Ulverston Canal: Weed Rake

The Association has purchased two new rakes for use on our waters. These weed rakes are easy to assemble and use. The "Aspen Lake Rake" is a revolutionary invention intended to supercede the usual rake tied to a rope. The rake has a 28 inch wide head and a 30 foot sectional handle. The handle can be extended by adding 3 feet long sections to your requirements and has been successfully tested up to 100 foot long!

The rake is absolutely ideal for clearing areas of thick weed, thus encouraging fish to move in and forage for food on the bottom.

Video of Weed Rake in use

Below is a video showing how easy the rake is to use to drag weed. The rake head is connected to the pole and pushed out on top of the water. When the rake is out as far as needed stop pushing and the rake sinks onto the weed. You pull back on the pole and the weed comes in with it attached to the rake head. It takes a few seconds to clear the rake and you're out again. It takes only a few minutes to drag a peg.

Any member can borrow the weed rake(s) by contacting the Secretary

So, if you wish to borrow the rake(s) then please contact the Secretary by following the link.

Advantages over a standard rake on a rope are:

1. The rake is pushed calmly and with ease over the surface of the water with no splashing, thus avoiding frightening the fish from your swim and also the neighbouring swims.
2. The easing out of the rake head to its required position is almost completely effortless, although the retrieval of the loaded rake does require reasonable effort when loaded with weed.
3. The positioning of the rake head on the lake bed is far more accurate in that it can be steered both as it is eased out across the surface of the water and again as it descends to the lake bed.
4. When retrieved, the rake head is easily unloaded by simply lifting the weed from the top of the rake head to each side and by lifting the head by means of the centre tube.
5. Because the rake is operated by a handle there is no rope to get caught around your legs. Also as you ease the rake out across the water there is no danger of hitting yourself or anybody else as is the danger with the "rake on the rope"
6. If the rake should become snagged on a branch or an object on the lake bed it has the advantage of being able to be pushed and twisted to the left and right which in most cases will aid it's retrieval. Flexibility of the tines also aids retrieval when snagged.
7. The rake is easily assembled (30 secs) and dismantled (30 secs), with no rope to become entangled.
8. The rake will always land with the tines facing downwards unlike its predecessor which could land at any angle.

Hon Secretary: Dave Anderson    Hon Treasurer: Andrew Butcher    © 2024 UAA