Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Buscot Park
Oxfordshire
QUINTESSENTIAL estate lakes are definitely a dying breed. Once commonplace across the country, clumps of lily pads would twitch as big tench and crucians lurking beneath brushed against the stems.
The mist would linger mysteriously across the surface at dawn as anglers who had arrived at first light would gently flick a light float close to dense features.
As the tension built in anticipation of the next bite, a glance left or right would train your eyes on a stunning backdrop often incorporating unique architecture and luscious green forests.
Sadly, this scenario is nothing more than a distant memory in many places. Some estate lakes have banned fishing and others have effectively turned them into a commercial by heavily stocking carp and laying Tarmac left, right and centre.
But there are a few tranquil gems that have clung on to their heritage and identity. All the appealing factors from yesteryear remain, but there is one striking difference – the fish have got much bigger!
That is certainly the case at Buscot Park, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire. If you’ve never sampled its delights, you really are missing out.
Idyllic setting
Situated within the grounds of a delightful 100- acre estate, the true beauty of the 30- plus peg water is immediately a sight to behold.
Perimeter lawns are well- maintained, wooden platforms have been installed to aid comfort without diminishing the look and the surface is rarely calm as fish calmly meander beneath the waterline.
The giant house that was built in the late 1700s is unmissable and sits on the hillside, gazing over the lake.
Speak to the locals about its stocks and they’ll impress you with talk of its inhabitants. Tench to 6lb, crucians to 3lb and quality bream play an integral part, along with a scattering of carp of all ages and sizes.
Local angler Tony Picton discovered the fishery several years ago and he’s been a regular ever since.
“If there is such a thing as the perfect fishery, then Buscot Park is it,” beamed Tony. “You won’t find an angling venue with a more beautiful backdrop and when the float goes under you’ve no idea what the culprit will be.”
Paradise on a float
When it comes to tactics, a combination of traditional and modern approaches scores best. A light waggler dropped a few rodlengths out is favoured by many, but in Tony’s eyes you can’t beat the precision of the pole.
“Bream, tench and crucians are incredibly finicky and if your hookbait doesn’t act in a natural manner, you’ll miss out on a lot of bites.
“The pole provides that essential accuracy. You don’t have to fish far out and I aim to start and finish at around 11m,” he added.
There’s nothing complicated when it comes to bait choice either. A bag of fishmeal groundbait, two pints of micro pellets and a tin of corn cover the loosefeed, with a handful of 4mm expanders for the hook.
Piling in the bait isn’t the way forward here. It is always better to play it cautiously.
“It’s quite silty in parts and if you feed lots the fish go crazy and your peg will fizz with bubbles. It might look appealing, but when that happens the fish become really hard to catch,” he cautioned.
“To avoid that happening I feed small nuggets of groundbait and little pots of loosefeed after every fish.
“I’ll only feed a little ball at the start, too. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.”
Stunning specimens
Without any prior knowledge of the venue it would be tough to pick a peg. Every single one has its own fishattracting features.
But Tony has a plethora of information and always heads to the top half of the lake away from the car park due to the additional depth.
Plumbing up 11m out from peg 12m he registered 4ft of water and cupped in his initial slug of bait.
His delicate pole rig was soon placed over the top and the anticipation began to build. The wait was short lived and a 1lb skimmer broke his duck for the day.
“That’s a baby for in here – I’d expect to catch much bigger fish as the day goes on,” he said confidently.
Next up, his 4- 6 grade Garbolino Fighter hollow elastic was given more of a workout from a skimmer double the size of the first. They were the dominant species in the first hour, until he hooked something that really turned up the heat. Screeching off at pace towards the middle of the lake, Tony held on and hoped for the best.
Thankfully, the 0.12mm hooklength dealt with the initial surge of power and what we both thought was a carp, turned towards us. Another five minutes passed before the fish revealed itself to be a 4lb tench! A little more patience was required to tire it out, but it was soon in the net.
Then it was the turn of a couple of small yet immaculate mirror carp before the final hour produced arguably the most sought after of the lot.
“I think this is one of those big crucians – it’s staying deep and lulling around.”
His guess turned out to be spot on with a 2lb- plus crucian in the net, and no sign of hybridisation whatsoever. Another brace of them and some more skimmers brought the curtain down on a very special session.
“Today has been nothing out of the ordinary. Every time I fish here I catch a mixed bag of stunning tench, crucians, skimmers and carp.
“If you’re after something completely different to give you a buzz on the bank, then look no further than Buscot Park.”