Fantastic sport for everyone at Frant Lakes

It's human nature to try and find fault in something but even the pickiest of customers will struggle to grumble about Frant Lakes.

Situated in a tree lined valley just outside Royal Tunbridge Wells, the Kent complex boasts a true beauty that is instantly apparent from the moment you drive through the gates.

Step out of your vehicle, take a birds-eye view over the Car Park Lakes and your desire to wet a line will strengthen even more, with each water providing a pleasant setting for your day on the bank.

Only the occasional vocal duck or aircraft making its approach in to Gatwick Airport will break the silence, giving you the perfect setting to unwind after a week of hard graft.

When it comes down to deciding which of the eight lakes to fish you really are spoilt for choice. Each one provides a completely different opportunity, with big carp enthusiasts and silverfish fanatics both catered for. There’s even plenty of scope to launch a specimen fish campaign, with perch over 4lb and bigs slabs on the cards.

An onsite tackle shop sells all the bait and terminal tackle you could possibly need, with the café serving up a mouth-watering full breakfast that will give you the perfect start to the day.
There’s even an opportunity to have you and your tackle carted from the main car park to your peg, with a fishery 4x4 ferrying visitors to less accessible areas of the site.

One man that has fallen in love with the delights that Frant has to offer is Peter Bolt.

The Orpington Tackle & Bait boss’s store may be situated almost 30 miles from the fishery but he became so inundated with positive reviews from customers that he had to find out what all the hype was about for himself.

“Anglers kept coming in the shop raving about the place, telling me all about their big catches. I just had to give it a go and on my first visit it lived up to the expectations, with 30lb of skimmers and perch coming in just a few hours sport,” explained Peter.

The Car Park Lake was the water selected for a session in front of the Angling Times cameras, with big hauls of skimmers and roach on the cards with bonus stripeys and double figure carp a distinct possibility.

A peninsula cuts through the middle of the lake, with a small gap in the middle of it allowing the fish to roam between the two different zones.

“There are plenty of pegs that have marginal areas that just scream fish and I’ve picked a spot today where a large tree has collapsed in to the water. You can guarantee that there will be a few perch under there.”

A generous dose of worm and casters were fed in to the open water to draw in the chunky silvers, with a similar amount placed down the edge for the bonus predators.

Small silvers were the first to respond but the stamp of fish soon improved, with skimmers averaging just under 1lb making their way in to the net regularly. Peter’s marginal line was equally prolific, with plenty of big perch to just over 2lb devouring his worm hookbaits.

Although the carp didn’t play ball on the day, it was impossible to ignore their presence, with fish rising to the surface every few minutes to slurp up insects that had lay to rest on the surface. Anyone fishing with floating bread or dog biscuits on the day would certainly have reaped the rewards!

Taking an opportunity to wander round the lakes, it quickly became apparent that Frant genuinely did cater for everyone. From deck chair clad pleasure anglers right through to hardened carp anglers with every item of camouflage kit on the market, they were there making the most of this fantastic facility.

“It ticks every box on the checklist and it is no wonder Frant Lakes gains such fantastic feedback. One week you can go after a big carp, the next in search of a huge perch – it is a complex you will never tire of,” concluded Peter.

Prices: £11 adults, £8.50 concessions (based on a day ticket for lakes 1-6)
Contact: Call 01892 616424 or visit www.frantlakes.com
Location: Frant Lakes, Hawkenbury Road, Bells Yew Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9AP
Rules: No barbed hooks or braided mainline. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
Facilities: Parking, toilets, café, tackle shop
Tackle shop: Call Peter at Orpington Tackle & Bait for more details on angling in the area on 01689 852884

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