Unfortunately the issues with Stowting are far more complex and historical than just the fact that it's catch and release.
I first fished Stowting in April or May 1989,a year after it opened, and it was where I caught my first fly caught trout on a dry daddy. In those days the weed was abundant, the fly hatches had to be seen to be believed and there was an evening rise EVERY night that was the like of which I've never witnessed any where else. It was fantastic. There were pond olives,sedge, damsels and a few buzzers plus a lot of terrestrials mainly daddy long legs and Hawthorn's which the fish readily took off the top. There was also a massive amount of corixa and water shrimps.
The fish were all in excellent condition and were grown on on site and stocked daily direct from the stock ponds.
I learnt earlier this evening that Colin Cole died in September therefore out of respect for his family I have removed the rest of this post. I am told that the family are being successful in returning the fishery to it's former glory and I wish them every success with this.