Angling Times (UK)

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Neglected silvers are quick to respond to a light touch

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THERE are literally hundreds of venues across the country where big baits such as pellets and boilies dominate the bait trays of visitors. Big carp are their sole target, and the super-sized offerings they present mean mirrors and commons are the only species able to get their mouths around them. Anything else that lurks beneath the surface never gets caught – these smaller fish feed on the scraps and on bait that has been ignored and disintegra­ted over a period of time. That is exactly what happens at Sumners Ponds, where a large proportion of the visitors have a personal-best carp at the forefront of their minds.

But their one-track approach leads to them missing out on so much more, because large numbers of other quality fish are present here.

Marukyu and Middy’s Russell Shipton breaks the mould at the complex by targeting the neglected species, and has enjoyed sessions that have ended with over 50lb of silverfish.

“Sumners rightly has a great reputation for big carp, as it has produced numerous fish over 30lb – but it is also home to huge shoals of roach to 2lb, perch to 4lb, barbel to 8lb and bream over 7lb,” explained Russell.

“Not many people are aware that these fish are even present, as they fish too heavy to get

among them, but scale down and you’ll struggle to guess what you’ll catch next.”

Farm, Ribbon and Match lend themselves best to the ‘catch everything that swims’ approach, although Sumners and Betty’s have some surprises too.

Although the action on the bank will be of primary concern to anglers, the owners have also put their money where their

“Scale down your tackle and you’ll struggle to guess what species you’ll catch next”

mouth is in other department­s.

Accommodat­ion, ranging from lakeside lodges to camping pods, has been constructe­d on the 100-acre site, with a café and restaurant selling everything from a cooked breakfast all the way through to a slap-up three course meal.

There’s even a bar, so you can raise a glass to that special catch on the bank once the action is over for the day.

There’s so much more to commercial­s than just carp – scale down your tackle and discover a very different side to Sumners this week. PRICES: Adults £8 one rod, £12 two rods. Concession­s £7 and £10 LOCATION: Sumners Ponds, Chapel Road, Barns Green, Horsham, W Sussex, RH13 0PR CONTACT: Call 01403 732539 or visit www.sumnerspon­ds.co.uk RULES: Barbless hooks only, 1kg groundbait limit per day, no keepnets

 ??  ?? Casters appeal to a wide range of species.
Casters appeal to a wide range of species.
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 ??  ?? Russell Shipton nets a Sumners roach that had probably never seen a hook before.
Russell Shipton nets a Sumners roach that had probably never seen a hook before.

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