SAMPLE BEST OF IRELAND
Enjoy top-quality sport with luxury accommodation
THIS stunning hotel in the town of Arvagh is well-known by match anglers for the regular festivals it sponsors – attracting some on the sport’s biggest names – and is situated close to the Cavan-LeitrimLongford border.
There are hundreds of lakes to keep anglers pleased, including Gowna and Gulladoo along with river fishing too, and all sited just 90 minutes from Dublin and Belfast.
Family-run, Breffni offers the visitor 13 superbly-appointed family and standard guest bedrooms on a bed and breakfast or bed, breakfast and evening meal basis, with all the facilities to ensure a comfortable stay including Wi-Fi, multi-channel TV and direct dial phones.
You’ll also be spoilt on the dining front, with bar food served throughout the day alongside the sumptuous restaurant offering modern cuisine and a range of fine wines – plus plenty of beer and Irish stout, of course!
But while you’re not relaxing in the hotel it’s the fishing that’s the main order of business here and if bream, roach and hybrid sport is what you’re after then we recommend Lough Gowna, where you can catch between 50lb and 80lb of them on cage feeder or slider float tactics.
Come in closer on the pole with maggots over groundbait for the roach – which can be caught up to 2lb and over… if you’re lucky!
You can also fish the town lake, – Garty – which is 150yds from the hotel to the new fishing stand. Anglers are presently catching bags of roach, hybrids and some bream, perch and big pike.
NESTLED in the Tas Valley in the heart of the Norfolk countryside is Taswood Lakes, a picturesque and tranquil fishery.
There is something for all anglers here. For the dedicated carp angler there are four main carp lakes – Spring, Grove, Heron and Broadwing – all available to fish on a day ticket.
The hard-fighting English carp in these lakes have reached weights topping 42lb 5oz in the past, with some immaculate specimen commons and mirrors on offer.
The coarse lakes – Lapwing, Osprey and Grebe – are well stocked and contain a variety of species. Tench lakes, mixed pleasure lakes, match-style carp lakes, whatever technique you wish to use or species you wish to target, this fishery will accommodate you.
Nets in excess of 100lb are recorded every season, made up of specimen tench, roach, chub and bream.
The complex has comfortable swims, along with toilets, shower facilities and ample car parking.
There is a tackle, bait and general convenience shop on site which also sells food. Use of a microwave is available.
When on holiday at Taswood you can choose to stay in one of the four stunning holiday cottages which overlook Osprey Lake. Each has its own private swim for some real exclusive and intimate fishing.
FLOAT Fish Farm is one of Britain’s most up-and-coming fisheries, offering everything from 40lb carp to big bags of silvers, making it the perfect venue whatever sort of angler you are.
There are three specimen lakes available, the first of which is Home Lake. This is a 14-peg water containing carp up to 26lb and newly introduced catfish to 42lb.
Five-peg Sand Lake houses the fishery’s largest resident, with Kimmy the catfish weighing around 65lb alongside carp to 34lb and a multitude of fish over 20lb.
The largest carp on the complex reside in Lapwing Lake, which go to 45lb 3oz. There are two other 40s, plenty of 30s plus stunning koi, with more 30s going in this December to increase the portfolio of big fish.
For the match and pleasure angler, Float Fish boasts six fish-filled waters. Perhaps the most unique is the intimate three-peg Tench Lake, which is stuffed with golden and green tench to 7lb.
Kingfisher is filled with every species imaginable – including carp to lower double figures.
If you enjoy fishing a variety of tactics, Horseshoe is the place to target. It responds to the feeder, pole, waggler or straight lead.
Wagtail is a very popular lake among match anglers. It contains a great head of carp, plus massive ide.
There is lots of room on Two Islands, with 34 pegs. It makes for a great lake, with deep open water and island chucks available for most.
The most recent addition at Float Fish is Phoenix Lake, which is wellstocked with 200lb per peg of hard fighting carp, ide and barbel.
Float Fish Farm also boasts a fantastic on-site tackle shop selling fresh maggots, casters, pinkies and worms, as well as tackle from all the leading companies including Korda, ESP, Guru and Drennan.
REEPHAM Fishery offers fantastic fishing across four spring-fed lakes in beautiful surroundings, and the holiday accommodation is the ideal place for a wind-down break.
The fishery is situated in the heart of Norfolk, between the bright lights of Norwich and the county’s breathtaking northern coastline.
For many years Reepham Fishery has offered day-ticket fishing, corporate events and holidays.
The lakes are stocked with a variety of species including carp, tench, bream, barbel, roach and rudd.
There’s a total of 57 pegs on Long and Main Lake, while Bungalow Lake offers a further 20. Disabled pegs are right by the entrance, and guests have exclusive use of the Silverfish Lake. All methods work here, from feeder fishing to rigs down the margin on the pole.
Reepham will definitely give all visiting anglers something to think about on the day!
Situated less than half-a-mile from the town of the same name’s Georgian market place, Reepham Fishery is just a short walk from an array of independent shops including butchers, florist, chemist, post office and gift shop. There are two pubs and three cafés, as well as a restaurant for eating out.
The accommodation places you in the heart of the countryside, and the lakes and grounds are a haven for wildlife. The holiday homes are superbly situated on an elevated position overlooking the lakes.
AT SOUTH Farm holiday Cottages and Fishery on the edge of the Blackdown Hills in East Devon you can fish three quality lakes and stay in top-class, dog-friendly accommodation in peaceful surroundings.
The fishing is free for guests, with beaches, moors and towns including Torquay, Lyme Regis, Beer and Sidmouth all within easy reach.
You have the choice of eight cottages, from a farmhouse that sleeps 10 to Swallow Cottage sleeping two. Prices range from £250 for a weekend break in Swallow Cottage to £2,500 for the farmhouse in high season – this price includes sauna and hot tub, play barn, gym, Wi-Fi and swimming pool through the summer months.
Keep an eye on the website for details of special offers.
The lakes are spring-fed with a fine stock of carp in excess of 20lb, chub, specimen roach, tench, silver bream, perch and crucians to 3lb 8oz. In Home Lake resident holiday guests can catch mirror, common and koi cross carp to 25lb, plus tench, perch, roach, bream, golden rudd and crucians. Lower Ram, the largest lake, is stocked with common and mirror carp in the 5lb-9lb range, with some to 15lb. The chub go to 5lb, the crucians over 3lb, and there are good roach and bream – ideal if you’re aiming for a 100lb bag.
Upper Ram has loads of small carp and silvers, and is an ideal small lake where novices and children can develop their skills.
SET in beautiful Norfolk countryside, this award-winning site caters for all styles of angling, with the beginner and experienced specimen hunter accommodated euqally well.
There are five lakes on site, all varying in size, depth and the species they hold. For beginners or those looking to bag up, Alexs Lake is a good place to start. This small pool is great for floatfishing, where loads of bites can be had from bream, ide, tench and carp.
Other waters offering similar bagging potential include Amys and Giannas Lakes. The match lake, Amys, is perfect for pole fishing, with two islands at 12m-16m range. The fish in this lake respond very well to shallow tactics with pellets or maggots.
For keen carp anglers, Adams and Marios lakes are the places to be. Adams is a typical runs water with a big head of carp to 33lb present.
Small PVA bags of pellets or a Method feeder approach will produce consistent action on here, especially when combined with a small fruitflavoured boilie hookbait.
The real monsters at Cobbleacre lie within Marios Lake. In this three-anda-half-acre water you will find carp to 35lb and some enormous catfish which run to 65lb. All high-quality boilies work on this lake, and the island is usually a good starting point to search out these big fish.
Staying at Cobbleacre couldn’t be simpler, with a choice of four static caravans available for rent and touring pitches situated just 81 metres from the lakes.
For supplies, the town of Aylsham is just 15 minutes away and boasts many small shops selling local produce and bakery products.
A VISIT to the Oak Lakes Fisheries complex will provide you with the opportunity to hook some amazing fish, while still being able to relax in beautiful surroundings.
Each one of the four lakes offers something slightly different – making this an ideal place for anglers of all ages and abilities.
If you’re after a specimen carp, there are two lakes on the complex boasting fish over the 30lb mark.
Day-ticket anglers can fish the well-established Oak Lake, which is full of features, and plenty of fish too. Alongside the carp you’ll find tench into double figures, silver fish, bream, and some very large crucians. The lake holds 26 pegs, which leaves plenty of space for everyone.
Those looking for a more serious commitment could join the members-only Pipe Lake, which supports 12 known thirties and 60 fish over 20lb.
Want to catch a massive catfish? The exclusive predator lake here holds moggies topping the 140lb mark. The lake has to be booked, with day and night fishing available.
Finally, for those after some traditional silver fish sport, you could do a lot worse than a day spent on the Match Lake.
The heavily stocked 2.5-acre lake is home to crucians, tench, bream, carp and some fantastic roach and rudd of a high average stamp.
Ringwood and District Anglers Association has come a long way since its humble beginnings more than 70 years ago.
Originally formed by a small group of enthusiasts, it has grown to be one of the largest fishing clubs in the South of England. It boasts an impressive portfolio of waters which cater for all types of angler – from novices with a newly discovered passion for fishing, to the more experienced angler and their pursuit of catching the fish of a lifetime. Membership of the club will open these doors for you and many others.
For the river angler membership of Ringwood and District Anglers Association will give you access to 10 miles of the magnificent Hampshire Avon including the famous Severals and Royalty fisheries with recent catches of barbel to over 16lb, 7lbplus chub, roach over 2lb and 20lbplus pike. Coupled with this members also have access to 11 stretches of the glorious Dorset Stour, some 15 miles of river including the famous Throop Fishery and Christchurch Harbour. They have seen recent catches of fish including barbel to over 15lb, chub to over 7lb, 3lb-plus roach, perch to over 4lb and pike over 20lb. Alongside this, both of these rivers also hold 20lb-plus carp and many other species to specimen weights.
Game anglers can also enjoy great fishing, with several of the Avon and Stour stretches offering salmon and sea trout fishing at no additional cost to membership.
Stillwater anglers also have plenty of choice, with 15 lakes available to members. They include everything from smaller picturesque lakes to bigger venues including the Northfield complex and the 55-acre Rockford Lake. Recent catches the lakes include carp to over 60lb, tench to over 13lb, bream to 19lb and catfish to over 70lb.
For full details of the clubs venues, membership and day ticket information please visit the clubs website at ringwoodfishing.co.uk.
TWO miles from the historic market town of Battle, Wylands Angling Centre is surrounded by 154 acres of woodland – a tranquil setting for a family fishing holiday.
With nine lakes to choose from, the fishery caters for everyone from the novice to hardened specimen hunters. The fishing includes carp, rod-bending cats and mixed coarse species. On top of this there’s a snack bar, fully-stocked tackle shop, toilets, showers and expert advice on tap.
If you’re a match or pleasure angler then head for House Pool, which has plenty of space, disabled-friendly pegs and a stock of carp to 25lb, plus silvers. With three small islands there are plenty of features to target and the margins can also be rewarding.
To put a real bend in your rod there are three specimen waters – Kell and
New Speci contain carp to 38lb while Maisie’s Pool is renowned for catfish which reach weights over 57lb.
On the accommodation front, Wylands offers self-catering chalets and caravans. Studio-style two-berth chalets comprise kitchen/lounge/ bedroom and shower room, while for larger parties or those that just prefer a bit of extra space, six-berth caravans provide three separate bedrooms, a kitchen, shower, toilet and lounge area.
All prices include fishing – so no additional charges need be added.
For the latest angling and accommodation prices please visit the website: www.wylands.co.uk