Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Well worth the journey
Anglers clock up hundreds of miles to have a crack at this top class complex and Alex Hulme shows why they willingly travel so far
IT TAKES something really special to tempt the modern angler far from their home. The plethora of options on the commercial fishery scene makes it easy to visit a prolific venue within a short drive of your doorstep, making a long jaunt pointless in many instances.
But there are some fisheries that dangle such an irresistible carrot that people flock from far and wide to see what the hype is all about.
If those anglers have a day to remember and spread rave reviews, their trip will have a domino effect, with even more clocking up the miles to experience what is quite clearly among the crème de la crème of venues.
That is exactly what has happened at Heronbrook Fisheries. Located between Stafford and Stoke- on- Trent, it has plenty of competition nearby, yet years of hard work by a dedicated management team has ensured it has remainded the number one choice with hundreds of locals.
However, it’s following from further afield is what is most impressive, with anglers making visits from counties such as Lancashire, Yorkshire and even Warwickshire.
Alex Hulme has been a fishery regular for several years and reckons the secret to success is pretty simple.
“The owner makes sure there are lots of quality fish to be caught while also guaranteeing the lakes are stocked to an appropriate level,” explained Alex.
“Each lake offers something that little bit different but no matter where you pitch up, there is every chance you could land 100lb, or even 200lb, and there is bound to be some absolutely stunning fish among them.”
Versatile venue
Seven lakes have been constructed and a very traditional commercial stocking policy has been employed.
Carp and F1s play a big part in catches on all of them, with a sprinkling of barbel, chub and ide added for a touch of variety.
Regular introductions have been made over the years and that keeps you on edge as to what stamp of fish could be next to take the bait.
“Your first bite could be from a small F1 while the next could be a double- figure carp. That unpredictability makes for really exciting fishing,” said Alex.
Bridge, Canal, Pisces, Match Pool and Meadow are traditional snake lakes where pellets to the far bank and the short pole work best in autumn but it is the Match
“Long and short pole, pellet waggler, bomb, Method feeder and margin fishing will all produce bites”
Lake that Alex favours. Originally intended for specimen anglers, it has undergone a major revamp in recent years so that it now includes two islands and much open water to go at.
The original carp run to just shy of 20lb and giant F1s to more than 8lb still call it home but there are also plenty of smaller examples of both that have been stocked more recently.
Choose your tactics
One factor that helps to put a fishery in the elite category is its tactical versatility.
If you need to use a certain approach to catch plenty of fish then it is only going to get the thumbs up from a fraction the angling community.
Heronbrook, however, is the sort of place where a competent angler will put fish in the net, no matter which route they take.
“Long and short pole, pellet waggler, bomb, Method feeder and margin fishing will all be rewarded and produce bites on Match Lake if you set up your rigs correctly and feed appropriately.
“This certainly isn’t a venue where you can fish a top kit almost under your feet and catch a big carp every put in with ease – you definitely have to ‘ fish’ for them.”
Setting up on peg four, Alex decided he fancied a dabble on the Method feeder to the island plus a 5m pole line.
“There are always fish tight to the island in this peg because there is a decent depth of 3ft and it is around 7ft deep on the short pole line so they are willing to come close.”
Rotation policy
A quick check at the match results in the lead up to the session for the cameras revealed that more than 150lb had won on the lake just days earlier.
Such big weights may make sport sound easy but Alex was adamant it wasn’t all plain sailing.
“The anglers that caught those big weights would have been chopping and changing all day, switching lines and adjusting their rigs to keep the bites coming,” he said.
“It’s often a case of enjoying steady sport before hitting a purple patch where the fish drop their guard and you can catch a big fish every chuck. But that only happens if you feed carefully and lull them into a false sense of security.”
A small handful of micro pellets were moulded around a
30g Method feeder before it was accurately cast to within a couple of feet of the island.
There were no instant signs but by recasting every five minutes the activity levels soon increased, with a number of blatant liners the first indications. While he was waiting for the action to commence Alex had primed the short pole line, feeding five cubes of meat every few minutes.
After five chucks the red pellet hookbait was eventually picked up. The bite was so vicious that a sizeable carp was surely on the other end. Although Alex wasn’t gettin too carried away just yet.
“The small F1s in here give a really good account of themselves and they are usually what show up first,” he said cautiously.
Sure enough it was a 1lb fish! That was the average stamp for the first couple of hours but Alex was confident that his patience would prevail. A quick look on the short pole produced the desired result – a 6lb common.
“If you try the short line too early you could mess it up. You might nick an odd fish quickly but it is better to allow the shoal to settle. Then it can be a bite every chuck.”
That’s exactly how it panned out and in the final two hours action was hectic with carp to 12lb and F1s to over 4lb coming on both approaches.
“I’ve visited fisheries all over the country but very few come close to what is on offer at Heronbrook.
“It requires a little effort to crack the code but put in the groundwork and the rewards will soon come your way.”