Sack Up On Bream At Calf Heath

For some cracking autumn bream sport we recommend you pay a visit to Calf Heath Reservoir in Cannock. With recent match weights topping 70lb, now is a great time to visit the 19 acre water where the Method feeder is currently doing the damage.

It is proving fairly simple to sack up with a 50lb weight and locating fish in big waters such as this can often prove tricky but at Calf Heath it’s proving fairly easy with skimmers to 2lb and roach nudging the 1lb mark featuring regularly. A variety of tactics work, but a Method or traditional groundbait feeder with either double dead red maggot hookbait or a small section of worm often scores best. A chuck of around 30-40 yards should suffice but try further out if the weather is bright and clear.
When targeting skimmers on the long pole, introduce six big balls of dark fishmeal groundbait to start with and top up with small nuggets during periods of inactivity.
Big bags of roach are a possibility on the long pole line and loose-feeding casters regularly over the top of a light rig will soon get the fish into a feeding frenzy.
Have two rigs setup, one for fishing on the deck and the other for up in the water as the roach will often choose to feed shallow, even if there has been a harsh frost the night before which wont be too far away given the time of year.

TIP: When using the feeder, if you are plagued by line bites but don’t receive any proper bites, try casting shorter as the fish are likely to be sat closer to the bank.

Calf Heath Reservoir, Cannock
Prices: Membership is priced at £20 a year for adults and permits run until April 30.
Outlets: Local shops Archline Angling sell year books. For more details call 01543 426158.
Location: Calf Heath Reservoir, Vicarage Road, Cannock, Staffs.
Facilities: Parking.
Rules: No tins on the bank, Hooks under a size 10 must be barbless.

Catch Silvers At Kelsey Gardens

If you are fed up of commercial style carp puddles then why not pay the in-form Kelsey Gardens a visit this autumn for a nice net of roach and rudd. Hidden in the East Yorkshire countryside, the venue offers a more traditional style fishing experience in an area which is predominantly known as a commercial venue paradise.

There are two lakes here, the South Lake and the North Lake. The South Lake is used mainly for water sports so most anglers head to the North Lake which is dedicated for fishing only. It contains carp, bream, tench, crucians, roach, perch and rudd. The Lake is a former gravel pit, so as you would expect is has depths to suit - the majority of the lake is deep with an average depth of around 13ft. The north side of the lake has large lily beds, this being the shallower side of the lake and is probably the best at the moment for a good net of roach and rudd to 20lb. Due to the depths the feeder is a good tactic worth employing here so the venue could be a worthwhile subject if you want to improve your skills in this area as you won’t need to fish far out and species taken on it during the warmer months are mainly bigger, such as tench and bream. A simple groundbait, or method feeder with bigger, natural baits such as corn or meat are worth a try if you adopt this approach. For the rudd and roach you can’t beat loose-fed maggot on the pole, waggler or even the slider. At the moment these fish are coming shallow but as the temperatures drop the deck will be the best place to place your hookbait, at least to begin with. Alternatively, fish corn over a little groundbait for the tench and crucians in the margins.
There are also some large resident carp in the lake which can be caught on carp tactics including the bomb with boilies.

TIP: Don’t feed too heavy when using groundbait, little and often is the best tactic

Prices: £6 one rod, £8 for two, £12 for three, £1 off all prices for OAP’s
Location: Kelsey Gardens, Hariff Lane, Burstwick, E Yorks, HU12 9HU
Contact: 079739 09026, www.kelseygardens.org.uk
Facilities: Toilets, catering van Wed, Sat, Sun
Rules: Barbless only, no keepnets, no tiger nuts, litter to be taken home

Top fisheries set to create more lakes

Two of the UK’s biggest commercial complexes have this week revealed plans to build new ‘pleasure angler only’ lakes after admitting they are turning day-ticket anglers away due to the sheer number of pegs booked for matches.

Neil Grantham, owner of Lindholme Lakes in Yorkshire, has announced he is working on three new waters to ‘readdress the balance of his fishery’.

“I’ve made the massive mistake of neglecting pleasure anglers,” he told Angling Times. “To turn them away because I’ve no pegs left is not right. Thankfully this will soon be a thing of the past.”

The biggest of the new waters, Benny’s Lake, will have space for 80 anglers and there will also be two separate 20 peg waters.

“Day-ticket anglers should be able to go fishing at the best fisheries in the UK every day of the week but there are too many that are booked up with matches. This isn’t going to happen at Lindholme anymore.”

Similar plans are also in place at Staffordshire’s Cudmore Fishery to ensure that pleasure anglers will always be guaranteed a swim.

Two new ‘canal style’ lakes are currently being dug to provide more pegs and the venue’s bosses admitted that it’s a ‘crying shame’ to turn pleasure anglers away when they’re booked up with competitions.

“We get very busy with matches, but it’s our aim never to be in the position to have to turn pleasure anglers away just because we can’t cater for their needs,” said Frank Clarke, angling co-ordinator at Cudmore Fishery.

“These two new waters will free up many pegs for the guys that just want to turn up for the day, which is how it should be.”

Fisheries staff back to school

A GROUP dedicated to improving fisheries across the UK have launched a series of new training courses to help boost standards in the same week that a top venue owner  claimed 90 per cent of his peers are ‘clueless’ when it comes to managing their complexes.

Officials from the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) have created plans to run an in-depth educational programme, with participants able to enhance their knowledge on key topics such as water quality, fish biology and angling law enforcement.

Entrants will be offered a one-year certificate and a two-year degree level diploma recognised by the Open University.

It is a move that Mallory Park Fisheries chief Roy Marlow has welcomed, with the highly regarded figure claiming that the vast majority of people in his position are unaware of even the most basic of management principals.

“So many commercials treat fish like commodities. They stock thousands of carp and when they die they just introduce more and don’t ask questions as to why the problems have started,” he explained.

“I’d say that nine out of 10 owners need to increase their knowledge and will learn an awful lot if they enrol on these courses. It will help them no end when it comes to looking after their waters.” Despite the damning verdict, others have sympathy for the tough task fishery owners are faced with, and Packington Somers boss John Burchell said: “Running a fishery is a big task and I think the IFM’s new courses will help give those in the industry that need a bit of guidance the help they need to enhance their skills.”

IFM head of training Ian Wellby, who has played a major role in designing the courses, said: “A lot of fishery bosses and staff have difficulty in accessing good quality training and this leads to them not being qualified and having to learn on the job.

“There is an obvious need for training in this field and we are investing time and energy to ensure people in the industry have the most up-to-date qualifications and knowledge in their armoury.”

**To register for the new courses visit: www.ifm.org.uk**

Scan your way to a day-ticket

An angling club from the midlands is attempting to revolutionise the way anglers buy day-tickets on the bank by using special barcodes which allow anglers to pay using their mobile phone.

The Lure Anglers Canal Club, who control of a large stretch of the Grand Union Canal at Leamington Spa, have decided to use QR codes printed on signs at the venue in order to make it easier for people to fish.

Club chairman and Angling Trust coordinator, John Cheyne said: “With over 12 miles of the Grand Union Canal to patrol we didn't think it was fair to ask our bailiffs to take money for day-tickets on the bank as it makes them a target for muggings. We were keen, however, to make it easy for guest anglers to fish legally and buy a permit so we started by making tickets available to purchase on our website and it seemed like a natural step for us to include QR codes on our fishery.”

**How does it work?**

Download a QR code reader app on your smartphone and then aim your camera at the QR code on the sign. This will take your straight to the part of the club’s website where you can buy a day-ticket. Payment is via Paypal so as long as you have a Paypal account or a credit or Debit card you just follow the on screen instructions and your day ticket can be emailed straight to your phone.
More details of the club at www.lureanglerscanalclub.co.uk

Chard Reservoir Has Something To Please Everyone

Hidden deep in the Somerset countryside lies the beautiful Chard Reservoir. This 38-acre venue has been playing host to some fantastic bream catches this summer with nets over 100lb consistently recorded in club matches.

Built in 1842 to provide water for the local canal, the venue which is controlled by Chard and District Angling Club, is surrounded by mature trees, providing anglers with not only a scenic, peaceful days fishing but a great days sport too.
The Reservoir is stocked with carp up to 35lb, bream to 7lb, roach to 2lb, eels to 4lb as well as double figure Pike. It is therefore popular amongst specimen carp anglers with swims of generous size and plenty of fish to go at. Best tactics tend to be fishing boilies over a bed of spod mix.

However, the majority of anglers who visit do so for its prime silverfish nets. Most matches are won here with triple figure nets of bream but you can also quite easily record a 30lb net of roach for whenever the slabs don’t play ball or if you prefer to float fish and enjoy fish-a-chuck action. The most successful tactics for the big bream seems to be sweet groundbait in an open ended feeder with corn, maggot or worm as hookbait. The swims on the dam wall are often the best in matches but you can catch from anywhere on the lake. You are advised to bring a platform when fishing this venue to make life easier when landing fish due to the venues shallow margins. For the roach, a simple light rig with a 4x14 pole float will suffice unless it is windy then step up to 1-gram or more. Simply loose feed maggot or caster at around 10m and change depth until you find the fish.

TIP: When pole fishing for roach, try fishing beyond your feed every so often as this is where some of the bigger roach to 1lb might be lurking

Prices: £10 non club members or £8 for members, 24 hours fishing allowance two rods maximum
Contact: Chard & District Angling Club, 07704 632077 www.chardanddistrictanglingclub.co.uk
Location: Chard Reservoir, Chaffcombe Lane, Chard, Somerset, TA20 1RR
Rules: No keepnets, no livebaiting, no bait boats, no tins, un-hooking mats to be used for carp

Barbel And More At Nene Backwater

East Anglia may be noted for the quality of its commercial-water fishing, but there’s plenty for the river angler to get their teeth into as well.
Take the beautiful River Nene, Castor Backwater five miles from the city of Peterborough. This day-ticket offshoot from the River Nene has rightly been gaining a reputation for the quality of its barbel fishing, but there’s much more to Castor Backwater than barbel.
Meandering a couple of miles from a weir at the top end, the backwater has all the features the roving angler would want.

There are fast gravelly runs, where earlier in the season barbel could be seen spawning (fishing was banned on this stretch then), slower areas on the inside of bends, and abundant weed and reeds. It all makes for the perfect location for angler after a specimen river fish. Apart from those barbel – several fish into double figures have been taken over the past few seasons – there are lots of chub with most fish over 3lb.

In addition, a surprising number of carp have been seen during the past month, including some large koi which were probably released from garden ponds, and there are rumours of big perch as well.
The normal roving tactics all work; for a big-fish approach, try anchoring a boilie or two on the bottom with a 2oz lead between weedbeds. Luncheon meat and pellets is other favourite offerings, and far less selective. You’ll get chub, barbel and maybe even a surprise bream or two on this.
A lighter approach with a link leger works well for the chub, while anglers can enjoy good sport on maggots with small fish from those swims that can be fished with a float.
Whatever you do, though, travel light; Caster Backwater is a fishery that rewards a travelling approach.

TOP TIP
When barbel fishing, introduce a few broken-up boilies to the swim, to complement t your hookbaits.

Venue fact file
Location: Castor Backwater, Station Road, Ailsworth, Peterborough, Cambs, PE8 4DE
Prices: £5 a day, Peterborough DAA
Contact: Club secretary Andy Jackson, tel: 01778 346698
Rules: Specimen anglers must carry an unhooking mat and substantial landing net.

Lodge Farm Fishery Is In Great Form

In a region which offers anglers plenty of options when it comes to commercial fisheries, Lodge Farm does not always receive the coverage it deserves but with the quality of fishing on the complex at an all-time high, anglers who have yet to visit the venue have been missing out.

Pleasure and match weights have been exceeding 200lb on some of its five lakes this summer, making it an ideal location if you want to enjoy a day bagging up. One of the best lakes to do this on is Field Lake. This predominantly carp style, 38-pegged water has depths of 7-8ft and contains carp averaging around 2-4lb with the odd bigger lump. There are also plenty of ide in here which can be caught on pellet shallow or chopped worm and caster, along with bream, chub and F1’s. For the biggest weights though, you have to target the carp which can be taken from anywhere on the lake using different tactics. With the mornings beginning cooler the fish are now being found on the deck so you can fish meat or paste in the margins or long at around 13m. If you do want to bring them up in the water then the pellet banded at 13m will work, flicking pellets over the top and this method will bring you more if smaller fish.

For bigger carp averaging 5-8lb then you may prefer to set your stall out on the venue’s Long Island Pool. On here anglers catch well using the pellet or Method feeder tight to the island or by using the same tactics found on Field Lake. Stronger gear is required here as some of the carp go to 25lb.
Alternatively for more of a challenge but the chance to scrap with a carp of 15-20lb then the mature Top Pool is the place to be. The fish in here are renowned for their fighting capabilities and the bigger fish are said to be easier to catch than the smaller 4lb stockie carp. Hooklinks of 0.18 minimum are the norm on here and you are advised not to fish too tight to features as carp will tear off very quickly once hooked. This lake also contains tench and bream but more notably perch to 4.5lb often make an appearance with anglers using red maggot to target them.

TIP: On the Top Pool, fish on the top shelf in the shallower water and feed every second fish for the best sport.

Prices: £5 a day, £4 concessions, £6.50 match pegs
Contact: 07815 030694, www.lodgefarmfisheries.co.uk
Location: Lodge Farm Fisheries, Scrooby Top, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN10 6AX
Rules: Barbless only, no keepnets, No elasticated hook length feeders, no braid, no floating baits, 1kg groundbait or pellets max, fishery own pellets, landing nets to be used for all fish, no boilies
Facilities: café, toilets, disabled pegs and access

Visit Nick's Lake on Hartleylands For A 300lb Net

THE FISHING at Hartleylands has really taken off this year and if proof were needed than look no further than recent open results on the venues Nick’s Lake where nets over 300lb have been the highlight.

This prolific 38 pegged lake is ideal of those looking for a commercial style bag-up session. It is full of carp averaging around 4lb along with the odd bigger lump and more notably some huge barbel to 12lb. To have a chance at landing one of these stillwater beasts, use strong tackle and fish with cubes of meat in the margins, especially if you have an overhanging tree in your peg. This lake also contains some huge perch to 4lb and these can be caught on red maggot, fished on the deck, again in the margins. For the carp though, there are not many better baits here than the humble pellet. Fish it banded on the pole or pellet waggler, loose feeding plenty of 4-6mm pellets over the top for a bite a chuck action. For the bigger carp, it may be worth feeding a separate line on a top two or three with paste to add to help bump up your catch.

It is not just Nick’s where anglers are leaving with a smile. The venue’s Reservoir Pond, the oldest on the complex is also fishing really well this year. This is less of a bagging water and more of a carp crunching lake full of lumps. Fish to 25lb lurk in here and pleasure anglers often target the biggest fish by fishing on the surface with bread or dog biscuits or with bigger pellets fished on the deck. However, the majority of carp weigh around 8-10lb and match anglers fish for these with the pellet waggler, hair rigging 8mm pellets and feeding 6mm versions over the top, or by using the Method feeder. On a good day 35-40 carp weighing 10lb each can be landed on here. Roach sport can also be prolific and offer great cool weather sport, with nets exceeding 50lb from every swim on the lake.

TIP: When fishing on the Farm Reservoir Pond, try alternating your depth regularly during your session as fish are often found at varying depths.

Prices: £10 one rod, £12 for two, concessions £7 one rod, £9 for two
Contact: 01580 720319, www.hartleylandsfishery.co.uk
Location: Swattenden Lane, Hartley, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3PS
Rules: Barbless only, no loop, paternoster or fixed rigs, fish over 4oz to be landed, no braid, no keepnets, no boilies

Halfpenny Green's Two Amazing Lakes

Amongst the vineyards of Halfpenny Green lie two magnificent lakes, both of which are providing anglers with some amazing fishing this summer. One of them, Heron, has only been opened to the public since June and has already seen nets close to 100lb being caught.

The venue is also planning to open a third lake sometime next year but it is the original Moorhen Lake which is the most prolific. Every one of the lakes 28 pegs offers the chance of a net over 100lb with match weights having been recorded close to 200lb this year. This lake is predominantly a carp water with fish averaging around 3lb but there are also the odd bream to around 8lb as well as tonnes of roach to 2lb. It is important to take plenty of bait with you for these fish as the 194lb match weight this year was landed by using up to no less than eight pints of micro or 2mm pellets as feed and then fishing a bigger 4 or 6mm banded expander pellet over the top. Keep the pinging or toss potting the feed in and keep moving the bait for more bites. At this time of year the mainstay of the catches are being made shallow or in the margins where paste or corn can also work. From pegs 23-25 or 12-14 you can reach the island using the pole and these can be good pegs on harder days.

Heron Pool (29 pegs) is deeper, averaging around 9ft, and is well-stocked with a whole host of different species including carp to 15lb, bream, ide, barbel and chub averaging around 1lb as well as golden and blue orfe. Fishing on here therefore provides you with a sense of un-expectancy, as you never know what you are likely to hook next. Successful baits on here include corn, meat and pellets, with typical commercial tactics paying dividends. The island at 20m can also be targeted with a cage feeder filled with maggots and pellets. Like Moorhen though, the fish are currently feeding well up in the water at present.

Tip: Plummet accurately on Moorhen Lake as there are plenty of depth variations and underwater features to aim at.

Prices: £6 a day, £5 concessions, one rod per ticket

Contact: 07905 031327 or 01384 820861, www.halfpenny-green-vineyards.co.uk

Location: Halfpenny Green Vineyards, Tom Lane, Halfpenny Green, South Staffordshire, DY7 5EP

Rules: All nets must be dipped at the poolside, no keepnets, barbless only, landing nets must be used for fish over 4oz, no groundbait, no Method feeders

Facilities: Toilets, café

Head To The Aire For A Bag Of Roach

Anglers in Yorkshire are spoilt for choice when it comes to river fishing with a number of venues in excellent summer form this year.
The River Aire is one of them. Local expert Martyn Highe believes fishing on this river is as good as it has ever been with the roach fishing in particular being excellent: “The number of roach in our rivers in the north of England especially on the Aire is amazing, there are absolutely tonnes of fish in the 2-4oz bracket and they are easy to catch” he said.

One stretch which is well worth a visit is the Leeds and District Amalgamated Society of Anglers controlled water at Chapel Haddlesey near Selby. The fishing here has just started to switch on with anglers recording nets of roach, perch and bream to over 20lb.The pegs on the left bank from Selby Lock in the high numbers are the best for roach. The river here is quite deep (around 12ft), wide and slow moving and is best targeted by balling in with groundbait and fishing the pole over the top. Start with three big balls laced with caster and top up with a ball every half hour, thereafter. Fish a fairly static rig of say 2-gram with a size 18 hook and fish over the top of the feed with maggot on the hook for fish averaging 3oz. Using this tactic you can easily build up a weight catching a fish a chuck. There are also perch in here and these can be caught on maggot or worm.

The earlier pegs in the 20’s upstream, opposite West Haddlesey are the best for bream. These are much deeper (around 20ft) and are best targeted using the groundbait feeder with worm on the hook. The bream in here are not small with the majority of fish in the 4-7lb bracket so don’t fish too light.
Although the stretch is not available for day-ticket anglers, a Leeds DASA membership gives you access to dozens of other river stretches, including the stretch of the Aire at Beale. Weights here have been similar to those at Chapel recently with roach catches to over 15lb being taken on waggler and maggot tactics.

TIP: Red maggot is a hot bait on this river especially for roach. Try a double on the hook for a bonus redfin or big perch.

Prices: £50 a year, Leeds DASA
Contact: 01132 253366, www.leedsdasa.co.uk
Location: River Aire, off the A19, Chapel Haddlesey, Selby, N Yorks
Rules: No Litter, all fish must be returned

30lb Carp Among Big Rewards At Sumners Ponds

With match weights nearing 400lb, Sumners has always been popular, however, these days it’s not just bags of carp and barbel on the Match Lake that make this venue so attractive as specimen carp anglers have found out.

The venue’s Sumners Pond is full of specimen fish and carp anglers have been catching them in excess of 30lb this year. This is the largest of the lakes on the complex and so swim selection is easy with fish showing from all over the lake and a good head of twenties. Popular baits this summer have been cell boilies or anything with coconut in them but there have also been big fish caught on meat. Anglers have been finding success by targeting these at around 10m in around 3-4ft of water. This lake also contains a great head of bream and these have been caught this year in nets in excess of 50lb. For these fish, a small feeder with corn on the hook is the standard approach but if bites are not forthcoming try an 8mm meat cube. Fishing tight to the island may also pay off here. Perch to 3.5lb also reside in here and can be targeted fishing prawn or worm in the margins.

For match anglers there is the prolific Match Lake which has seen weights to 400lb in recent years. Predominantly a carp water with fish averaging 8-12lb there are also some huge barbel to 10lb 2oz, tench and crucians to 1.5lb. Typical commercial naits like pellet, meat, paste and corn all work on here on the pole, pellet waggler or even Method feeder. The hot pegs are those from the sunken island to the second island tip.

TIP: Fishing on Sumners Pond requires patience. For more bites try different areas of your swim and don’t ignore the margins.

Prices: £8 one rod, £12 for two, concessions are £7 one rod £10 for two, Juniors are £6 for one rod £7 for two.
Contact: 01403 732539 www.sumnersponds.co.uk
Location: Sumners Ponds, Chapel Road, Barns Green, Horsham, W Sussex, RH13 0PR
Rules: Barbless only, no fixed rigs, no floating crust, no keepnets, un-hooking mat and large landing net required for specimen carp, no live baits
Facilities: Toilets, café, restaurant/bar, tackle shop

A Choice Of Seven Terrific Lakes At Llyn Y Gors

One of the most picturesque but underrated fisheries in the North, Llyn Y Gors offers something for everyone whether it be specimen carp or match angling.
This summer catches have been excellent on the venue’s seven lakes, including pleasure nets on the coarse lakes to 150lb along with dozens of specimen carp to 30lb from the carp ponds.

Karpium Lake is the venues 1-acre runs water. It has seven swims containing around 400 fish to 30lb, including a good head of mid doubles. The lake is spring fed, has gravel patches but is weedy in summer so strong gear is required. Particles and boilies work well as feed here by laying down a good bed of feed and fishing a bright pop-up over the top on a chod. You can also catch on the Method on here but the fish are likely to be smaller.

The other notable carp water is Thompsons. This very intimate and enticing looking 8 swim venue is a good campaign water in that the stocking density is far lower but contains some monster fish including carp to over 30lb as well as catfish to 28lb. Small beds of boilies work on here, with washed out pop-ups fished over the top on chods.

For pleasure anglers and match fishermen there is the Pleasure Lake (30 pegs) and Match Lake (30 pegs) both are similarly stocked with carp, roach, bream, barbel, tench and rudd and are an excellent choice for a productive days fishing. They are bagging waters but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to work for the fish. That said, typical commercial tactics work on these lakes including Method feeder or pole and pellet work on here, fishing both on the deck and shallow.

Prices: £8 a day or £5 concessions, Karpium £10 a day or £15 24 hours, Thompsons £20 24 hours, longer sessions available
Contact: 01248 713410, www.llynygors.co.uk
Location: Llyn Y Gors, Llandegfan, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, N Wales, LL59 5PN
Rules: Barbless only on coarse lakes, keepnets to be emptied every two hours, no hemp, tiger nuts or catfood, no particles on Thompsons, 42 inch landing nets required on specimen lakes as well as unhooking mats
Facilities: Toilets, tackle shop, hot food and drinks, accommodation

100lb Mixed Nets At Tranquil Westwood Lakes

It has been an excellent summer for Westwood Lakes Fishery with match records tumbling on two of the venues four lakes and plans being submitted for building a further three lakes on the complex, it is fast becoming one of the top fisheries in the East of England.

One of the top lakes at the Lincolnshire fishery is the 30-peg Kestrel Lake. This pool has seven islands, depths of around 6ft and has built up a reputation as one of the best stillwater barbel pools in the country, with fish to 13.5lb present. There are also tonnes of carp, ide and chub in here as 100lb pleasure nets would tesitfy but if you want to target the barbel alone then you best bet is the fish either in the margins or at around 5m. Baits such as worms, prawns, maggots or meat will all work for these fish and the best tactic is to fish for them on the pole or waggler on the deck. For a mixed net of carp which average around 3.5lb, ide and chub your best bet is to opt for either the Method feeder tight to one of the islands or pellet waggler in open water, fishing shallow. 8mm banded pellet is best for this method, feeding smaller versions. Chopped worm and caster, fished shallow is another tactic worth employing for the big ide and chub which go to 5lb.

Last month Martin Kirk broke the match record from peg 1 on Hawk Lake (20 pegs) with a net of 150lb 4oz and this featured mainly small carp and F1’s. Anglers on here fish across to the far side with pellet as well as in the margins for the barbel which average around 1lb and can be caught on worm or meat.
The match record also fell recently on Skylark Lake with a 176lb mixed net falling to meat and pellet on the pole. This water contains carp, F1’s, barbell, tench and skimmers. You can easily catch 70lb of silverfish on this lake fishing maggot short but if you want the carp too then fish to the far bank with pellet over a pellet and groundbait feed. The fish average around 1.5lb in here and you can expect a-fish-a-chuck action.

TIP: Chopped worm and caster is a key bait at this venue so arm yourself with some worms, a pair of scissors and some casters. Try flavouring the mix with some Bait-Tech Predator Plus liquid for extra potency.

Prices: £6 a day
Contact: 01205 724162, www.westwoodlakes.co.uk
Location: Westwood Lakes, Five House Lane, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7JA
Rules: Barbless only, no braid, no fixed feeders, no floating baits, no dog or cat meat, fishery own nets, no keepnets, no left over bait to be thrown in
Facilities: Toilets, café, tackle and bait shop (open 7 days a week), accommodation

Bag A 20lb Carp At Thorpe Lea

Thorpe Lea is arguably the best place in the country to bag your first 20lb carp – so we at Angling Times enlisted the help of two young anglers to do just that.
The Surrey venue, adjacent to the M25, was stocked with 2,500 carp 10 years ago and now boasts a huge head of upper doubles, 20s and even a few 30s. With so many inhabitants, locating fish is fairly easy, and on our midweek visit we saw plenty of carp within minutes of arriving.
The 18-acre lake, which has three islands, is currently a little weedier than normal but gravel and silt patches are still easy to find, and the carp will feed in most areas and at various depths.

With many youngsters using the summer holidays to go after big carp, we teamed up with 15-year-olds Max Rippington and Oli Passau to see if Thorpe Lea could improve their mid-double PBs.
Fake corn has been a constant winner at the venue and so it proved again, with both lads taking fish on fake kernels in PVA bags over spod mix. Max, whose previous best was 16lb, came agonisingly close to breaching the 20lb barrier with his first fish, but his 19lb 12oz mirror fell just short. Two hours later, however, and Thorpe Lea proved its credentials by providing Max with a 20lb 2oz mirror that put up a great scrap having been hooked while the teenager was spodding over the top of his spot.
Not to be outdone, Oli also came away with a new PB of 18lb 12oz as more than a dozen fish fell to our rods.

Thorpe Lea really can produce on all tactics, but small bright baits and PVA bags are a good starting point. Regular spodding will keep the action coming, but single baits fired out at range can score when the place is busy. Aside from the carp, specimen perch are definitely Thorpe Lea’s hidden gem.
<<Venue Factfile>>
Prices: £12 a day for adults (£9 for juniors). £24 for 24 hours. Each under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over 21.
Contact: 07934 000559 or www.thorpeleafishery.co.uk
Location: Thorpe Lea Fishery, Thorpe Lea Road, Thorpe, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8PG
Rules: No baitboats, braided mainline or unattended rods allowed. Barbed hooks only and the only particles allowed are hemp, corn/maize and pellets. Nets must be at least 36 inches and large unhooking mats must be used.
Facilities: Toilets, tackle shop and food hut. Local takeaways deliver to the gates.

New Lake Adds To Barston Choice

NEW LAKE ADDS TO BARSTON CHOICE
With a number of big matches featuring at the fishery in recent years, including Maver Match this and our very own Supercup Final this year, Barston continues to go from strength to strength, attracting thousands of anglers every month.
2013 has seen the opening of a new lake on the complex called Jakes. This intimate 10-peg water, a former stock pond contains tonnes of carp between 1-3lb and is ideal for those looking for a bite a chuck action with nets to 100lb. Varying tactics are succesful on here including the pellet waggler and pole in the margins. Be careful though as there is also the odd lump to 25lb in here.

The 25-acre, 124-peg Main Lake at Barston is fishing excellently at present, holding a nice bit of colour. Bream and skimmer nets to 40lb are commonplace with tonnes of fish in the 4-6oz bracket falling to small pellets or caster. Simply lay a small bed of micros down and fish over the top at mid-range. For the bigger slabs though we advise you to use bigger 8mm pellets or corn on either the feeder, Method or long pole by feeding heavy. Catching these 3-6lb fish can boost your net to over 100lb on a good day. For the carp, typical commercial tactics will work with the majority of fish in the 5-10lb bracket being caught in nets to 160lb. Paste in the margins is currently working well as is paste at 5m. If you opt for this tactic then fish it while feeding a few pellets over the top by hand or a tosspot.
If it is bigger carp you are after, including the odd fish to 30lb then this lake also contains them. There is a huge head of carp in the 15-24lb range and these can be targeted using bigger baits such as 18-22mm boilies.

TIP: If targeting the specimen carp, don’t feed any particle baits otherwise you will attract the bream. Instead just feed a small amount of whatever you are using on the hook.

Prices: £8.50 a day or £5.50 concessions, £12 a year night syndicate (requires day ticket per visit)
Contact: 01675 444890, www.barstonlakes.co.uk
Location: Barston Lakes, Marsh House Farm Lane, Barston, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0LB
Rules: Barbless only, no mainline braid, no keepnets
Facilities: Restaurant, toilets, disabled pegs, hotel, bar

Bag Up On Four Top Lakes At Wrightington

Wrightington Fisheries, Wigan, Lancashire

Anglers in Lancashire are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a commercial fishery but one which is proving more and more popular this year and making headlines is Wrightington Fishery near Wigan.

The venue’s Canal Pools have just witnessed the first 100lb plus match weight this summer and pleasure fishing sessions at the four lake complex have been even better with the pre-stocked carp bream and silverfish making up the bulk of the weights. Numerous tactics work on these pools including meat or pellet towards the far bank at 14.5m. However, paste at 4m as well as corn and 4-6mm pellets in the margins also pays dividends. If you get plagued by roach and gudgeon then use corn instead of the latter. The vast majority of fish are under 4lb including the carp, although bonus specimens can turn up at any time so 0.16mm mainline and an 0.14mm hooklink to a medium wire size 16 hook are advised. Depths on these two canals vary with one being deep, 10ft in places and the other averaging just 5ft so make sure your rigs cater for this.

Rivington Lake on the complex is also worth a visit this summer with nets to 80lb coming out. Carp averaging 4lb but topping 12lb as well as bream to 6lb make up most of the weights here and anglers are currently finding that fishing shallow is the way to go, using 6mm pellets or casters as feed with a 6mm banded pellet on the hook. This pool is wider and the fish sit further out, so anglers tend to fish the pole or waggler at around 14.5m. It is also worth fishing the shotgun feeder or Method tight to the island on here where some of the bigger fish can be found. Worm can be a good alternative to pellets on this lake, as feed and on the hook.

TIP: If you get your feeding right the fish will turn up in big numbers so to help you spot line bites from genuine indications, keep quite a bit of float bristle on show.

Prices: Day tickets available on the bank priced at £6 for adults and £4 concessions.
Contact: 01257 451352
Location: Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, Nr Wigan, WN6 9SA.
Rules: Barbless only, no keepnets, no boilies, no nuts, no trout pellets
Facilities: Toilets

Record Weights At Viaduct Fishery

While UK temperatures have soared, sport at Viaduct Fishery has been equally as hot with impressive match weights across the venues five lakes. Last week Adam Wakeling recorded the highest UK Champs match weight ever with a huge 239lb on this venue, in a match that saw 70 anglers average over 100lb in weight across four of the lakes.

But it’s not just carp making the headlines at Viaduct with bags of skimmers on Spring Lake (27 pegs) reaching 90lbs. As a pleasure angler you can target these fish by fishing the pole or wagglerat around 9m, using a 4 or 6mm banded pellet over a bed of 4mm or soaked micros, feeding a few helpings via a small pot or catapult every cast. These fish go to 5lb and with plenty of carp to 27lb in this lake theres no need to fish too light. Use 0.14mm mainline with a puller bung in your pole in case you do hook one of the lakes beasts. This lake is the complex’s specimen water, with a huge head of carp from 15-25lb so if you want to catch one of these, fish a lead with big 12-16mm pellets tight to the island.

For a net of carp over 200lb head to Lodge Lake (21 pegs) where the corner pegs have loads of over-hanging trees which are worth fishing under with the pole for carp to 15lb. They average around 8lb in here and can easily be caught in good numbers using the pole with pellet or meat, feeding little and often. If its lumps to 20lb you want, there is Cary Lake (36 pegs) where a straight lead approach with an 8 or 11mm pellet at around 40 yards should provide plenty of action, as will the pole with paste.

Top tips

Small balls of soaked micro pellets make excellent feed for skimmer bream

For skimmers try fishing a little past your feed where you’ll find the better stamp of fish but also get more positive bites on a regular basis.

Prices: £7 for one rod, £9 for two rods. Concessions and evening tickets also available.
Contact: Call 01458 274022. Visit www.viaductfishery.com
Location: Cary Valley, Somerton, Somerset TA11 6LJ
Rules: Barbless only, no nuts or boilies, no braid or fixed rigs, no lines over 12lb
Facilities: Clubhouse, tackle shop, café, toilets, Norwegian lodges

Triple Figure Bags At Worcestershire's Larford

An excellent Summer Festival last month at the venue, which saw over 24,000lb of fish caught over five days, with an average of 100lb for each man, is evidence that the fishing at Larford has been fantastic this year.

Situated in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside Larford consists of three lakes with a total of 250 pegs and 80 pegs on some of the best barbel and chub fishing on the River Severn.
The complex has become a firm favourite with pleasure anglers because there are huge stocks of smaller carp, roach and skimmers which mean you can get bites all day long.
Triple figure bags are commonplace during every month of the year and recent weights on the venue’s Specimen Lake have been mighty. This lake is around 20-acres in size and is stocked with a wide range of species including roach to over 2lb, chub to 7lb, bream to 15lb, large perch, crucians and tench to 9lb. The lake is most famous, however, for its specimen carp with the venue record standing at 38lb 8oz. All methods are successful, with waggler, pole and tip accounting for many of the bream and smaller carp. Boilies, particles, meat and paste are the best baits for the bigger carp, but also work well for the specimen bream and tench. At the moment the biggest weights are being taken on the chalet bank using three tactics: meat in the margins, 6mm banded pellet shallow at around 13m while feeding casters as well as dead maggot over groundbait in the margins.

Every peg on this six-acre Match lake is capable of producing massive weights of F1s, common and mirror carp, roach, tench, bream, chub, perch and rudd. Pellet is generally the most productive hookbait here, but paste, maggot and caster also regularly account for some big bags. Fish are still being caught shallow but as the temperatures drop presenting your baits on the deck will be more effective for nets over 200lb.

Arena is the smallest of the three lakes on the complex, and only opened in April 2005. Large stocks of mirror and common carp have been introduced along with bream, roach, rudd, tench and perch. The Arena is already producing large catches and promises to deliver similar, if not better, sport than the famous Match Lake. Pellets, particles, meat and maggots are the main hookbaits. This lake is for floatfishing only, and pole short is the best method for large weights.

Contact: 01299 829373, www.larfordlakes.co.uk
Location: Larford Lane, near Stourport, Worcestershire, DY13 0SQ
Prices: One rod - adults £8 per day and concessions £6. Two rods - £16 per day and £30 for 24 hours.
Rules: Barbless hooks only – maximum size 10. Maximum of four bags of pellets per anglers and all feed pellets must be purchased on-site. All nets must be dipped. No cat or dog meat, bloodworm, joker or macaroni. No floating hook or feed baits. No PVA bags or artificial baits.
Facilities: Car park, café, toilets, disabled access.

Regular Tonne Nets From The Willows Fishery

A huge re-stocking of over 8000 carp and extensive renovation work a few years ago means that anglers are now reaping the rewards at The Willows Fishery with some huge nets over 100lb being taken regularly on its two scenic lakes.

Anglers are also visiting here to enjoy the ide fishing at the moment on the venue’s Gold Rush Lake (36 pegs). These fish go to 5lb in here, filling nets to over 100lb. At this time of year and with temperatures high, the fish are feeding shallow. To catch them feed a cloud of over-whetted groundbait or use a 50/50 mix of swimstim and garden peat and fish into it with caster on the hook about 1ft under the surface at around 11m on the pole or waggler. You can then feed a few casters every minute to keep the fish coming, so take a few pints with you. It’s not just ide in this lake however, as there are plenty of carp to 18lb, bream and chub to 4lb, crucians, barbel and even golden tench to 5lb. For the carp, which average around 8lb, dead maggot fished over a little groundbait is currently working well but pellets and meat fished on the deck in the margins or up to one of the lakes 8 islands will see you catch a nice mixed net of fish.

On the smaller Ridge Lake, fishing into the margins is one of the best ways to amass a pleasing net of fish. The water responds extremely well to pole and chopped worm for 50lb-plus nets of carp, ide, orfe and chub. Cup in that feed regularly to keep the bites coming. In recent years pellet paste has also gone down a treat especially feeding micros and fishing a 4 or 6mm version over the top but there is no need to use hard pellets as there are few small pestering fish in here.
Peg 53, on Ridge, is a gem of a peg and the bushes on the far bank are a real magnet for carp. It’s an excellent swim for fishing shallow, with corn, pellet or maggot. For bigger fish try a bigger pellet fished tight to the island.

Top tip: For bigger carp try dog biscuits on the surface for fish to 18lb

Prices: £6 a day or £5 concessions
Contact: 01904 738206, willowsfishery.co.uk
Location: Off the A59, Hessay, York, North Yorks, YO26 8JU.
Rules: Barbless only, Maximum 12 hooks, no keepnets, un-hooking mats for carp over 6lb
Facilities: Toilets, drinking water tap, BnB accommodation