Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
‘Natural’ commercials – Darren Cox
Darren Cox extols the virtues of hybrid venues that offer the convenience of man-made venues but the challenge of large natural stillwaters
MANY anglers are looking for a new challenge now that the river season is at an end. They’re running water enthusiasts so it goes without saying that they have a passion for natural waters. Canals and gravel pits are often seen as viable alternatives to help keep a bend in the rod until June 16th, but commercials rarely get a look in. Derogatory phrases are often banded around by the purists, with many claiming they would rather hang the rods up for three months than dabble on such venues that frequently ‘look awful’ and the fish are usually ‘far too easy’ to catch. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could combine scenic beauty and a good degree of challenge when it comes to getting bites alongside the convenience offered at commercials? Well, maybe you can. A growing number of ‘commercials’ now offer a package that could tempt even the most hardened natural water fanatic. With little in common with the traditional small pools that are widely associated with this style of fishery, they are still home to a good head of fish but they certainly don’t give themselves up easily. Often spread over several acres, depths can vary tremendously and tracking down a shoal in the vast area of open water is far from a certainty. Warwickshire’s Meadowlands Fishery is a prime example. It has attracted many loyal followers with Garbolino’s Darren Cox amongst them. “This is as far removed from a typical commercial as you can get. That said, there are lots of fish to go at and a wide range of tactics will work,” said Darren. “It’s home to plenty of carp that run into double figures but they aren’t the only species that feature – the big roach, perch and skimmer bream are a real draw for lots of anglers too.”
Two-lake tonic
More than 100 pegs are spread over the complex’s two lakes, with Lambsdown the bigger at 13.5 acres in size. Depths drop down to 13ft on the road side, with the field bank considerably shallower. Warren is a much shallower proposition with 4ft the deepest you will find in most pegs. There’s no doubt that the fish are thriving in both, with impressive growth rates testament to the excellent fishery management that has been deployed across the years. “I’ve seen fish banked that a seasoned specimen angler would be pleased as punch with. Carp go to just shy of 30lb and there is a good head over 20lb. Perch in Warren run to more than 3lb and I’ve seen several roach over 2lb caught from Lambsdown. When it comes to the bream and skimmer fishing it is tough to find a venue that can compete with it. Catch it right and you could be looking at over 70lb of them in a day, with individual fish up to 5lb.” Spoilt for choice on where to plonk his seatbox for the IYCF cameras, Darren opted to try his arm on the deeps of Lambsdown. “The fish move around a lot and it really is anyone’s guess where they’ll be sat, but the beauty of this place is that it is often in your hands as to whether you catch. “If you feed a peg properly then the fish will come in and settle down. Do it wrong, though, and they’ll bypass your swim.”
Divide and conquer
Casting a bomb and a single hookbait around the peg would no doubt have produced a few carp. Darren, however, had his sights on a much more frantic few hours. “If you get the silver fish going it can be a bitea-chuck so the roach and skimmers are going to be my primary focus on the pole.” Experience has shown Darren that dividing his peg in two is the key to keeping the shoals rooted nearby. The first is positioned directly in front at 13m which put him in 12ft of water. Five tangerine sized balls of groundbait laced with micro pellets, dead maggots and pinkies go in at the start and this is where Darren expects to catch skimmers. His mix is a 60/40 blend of Tom Thick Intelligent Black and Mainline 100% Pure Ground Expander. A shorter line 7m out is reserved for the roach and is frequently fed with casters by hand.
“I’ve seen fished banked that even the most seasoned specimen angler would be pleased as punch with”
“On mild days you can start on the long line and get amongst the skimmers quite quickly. When it is a little cooler the roach are a better starting point, switching over later in the day.” With highs of around 6 on the day, Darren gambled long to start but was constantly priming short, flicking in 10 casters every three minutes. His 1g float held still in the slight tow and within 15 minutes the shoal had arrived. A couple of 8oz samples were the first to take refuge in his keepnet. “I like to top up with a small nugget every 20 minutes. Once the fish get their heads down, it is highly unlikely they will be spooked by extra food raining down on them.” Sport was steady for the first hour, with the odd specimen over 2lb pulling a little more elastic following the firm strike. Having constantly fed, but not fished, short he finally baited with a single caster.
A rapid bite on the first drop was missed but on the second the culprit was firmly hooked. Several feet of No.5 solid elastic streamed out of the tip – not enough to be a rogue carp but too much for a skimmer! “This is definitely a good roach and it is exactly what you can expect from this line,” explained Darren as a near 1lb redfin submitted. Swim rotation was important but even that and careful feeding led to short periods of inactivity – hardly surprising considering stocks have 13 acres of water to navigate. But there was certainly no disappointment come the end as Darren hauled out more than 30lb of quality roach and skimmers. “We’ve had the luxury of being able to park close to the peg and fish from a comfortable platform which is the convenience that all anglers love but the rest of what this venue offers contrasts with most commercials. “Whether you are a match, pleasure or specimen angler, you’ll struggle to find fault with Meadowlands.”