Hayfield, Still One Of The North's Finest Fisheries

It may no longer play host to the Fish O’ Mania final but Hayfield Lakes in Doncaster still offers some fantastic fishing for both match and pleasure anglers and currently nets close to 300lb are being recorded.

The venue has two lakes, the larger of the two with a huge central island is Dannie’s Island Lake, and the other is Adam’s Lake which is divided by a walkover bridge.

Around the two lakes there are over 160 pegs and match weights of well over 100lb are regularly recorded. In last week’s match the top four anglers on Island all registered over 100lb while on Adams a recent match catch of 295lb was recorded.

Both lakes are similar in stock as both are predominantly carp orientated including fish to 32lb, although on average they weigh-in around 8lb on both lakes including some amazing looking hybrid fish. If carp are not your favourite species bream to 6lb, tench to 6lb, chub to 6lb, perch to 2lb and roach and rudd to 1lb 8oz can also be caught in good numbers. With up to 12ft of water found on some pegs, the lakes fish well all year round, but sitting with the wind in your face, or on the bank the wind is blowing into is a recognised requirement. The top tactic on Island is to fish the method or pellet feeder with 8mm pellet, corn or meat on the hook. It is the same hookbaits working on Adams where to pole dominates, although waggler also enjoys some success. On here feed pellet with a bigger version on the hook. Start on the deck but come up to about 1ft from the surface during the session. The margins are also worth targeting on both lakes.

TIP: On this venue where pellet dominates, try flavouring your pellets with a product such as Dynamite Source to offer something slightly different to the fish.

Prices: £6 or £5 for concessions, extra rod tickets £2, an evening ticket (after 4:30pm) are £4

Contact: 01302 864555, wwwhayfieldlakes.co.uk

Facilities: Toilets, bait shop, pub. Coming soon: Showers, new tackle shop and café as well as touring pitches and lodges.

Location: Hayfield Lakes, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN9 3NP

Rules: Fishery own feed pellets, barbless hooks only – maximum size 10. Inline Method feeders only. No braid, no fixed rigs, no keepnets except for in matches, no floating baits, bread, boilies, trout pellet, cat or dog meat.