UK ROUND-UP
NORTH HILLTOP RESERVOIR, SLAITHWAITE, WEST YORKS
At 11 acres, Hilltop Reservoir is the largest water on Slaithwaite DAC books. It is 10ft deep under the rod tip, offering good mixed sport on a day ticket.
What’s been out? Pike to 20lb, bream to 7lb, roach and perch. Tactics to use: Deadbaits and lures for pike, long-distance feeder with groundbait and maggots for bream. For quality roach nets use the pole at 10m-13m with maggots/caster.
Contact: Chris Roberts Tackle, 01484 545032
Postcode: HD7 5XE
HUDDERSFIELD NARROW CANAL, LINTHWAITE, W YORKS
This Slaithwaite DAC-controlled water is a mixed species day-ticket water full of surprises.
What’s been out? Mixed silverfish nets with quality roach, the occasional chub to 5lb, rogue double-figure carp and pike. Tactics to use: The pole outscores other methods with maggots, caster or breadpunch the top baits.
Contact: Chris Roberts Tackle, 01484 545032
Postcode: HD7 5NB
MIDLANDS TAVERHAM MILL LAKES, NR NORWICH, NORFOLK
Much of this Anglian Water complex is carp syndicate-only, but for those who prefer old-style sport the scenic three-acre day ticket lake is ideal. What’s been out? Quality roach to nearly 2lb, 2lb-plus perch, chub, bream and the occasional tench. Tactics to use: A standard floatfishing, leger or feeder approach will bring results, with maggots, sweetcorn, worms and bread all popular baits.
Contact: 01603 861014
Postcode: NR8 6TA
MILL LODGE FARM LAKE, GREAT RYBURGH, NORFOLK
This one-acre lake is a tranquil crucian carp and tench-only haven developed by Gary Boyce, who built the venue from scratch. A limited number of day tickets, booked in advance, are available.
What’s been out? Good numbers of crucians to 1lb 8oz. Catches of tench to 3lb will increase as the water warms.
Tactics to use: Floatfish on the pole or with rod and centrepin. Target the margins or edges of lily beds using maggots, corn or bread.
Contact: 01328 829104
Postcode: NR21 OEB
GRAND UNION CANAL, BRADWELL, BUCKS
The Bradwell stretch is part of around nine miles of the Grand Union on Milton Keynes Angling Association’s books, offering good mixed sport all year round and fishable on a day ticket.
What’s been out? Recent match won with 32lb of silvers and bream. Tactics to use: For mixed silvers floatfish pinkies and maggots. Feed chopped worm with worm on the hook for perch to 2lb.
Contact: Gone Fishin, 01908 313158
Postcode: MK13 OLZ
SOUTH BULLOCK FARM FISHERY, NORTH SOMERSET
Light tackle has been taking mixed bags to 50lb at this five-lake fishery at Kingston Seymour.
What’s been out? Mainly silvers plus chub, rudd, carp and crucians. Tactics to use: On the Match Lake, (pegs 14-26) use a 1lb hooklength and a 20 hook with single red or white maggot and feed micro pellets for double-figure bags of mixed silvers. On Rushcombe Lake try either side of the bridge to the island and pegs 1, 2, 3 for carp and roach. For perch on North Pool target the lily pads between pegs 1 and 2 and the far margins from the ‘Hovis’ peg. For bream to 6lb leger corn on South Pool.
Contact: 01934 835020
Postcode: BS21 6XA
ALDERWOOD PONDS, STEYNING, W SUSSEX
Red-hot carp action on the one-acre Island Lake specimen water. What’s been out? An angler had 20 carp from 12lb-19lb in daylight. Perch to 3lb-plus have also been landed. Smaller carp, perch and silvers have been active on Corsican Lake. Tactics to use: For carp, target open water, use a lead up to 1oz. Halibut pellets, boilies and luncheon meat score well. Floatfish prawns in the margins for specimen perch. On Corsican, floatfish natural baits.
Contact: 01903 816377
Postcode: BN44 3AA
GRAND WESTERN CANAL, TIVERTON, DEVON
Tiverton DAA controls the fishing on over 11 miles of canal starting at the Basin and offering a multitude of opportunities for day ticket anglers. What’s been out? Early tench featured in a recent match. Roach, bream, carp, big perch and pike to the late teens are all present. Tactics to use: Fish squatts, pinkies or breadpunch for silvers. For the predators use deadbaits, or lure fish.
Contact: Culm Valley Angling 01884 839273
Postcode: EX16 4HX