STILLWATERS
CARP VALE FISHERY, YORK, N YORKS
Corn and pop-ups fished over a bed of hemp are catching big carp here. Feed a pint of bait to kickstart the swim, then top up if bites slow down. Use double corn on the hook to single out the bigger fish. There are also some huge catfish in here which respond well to bigger baits. Contact: 01904 738249 Postcode: YO26 8LA
FIRSWOOD FISHERIES, SKELMERSDALE, LANCS
Fish up in the water around 8m-14m out with maggot on the Big Lake to bag up on quality F1s and ide. Use a catapult and ping out at least 10 maggots every 10 seconds to keep the fish on the move. Try using a fake sinking maggot on the hook to save rebaiting. Contact: 07980 972307 Postcode: WN8 8UP
GERMAN LANE FISHERY, CHORLEY, LANCS
Big bags of silverfish and small carp averaging 2lb are being caught on the small lake. The snake-type Match Lake is also fishing well with good nets of small carp, crucians, ide and roach being caught on pole and expanders. Contact: 01257 265892 Postcode: PR7 5NE
HALL LANE FISHERY, PARBOLD, LANCASHIRE
If you’re into your pole fishing then Lancashire’s Hall Lane Fishery has three canal-style pools to choose from and excellent far-bank and island features to swing your bait to. Triple-figure nets are also showing now the sun is shining, and you can start to expect this across all lakes. A 108lb bag of carp and silvers fell to an angler who fished pellet and maggot down the edge and across on Bess’s Lake from peg 4. This lake is mostly stocked with carp averaging 4lb and is the place to be if you’re after consistent elastic-pulling action. Contact: 07766 141388 Postcode: WN8 7BD
HAMPTON SPRINGS FISHERY, MALPAS, CHESHIRE
All eight lakes here are fishing exceptionally well. Fishing to an island on any lake is the best move, with maggots and casters fished over micro pellets catching an array of fish from roach to double-figure carp. Contact: 01948 820789 Postcode: SY14 8AD
LAKEMORE FISHERIES, CREWE, CHESHIRE
Feeding heavily with pellets could attract a 70lb catfish on Horseshoe Lake. Target the margins and large areas of open water and fish a running leger outfit with a large pellet on the
hair to catch these monsters. Contact: 07771 848801 Postcode: CW1 5SQ
LINDHOLME LAKES, DONCASTER, N LINCS
Pellet fished towards the island on Bonsai Lake is currently catching 100lb bags of carp and F1s. If you can’t reach the fish using the pole, a bomb set-up can score equally well. Use a banded 6mm pellet or a hair-rigged kernel of corn on the hook for instant bites. Contact: 01427 872905 Postcode: DN9 1LF
NONE-GO-BYE-FARM, LEEDS, S YORKS
Fishing shallow with casters or maggots is a sure-fire way of catching chub to over 4lb. Keep adjusting your depth by a few inches to locate the shoals. As always, use a catapult and keep the feed going in to keep the fish up in the water. Contact: 0113 284206 Postcode: LS18 5HZ
RUFFORD MEADOW FISHERY, RUFFORD, CHESHIRE
Cracking nets of carp and chub can be caught here by fishing 2ft deep with the pellet waggler. A 6mm
hard pellet is the perfect hookbait for these fish, but ping out 4mm pellets to get the best results. Contact: 07771696999 Postcode: L40 1TB
SALTFLEETBY FISHERIES, LOUTH, N LINCS
Kingfisher and Island Lake both have an island to target with pellet and sweetcorn. Pot in corn and micro pellets initially and fish a grain of corn or a 6mm pellet over the top for carp, bream and tench. Contact: 01507 338272 Postcode: LN11 7SS
WESTFIELD COUNTY PARK, BURTON PIDSEA, YORKS
Some big bream can be caught in Lake 2 here, with specimens up to 12lb a genuine possibility. They can be caught on a 20-yard chuck with a cage feeder filled with liquidised bread. A redworm and caster cocktail is hard to beat as a hookbait. Contact: 0845 4682011 Postcode: HU12 9AL
WHITMORE FISHERIES, PRESTON, LANCS
The Club Canal and Island Pool are home to some massive perch over 4lb. Feed maggots in the margins on a regular basis and fish a large lobworm over the top. If you catch carp it’s time to fish another line! Contact: 07891 397086 Postcode: PR4 3HQ