LOCAL businessman and keen angler John Metcalfe is living his life's dream - to set up a new fishery from scratch.

Now the new Dandyford Fishery venue at Whiteparish looks set to make an important addition to the local waters.

Meticulous Metcalfe, who has sought advice from the right people, has seen the first two lakes of the three lake complex completed and receive their first stocking, while a two-acre specimen carp lake is due to be dug this spring and stocked in the autumn.

Metcalfe, pictured right, with landscaper and local angler Martin Flack, introducing the first fish to the fishery, is far from in a hurry to create an instant fishery.

He will stock the lakes with carp, chub and barbell but remain closed until next spring to let them settle in and grow to their potential. Silver fish, tench and crucians will go in next winter.

The main lake is about one-and-a-half acres with a series of islands in a secluded wooded area, while the half-acre lake is similar to a canal. The specimen carp lake won't open until spring 2008.

New Forest specialist carp producer Heather Fisheries are supplying the majority of the stock and introduced 600 carp to 2lb. to the lakes last week.

This week's Greenridge Open went to Mick Kenny with 54lb 6oz of carp to 10lb using maggot and pole over the far shelf from peg 20 on canal two. Pete Newman was second with 28lb of carp from peg 13 Canal two and Jamie Payne was third, fishing peg 19 on canal two for a 25lb 8oz bag. The only other angler to weigh in, of eight fishing, was Mark Brown with 20lb 4oz from peg 16 on canal two.

Cormorants fished Bashley at the weekend, Neil Tappin taking top spot with 65lb of small carp on maggot and the pole for victory over Simon Hambidge, with 51lb 10oz. Clive Egerton was third with 47lb 12oz, Pete Newman fourth on 45lb 10oz and Gary Wright fifth on 36lb 2oz.