THE RES @ BERNERS HALL
A 24-acre reservoir set deep in the Essex countryside which holds a fantastic stock of high-quality carp and offers the chance of big hits of fish!
WE SAY…
ATYPICAL irrigation reservoir with almost no bankside shelter might not be the most appealing setting for a carp fishery, but beneath the turquoise surface of this lake lie hundreds of high-quality fish.
The 24-acre ‘Res’, which can be found deep in the Essex countryside, has 24 swims and contains in the region of 600-700 carp.
There are more than 45 carp over 30lb, and the current lake record, the big mirror known as Rambo, is often caught at over 44lb.
Get it right on this water and you can have a big hit of fish, with plenty of twenties gracing your net.
VENUE BAILIFF CALLUM PETCHEY SAYS…
“The fish generally hold up in large groups and therefore, at the right times of the year and armed with a lot of good-quality boilies, particles and pellets fished on a clearer area, anglers can catch really good numbers of fish.
“Generally, taking your time to find the clearer areas amid the weed, coupled with trying to find the fish, of course, will provide you with the best chance of getting a bite.
“The water levels tend to go up and down throughout the year depending on weather conditions and rainfall.
“In the warmer months the water is generally between 6ft and 8ft deep, while during the winter depths can reach around 8ft-12ft.
“Bait-wise, I personally use Munch Baits down there. I use the Cream Seed and Bio Marine boilies mixed with particles. However, any quality boilies – and a lot of them, usually – along with particles and pellets, tend to work well.
“Generally it’s more the quantity of bait and how accurately you present it that results in the best captures.
“Personally, I prefer to go for a ‘match the hatch’ approach with my hookbaits and loosefeed, but I know a lot of people who put their faith in yellow and pink baits and seem to do well.”