If I was building a lake,fairly high on my list of priorities would be reinforced banks.Islands as well as lake margins.
It is truly amazing how far banks can be under cut in a very short time,due to a mixture of over-hanging vegetation and soil erosion.I have had a feel round (oh er,missus !) on various venues and it's not uncommon to find 2 or 3 feet of 'hidden' water under the margins.There is no reason to suppose this is any different on island margins and would explain why ,on so many venues, you need to chuck tight,tight,tight to catch against an island.The fact is that the fish are tucked away,under the cover.This is a recipe for snags and lost tackle,not to mention wet feet (as I found out last weekend !) when, apparently firm ground gives way and before you know it....splash !
Not an easy problem to solve,granted,but definitely worth addressing at the construction stage.At Hillview they have used a geo-textile membrane,which is undoubtedly effective,but bloody ugly and at the Glebe they have used railway sleepers,which when new looked a little odd,but may well have blended in since I was last there.I have also seen plans for a new build lake which used old tyres,an idea which has probably got some mileage in it ........................... I'll get my coat !
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