto, appreciate it... I'll have to join won't I?

Drew

First of all, Chris, I've had the chance now to read the thread above properly. I'm very sorry to hear about your Dad. I've been through the same thing.

Further to my concerns above about Johnsons etc, I have e-mailed Mid Kent Fisheries and the reply comfirms that 'Larkfield' is now in the Tier 2 group at 220 PA.

But what worries me is that the complex has always been called 'Leybourne' by MKF. In the 2006 membership details it's refered to as 'Larkfield'. It's these ambiguities and little errors that disturb me.

The MKF website lists the lakes in the Leybourne complex as Road and Island, Railway and Larky 2 and 3. That as you know is incorrect, it should be Larky 1 (Ocean) and Larky 2. Larkfield 3 is over the railway from the Railway Lake and is a Leisure Sport/RMC/Cemex venue (complete with their traditional terrible access!)

I've been worried that we might lose the Road and Island, so I'd like a precise definition of 'LARKFIELD' - exactly which lakes are included.

Further, Tier 2 gives you access to all of MKFs waters except Conningbrook and Westbere, so IF one of them was lost it wouldn't look so bad. Pan Lake is included in T2 - but it's twice as far for me and.....well.... it's just a hole in the ground with some big fish in it, whereas Johnsons is JOHNSONS if you see what I mean!

I didn't want to bother Lin either late on a Friday afternoon or on a Monday morning, so I'll e-mail on Tuesday and post back on here then.

Best wishes to all,

Drew

I'm so sorry Chris.

I'd come on here to post Good News, but this sort of thing puts all our fishy-worries into their place.

Typical of you be wading in to help when you've so much more think about. Thankyou.

The Good News I spoke of is that all 4 lakes will be open to us - Pub/island, Ocean, No 2 and the Railway. Negotiations for the long-term future are on-going.

Not so obvious, but more good news in my opinion, is the way that the carp anglers and the tench anglers have unified via the MKF website forum, offering help in running the place in all sorts of ways.

Take care Chris. It's a horrible time, but it does get better.

Drew