Monster Fish Lurking At Clumber

For a big fish experience, whether you’re a pike angler or someone who likes to catch big bream on the feeder there aren’t many better waters in the Midlands than Clumber Park Lake in Worksop.

In fact the fishing has been so good here recently the 83-acre venue has earned itself the nickname Jurassic Park because of the monster fish which lurk in its depths. Carp over 48lb have been reported this season and local specimen hunter, Ian Cougill, had a bumper session last week, landing several double figure bream. These slabs have been popping up all over the lake, falling to ledgered lob worm, fished over particle groundbait. However, when the weed dies down the standard Method or cage feeder approach can also pay dividends and is easy to adopt. The lake is mainly fished by carp anglers and if the bream get caught it is usually by accident so they aren’t very shy so there is no need to fish too light, especially as there are tench to 9lb in here. Due to the venues size, finding the fish is key so it is worth gaining a bit of local knowledge and finding out where the fish are being caught prior to fishing so you can target that area with your bait. Groundbait should be a fairly fine sweet mix with particles contained within it to give the bream something to graze on while they find your hookbait.

Huge perch have also been putting in an appearance recently with specimens over the 4lb mark being taken on lob worm and prawns. As we go into the winter the pike fishing begins and although it’s a ‘lure only’ water, pike over 20lb are no uncommon here throughout the year.

TIP: Clumber is a large water so be patient and wait for the bream to feed by putting some feed out via a feeder. Try fake corn or a bright pop-up for the bigger specimens.

Prices: £7.50 a day (parking is charged on-site or free for National Trust members, £95 a season including parking.
Location: Clumber Park, Worksop, Notts, S80 3AZ
Contact: 01909 544917
Facilities: Toilets, restaurant, shop, refreshment kiosk
Rules: Barbless only, no keepnets, no night fishing, no live or deadbaits, two rods maximum, no fires