Our wives think we're nuts working long hours for such a small amount of money, but we love being here!
For anglers John Kelly and Stan Messer their chance to set up in business together was like a dream come true.
After working on the development and clean up of the old Bradshaw Hall Estate they were asked if they wanted to run the resulting fishery as a day-ticket water for anglers.
The pair took it on for eight years on a lease basis and then in 1999 bought the business along with Joe Green. Photographs in the cafe they have built on the site pay tribute to John and Stan's hard work as they cut down undergrowth and dug out weed filled ponds.
"It was really hard graft," said John, who ran a small taxi business in Salford before moving into Bradshaw. "Long days had us wondering why we did it at times, but we knew what we were going to end up with."
Today there are a series of seven ponds stocked with different fish where anglers can sit quietly enjoying their hobby. But there is no such relaxation for the owners. "There is always something to do. We arrive at 6.30am and in the summer we can still be here at 10pm," said John.
In common with all our case studies, the bane of their lives is paperwork. "I have had no formal training," said John, who handles most of the paperwork and accounts. "I've had to pick up the paperwork as I go along, and the red tape is a nightmare.
"Our wives think we're nuts working such long hours for such a small amount of money, but, of course, we love being here. But we don't get a lot of time to go fishing!"
In addition to the work on the pools, areas where fisherman could sit and fish -- known as "pegs" -- had to be constructed and the pools stocked with fish. They then had to build a car park, a fishing hut and the cafe/offices. "There was a lot of work to do before we had any real money coming in," added John, "but you have to invest time and money in a business."
Today the fishery is in constant demand from both match and pleasure anglers with very few empty spaces during the good weather. "We have to make money during the warmer weather because, although we are open all year, our income drops dramatically during the winter."
Bradshaw Hall Fisheries, tel: 01204 307197, www.bradshawhallfisheries.com
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