VENUE MAPS
This has to be one of the most reliable day-ticket runs waters in the country, and the action doesn’t stop with the arrival of winter
The latest tips and advice on venue hotspots. This month it’s Baden Hall.
The clocks have gone back and it’s definitely the time of year when slogging it out on long sessions for a single bite becomes much less appealing.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere to remind yourself what a screaming bite alarm sounds like, then this day-ticket water should be right up your street.
It has 67 pegs, is stocked with hundreds of carp over 10lb (with a decent head of twenties) and offers visitors the chance of
year-round action. Hits of dozens of carp in 24 hours are not uncommon, and as an added incentive the lake’s distinctive orange koi – which weighs around 26lb – is worth a free 48-hour session if you catch it!
VENUE EXPERT MAT WOODS SAYS
“For me the Middle Pool is a runs water in the truest sense of the word. Unlike lots of heavily stocked venues, Middle Pool fishes well all the time – there never seems to be a slow period.
“You need to keep this in mind when you fish there. Where you see one carp there will be dozens more – so take enough bait and rig gear to cope with the waves of bites that can come along.
“Middle Pool is a long, narrow lake with a couple of bays, so you don’t need heavy equipment or leads. In fact, I’d say fishing well at short range is the best approach, as others anglers can’t interfere with your session.
“The surface fishing is insanely good and you can get numbers of fish competing all the time. Fish with small hooks and hookbaits for best results, as this strain of carp has quite a small mouth.
“The same goes for fishing on the deck. Even though there are bream to contend with, fish with small baits and persevere as the rewards will come to those who do.
“Using a rig that can reset itself is important because of the other species. I’ve found PVA bags filled with 10mm boilies to be a great approach. Dull baits seem to work better than bright ones, and oil on your bait seems to really help pull those mid-water cruisers down to your bait.”