STILLWATERS
A1 PITS, SOUTH MUSKHAM FISHERY, NEWARK, NOTTS Here you’ll find specimen carp and bream spread over multiple pits. Pit 4 is the best for runs, especially if you want big slabs. Fish a Method feeder with worm or fake corn on the hair to catch. Contact: 07970 209433 Postcode: NG23 6EQ ALVECHURCH FISHERIES, BIRMINGHAM, W MIDS There are four pools to choose from here. A 50lb-plus catch of carp to 14lb, barbel and crucians on Horseshoe Lake is possible on the Method feeder to the island with single or double red maggot on the hook. Contact: 0121 445 4274 Postcode: B45 8BW BLUEBELL LAKES, OUNDLE, NORTHANTS Bluebell Lake has been producing good catches of specimen roach to maggots fished on a bomb. Most lakes here hold a good number of roach and by catapulting regularly you’ll be able to put a good bed of bait down. As the water temperatures are quite low, the fish won’t come up in the water very readily. Contact: 01832 226042 Postcode: PE8 5HP BODDINGTON RESERVOIR, DAVENTRY, NORTHANTS Boddingtons is a Canal & River Trust-run venue containing a huge head of carp to over 20lb. Bomb, feeder and pole tactics work superbly well here although while water levels are low it’s worth sticking with the bomb and pellet in conjunction with a pellet cone or a small PVA bag. It may also be worth fishing maggot on the pole close in for a big bag of roach. Contact: 01908 302556 Postcode: NN11 6UD FISHERWICK LAKES, LICHFIELD, STAFFS Nets to 50lb-plus are featuring on the Match Pool with anglers mainly bagging up with carp averaging 3lb-4lb and silverfish by fishing maggot and corn down the edge. This lake has 31 pegs to choose from, but always follow the wind for the best results. Contact: 01543 433606 Postcode: WS13 8QF GRAHAM’S POND, HUNTINGDON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE Here you’ll find an excellent match-style carp lake full of features, ideally designed with the pole angler in mind. The carp average around 5lb and prefer baits like pellets, paste or corn fished down the margins or out at 5m in front of you. Contact: 07879 000544 Postcode: PE29 6EG HAVENSIDE FISHERY, WAINFLEET, LINCOLNSHIRE There are 35 pegs on this well-designed lake, containing mostly carp and a mix of silverfish species including bream, ide, chub and barbel. The islands can be reached with an 11m-15m pole, while the area between the two islands is suitable for fishing a waggler or feeder. This is precisely the place you need to be targeting if you want to catch a proper mixed bag. Contact: 01754 880445 Postcode: PE24 4NB
PRIORY LAKES, RUSKINGTON, LINCOLNSHIRE
Lake Two is all about matchcarping where fishing the bomb or feeder to the islands can account for fish to 10lb. Take pellets, Band’ems, corn and dead maggots and stick to the bait the fish prefer. Contact: 01526 834444 Postcode: NG34 9DJ
RYCROFT FISHERIES, CASTLE DONINGTON, LEICS
Catch 50lb nets of skimmers on the Carp Pool, fishing expanders over a bed of micros. As its name suggests the pool also contains loads of big carp which can be caught in the deeper water at this time of year. Contact: 07816 052235 Postcode: DE74 2RE
SHORTHEATH WATER, MOIRA, LEICS
The pellet bomb fished in the early pegs and the Method feeder fished tight over to the island from the pegs in the late teens are producing superb nets of carp. Fish to 12lb can be taken down the edge late on, with paste and pellet proving the most popular hookbaits. Contact: 01283 763777 Postcode: DE12 6BW
TEMPLE FARM FISHERY, HINKLEY, LEICS
Dave’s Pool is better known for its carp to 32lb but there are also plenty of roach over 1lb in here. Target them by loosefeeding casters in open water. Contact: 01455 220422 Postcode: LE10 3HY
THE RIDDINGS FISHERY, ATHERTON, WARKS
Anglers are catching some huge lumps down the edge with carp to double figures not shy to feed. Visitors are not just catching on the pole because a small Method feeders or bomb works well too in open water. Contact: 01827 713244 Postcode: CV9 2PE