FISHERY OF THE WEEK
Mousecroft Pool
COUNCIL-run waters are often seen as the ideal places to introduce juniors to our wonderful sport, but Mousecroft Pool is far more than a mere teaching ground.
Small, with around 20 pegs to go at, the lake is located in the stunning Shropshire countryside. What it may lack in size, it more than makes up for in terms of its fish stocks.
You could be forgiven for thinking that tiny roach and perch would be the mainstay of catches, but in fact it’s much bigger specimens that dominate.
Bream nets to over 100lb are on the cards, with individual fish to 7lb a genuine possibility.
Throw in bonus carp to 20lb and the odd rogue tench and you realise that Mousecroft has some serious big-fish potential for seasoned anglers too.
Scenic haven
Shrewsbury Town Council owns the fishery and it has struck the perfect balance between letting nature flourish and maintaining the banks.
There’s no place for big concrete platforms – instead, pegs are cut out amid the reed beds that are present in almost every peg. Members are given a key to access the car park, while those fishing on a day ticket can leave their vehicle in the many small laybys off the main road.
If you stick a plummet on, it will become instantly apparent that there is very little depth. Most swims are only around 2ft 6ins deep, going down at best to a meagre 4ft.
Local lad Robbie Griffiths has sampled the delights of Mousecroft on numerous occasions. “You wouldn’t think a water of this calibre would cater for the more experienced angler, but you’ll be missing out if you don’t give it a go,” Robbie tells Angling Times.
“I’ve caught some of the biggest bream I’ve ever had from here. It’s amazing just how many of them there are in such a small and shallow pool.”
Commercial tactics
Worm and caster may seem like the obvious approach when bream are the predominant species, but a more commercially-minded attack will score best.
The long pole with an expander pellet over a bed of micros will soon whip them into a frenzy.
Introduce small quantities after each fish, as dumping lots in at once will lead to the slabs ripping up the silt on the bottom and reduce the chances of them finding your hookbait.
If you are more inclined to reach for rod and line, then a
Method feeder fares best.
There are some hefty snags that are impossible to miss, and both the bream and carp linger nearby.
It’s only a short cast, so go with 8lb reel line, a 30g feeder and 4ins of 0.20mm hooklength to a strong size 14 hook.