100lb Mixed Nets at Willow Park

Still undoubtedly one of the best commercial waters in the UK, Willow Park is still attracting thousands of anglers every month.

Currently it is the 30 pegged, Small Lake which is the most prolific of the three lakes with mixed nets topping 100lb.
Carp averaging around 6lb but going into double-figures are the predominant species on this pool but there are also plenty of tench, crucians and bream. With depths of around 5ft most people fish with the waggler on the deck around 10ft from the bank and then move closer in as the session progresses. The trick is to loose feed 4mm pellets and fish a 6mm banded version over the top, shallowing up if required. As on many UK commercials it is also worth feeding elsewhere in the margins with meat or corn on the pole or waggler as this can help snare you some of the bigger fish in the lake. A third line can also be fished on the pole at around 13m, fishing shallow with 6 or 8mm banded pellet for the F1’s and carp.

The Middle Lake (27 pegs) has not been as prolific as it was last year but is still worth a visit with nets to 40lb being caught regularly. This may be a good lake to try if you want to get away from the crowds.  It is similarly stocked to the Small Lake and responds well to the pole fished at around 13m with 6mm pellet. You can also use the feeder on here fished at short distances with the same hookbaits.
Lastly there is the Big Lake. This 82 pegged lake is an excellent carp water with a huge head of double-figure fish including some bigger specimens to 34lb. It is therefore more suited to the specimen angler but you can fish it during the day with match style tactics if you fancied catching a double-figure carp on the pole or feeder. There is also still some bream in here to 7lb which can be caught using groundbait feeder tactics.

TIP: Try an inline pellet feeder with dampened 2mm feed pellets for the bigger fish on the small lake, fishing around 20 yards out.
Willow Park Fishery

Prices: £10.50 a day one rod, £16 two rods, concessions £5.50 one rod £11 for two, budget evening tickets available. Big Lake is £25 for 24 hours (two rods), £42 for 48 hours, longer bookings available.
Contact: 01252 325867, www.willowparkfishery.co.uk
Location: Youngs Drive, Off Shawfield Road, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants, GU12 6RE
Rules: Barbless hooks only, no keepnets, no floating baits, no nuts or seeds, minimum 4 inch hooklength
Facilities: Café open 7 days a week, toilets, shower, tackle shop