STILLWATERS

COLEMAN’S COTTAGE, WITHAM, ESSEX

This complex is stuffed with rodwrenching carp and F1s. Head to Pathfield Lake for consistent F1 sport, using the pole shallow with either caster or pellet hookbaits. Hot areas on this lake include pegs opposite the islands. Fish as tight to them as you can during hot spells, but also don’t forget the margins. In the evenings the carp will switch on – set up on Copse Lake to catch them into double figures. You can tempt them close in on the pole or waggler, or tight to the lilies with a feeder. Corn, meat, paste or pellet all work. Contact: 01376 516383 Postcode: CM8 3EX

LAKE JOHN FISHERY, WALTHAM ABBEY, ESSEX

Bags to 100lb-plus of bream are well on the cards at this superb fishery. Find the slabs in the Top Lake of 2.5 acres, and tempt them with a pellet approach. Best line of attack is to use the pole to present a soft 4mm hookbait over a helping of dampened micro pellets. If you want to leger, you can’t go wrong with a groundbait feeder. Try a sweet fishmeal crumb with added chopped worm and casters, then imitate the loosefeed with a matching chopped worm and caster cocktail hookbait. You will also encounter tench, and maybe even a rogue carp. Contact: Colin, 07958 938153 Postcode: EN9 2BJ

NEW CLAYGATE LAKES, MARDEN, KENT

Reports show that Lake Sophie is currently fishing its head off. The 30-peg snake lake has recently produced good bags of carp, which respond to polefished pellet, paste or meat. Best areas to target are either across to the far margin, or short down the edge. Now the water temperatures are up, fishing shallow can be very effective.For really simple fishing, try Lake Eva, where you can catch plenty of carp on surface-fished breadflake. If they’re not taking it freely off the top, try legered flake. Contact: 01892 730641 Postcode: TN12 9PL

RIB VALLEY LAKES, WARE, HERTS

Westmill Lake is currently fishing very well, with mixed bags of bream, tench and carp being caught off almost any peg. Visiting anglers can be looking at catches of 50lb-plus, alongside double-figure bags of roach and perch in the margins. The best tactic for the bream and tench is to floatfish at around 10m in the deepest section of the channel with pellet or corn over a healthy helping of groundbait. For the carp you can’t beat a feeder tight up to towards the island. Specimen anglers should head to Rib Lake, where carp are showing in numbers, some of which are 28lb. Now that the marginal weed is growing, big roach and perch will be taken on worm or maggot just beyond the weed line. Contact: 01920 462200 Postcode: SG12 0ES

SANDWICH LAKES, CANTERBURY, KENT

Big carp are putting on a show here as the weather warms. Numerous double-figure fish are falling on Victory Lake, among a few lumps to 28lb. Most anglers are enjoying multiple-fish hits fishing towards the reeds with boilie or wafter hookbaits over matching free offerings. Some anglers are catching well overnight, it may be best to do this to build a swim. Kingfisher Lake is ideal for bagging-up with carp to 10lb, alongside the odd very large perch. This pool and Meadow Lake are ideal for beginners, as a bite is always on the cards. Keep it simple with waggler-fished maggots, corn or worm for a mixed bag. Contact: 07936 409912 Postcode: CT3 2DA

THE SEDGES, BRIDGWATER, SOMERSET

Some cracking weights have been landed from both Tile and Brick Lakes in recent matches. It’s mostly carp and bream making up the weights. To join in on the current carp action, try presenting a pellet or paste hookbait down the edge – you can do this with either the pole or waggler. If you like your quivertip fishing then a feeder loaded with a sweet fishmeal groundbait presented in open water will score the bream, with baits such as pellet, chopped

worm and caster scoring. A Method feeder tight to the rushlined island may score for the carp. Fishing shallow can also work very well for a mixed bag. Use maggots on a light waggler rig set to fish on the drop and consistently feed five or six maggots every cast to keep the fish interested. Contact: 01278 445221 Postcode: TA7 0AA

SINAH LAKE, HAYLING ISLAND, HAMPSHIRE

This picturesque 15-acre gravel pit is a bit of a hotspot for silvers – just last week one angler enjoyed 55lb of skimmers, roach and sizeable bream. The angler in question approached his swim with a variety of tactics to keep bites coming. A groundbait feeder filled with dark fishmeal groundbait, chopped worm, pellets and dead reds produced well – although local advice suggests groundbait can spook the fish here. A pole line at 14.5m was also used effectively, resulting in the biggest bream of the day at 8lb 2oz. The lake also holds carp to 30lb. This water is members only, but a weekly ticket is available. Contact: Portsmouth DAS, 07944 917293 Postcode: PO11 0BX