FISHERY OF THE WEEK
Arena Lake in top form for mixed bags
Cudmore, Staffs
“Every lake here is brilliant, but Arena Lake is my favourite”
CUDMORE Fisheries has seen major changes over the years, but there has never been a better time than now for silverfish fans to visit the venue.
The Staffordshire complex - once home to the Fish O’ Mania final - has always had a solid reputation for providing action from a range of species, regardless of the weather or the time of year. And this summer it has been in scintillating form.
The 11 lakes spread across the site hold all manner of species, and big nets of ide, bream, tench and perch are easily achievable from many of them.
Complex of convenience
Fishery staff have worked hard over the years to create a venue that appeals on every level to the modern-day angler. Parking is available behind dozens of pegs and if you can’t get directly to the back of your swim, there will be spaces within a short walking distance. A highly rated café greets you just beyond the entrance, with toilets also available. When it comes to the fishing, the silverfish are spread far and wide.
Big nets of ide can be caught shallow on Suez, Tara has personal best-busting perch stocked, and it’s impossible to guess what you’ll catch next on Drumble.
Ask a handful of regulars what their pick of the bunch is, and you’ll get a different answer every time. Former Fish O’ Mania champion Andy May is in no doubt as to which lake he holds in the highest regard.
“Every lake at Cudmore can produce brilliant sport but Arena is my favourite,” Andy tells us.
“There are so many different ways to fish it and each one will put you in with a chance of catching a range of species.”
Short pole bagging
No matter which lake you head for to set your stall out for the silvers, floatfishing will put you in the best position to bag up in style.
A small waggler will put fish in the net, but the short pole presented around 6m out is even more effective.
Keep a trickle of maggots or casters going in to get the fish competing, using a rig where the small shot are strung out down the line to make the hookbait fall at a really slow pace.
This will ensure fish can snap the hookbait up regardless of where in the water column they are sat.
Go with 0.16mm mainline to a 0.12mm hooklength and a size 16 hook and you’ll keep the silvers coming thick and fast.