STILLWATERS

BERNERS HALL FISHERY, ONGAR, ESSEX

Those who like their specimen carp fishing should put this dayticket water in their diary. In the 24-acre reservoir you will find fish breaking the 30lb barrier, along with plenty of back-up 20-pounders. They will fall to a variety of tactics, but this time of year a zig rig is hard to beat, as is a bottom bait over free offerings. There are two smaller pools here, which will suit those looking for a more intimate water. The fishing on this complex is pre-booking only. Contact: 01245231746 Postcode: CM5 0TB

COB HOUSE FISHERY, WORCESTER, WORCS

Match angler Jake Cork recently visited this eight-lake complex, and found success fishing on Wyatts Pool. He targeted the 30-peg venue with pole tactics, with pellets helping him take 225lb of carp from peg 29. He imitated the free offerings with and 8mm banded hookbait on a size 18 hook. Now that it’s warmed up, a lot of fish will be in the upper layers – fish shallow to catch them. You will also locate a lot of fish in the margins late on. Target them with paste, corn or pellet. If you’ve got a youngster in tow, a trip to Laurel Pool would be right up your street as some pegs are close together, ideal for parents and children. On this lake a simple waggler approach with maggots will score plenty of bites from carp and silvers. Contact: 01886 888 517 Postcode: WR6 6YE

FERRY MEADOWS, PETERBOROUGH, CAMBS

This natural bream mecca is now starting to find form, and while the fishing isn’t the easiest, what’s being caught is very respectable, with some fish approaching double figures. You can stick to an old-school approach of using a quivertip and groundbait feeder. However, a specimen-style attack can definitely outfish it here. Try introducing a few pints of hemp, casters, pellets and corn before presenting Method feeders with worm, maggot, wafters or artificial corn hookbaits – best advice is to chop and change on the day to see which hookbait is scoring best. This is a large sheet of water, and at times the bream will need locating, but once found you can be in for some hectic action. Currently fishing well is Gunwade – peg 66 produced 15 fish to one angler. Contact: Peterborough DAA, 07702 440892 Postcode: PE2 5UU

FURNACE MILL FISHERY, KIDDERMINSTER, WORCS

Previously fished by Matt Hayes, this complex is a hotspot for some serious rod bending action regardless of your chosen species. Silverfish fanatics will be pleased to hear that the roach here have thrived, and now run to well over the 2lb mark. Target them in Mucky Meadow Pool with waggler fished maggot – corn or pellet may well pick out the better fish. You will also find plenty of carp here, which can be great fun on surface- fished baits. Loosefeed pre-soaked floating mixers, and present your hookbait among the feeding fish with the aid of a surface controller. Use a fine hooklength of around 10lb breaking strain, and a small size 10 hook, for best results. Contact: 01299 266777 Postcode: DY14 8NR

JANSON FISHERY, ELTON, NOTTS

Weights to 200lb-plus of carp continue to feature here – topped by an incredible 300lb-plus bag in recent weeks. The catch came from the Match Lake, and to join in on the action, you can’t beat a pellet approach. A little tip is to dampen your pellet with liquid attractors – the fish will find them far more attractive. Now it’s warmed up, paste can also be deadly in the margins. You’ll need a slightly different approach on Donut Pool, but the rewards here are fantastic, with doublefigure carp, big barbel, and ide approaching 4lb. Try fishing caster shallow here for silvers, or down the edge with meat, corn or paste for elastic-stretching carp and barbel. Contact: 07555 892127 Postcode: NG13 9FA

LAKE HELEN, SUTTERTON, LINCS

This is a little bit niche, perhaps, but those who fancy a go at catching a huge eel should definitely head to this water – they run to over 4lb and have been caught to 9lb in the past! To target them, try a legered lobworm on a free-running rig or a chunk of luncheon meat. Best feeding times are generally after dark. If you couldn’t think of a worse species to target, then fear not, as the lake also holds crucians, carp, tench, bream, perch and silvers. To target

them try a float against the lilies, or a feeder into open water. Contact: 01205 460741 Postcode: PE20 2EN

SOUTH LAGOON, BEDFORD, BEDFORDSHIRE

If you’re after some bream action then you may be interested in South Lagoon on the Wyboston lakes complex. The fish in here run to double figures, and if you get on the shoal, a 100lb-plus weight is more than possible. One angler recently took 27 fish for 132lb. This being a large water of 20 acres it perfectly suits a legering approach. To draw the fish into your swim, try laying down a carpet of free offerings such as hemp, corn, pellet and caster – then present Method feeder rigs over the top. The fishing is run by Luton Angling Club on a day ticket, which costs just £6 for an adult. Contact: 01582 728114 Postcode: MK44 3AL