There are many benchmarks we want to achieve in our fishing – it might be a 2lb roach or a surface-caught double-figure carp.
But where commercial fisheries are concerned, it’s often about ‘cracking the ton’.
That means catching over 100lb of fish in a session, usually carp, and considering that the fish in our lakes are getting ever bigger, it often doesn’t need many to get the job done. As few as a dozen fast-growing carp can sometimes be enough!
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Countless fisheries are capable of producing 100lb weights – some far more than that – and there’s a whole host of ways to achieve the target, whether that’s plundering the margins, chucking out a feeder, or using simple polefishing tactics.
Here, then, are 12 of the best fisheries dotted around the country for you to have a crack at…
Woodland Lakes, Carlton Miniott, N Yorkshire
The main match lakes often grab the headlines, but any of the smaller, more mature lakes are capable of big catches. Expect carp well into double figures. The margins or short-range pole tactics catch well with big baits, paste being a favourite. End pegs on Skylark, Partridge, Kestrel, Wagtail and Curlew Lakes are popular, especially when a warm wind is blowing down to them.
Location: Carlton Miniott, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 4NJ
Contact: 01845 526110
Day tickets: £10, concessions £8
Number of lakes: 13
Facilities: Tackle shop, café, restaurant and bar, accommodation, toilets, disabled access
Drennan Lindholme Lakes, Sandtoft, N Lincs
The F1s are massive and, on some lakes, big skimmers feature in ton-plus nets. Benny’s and Loco Lakes respond to shallow pole or waggler tactics, especially in the margins. Location: Don Farm, West Carr, North Lincolnshire, DN9 1LF
Contact: 01427 875555
Day tickets: £10, concessions £8, under-16s £6
Number of lakes: Nine
Facilities: Tackle shop, café, accommodation, toilets, disabled access, on-site coaching
Guru Partridge Lakes, Culcheth, Cheshire
The smaller, more intimate snake-style Marsh and Spey Canals or the more traditional Willow and Tweed waters are all worth a visit. Check out Holbar Lake for a battle with some of the venue’s biggest carp.
Location: Glaziers Lane, Culcheth, Cheshire, WA3 4AQ
Contact: 01925 767505
Day tickets: £12 Holbar Lake, £11 all others, various concessions
Number of lakes: Seven available for day-ticket fishing
Facilities: Café, tackle shop, toilets, disabled access
Old Hough Fishery, Middlewich, Cheshire
Big catfish live alongside the carp in a couple of the lakes. For lots of bites, head for Benbo, Boulders, Prospect and Lucky Dip Lakes, where plenty of carp and F1s await. Long pole and margin tactics score heavily. Or get on the pellet waggler on the Big Max Lake.
Location: Forge Mill Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire, CW10 0HQ
Contact: 07765 000857
Day tickets: £10 weekends, £9 weekdays, under-10s £5, £14 for West Sooty Lake
Number of lakes: 10
Facilities: Tackle shop, café, disabled access, toilets
Rookery Waters, Pidley, Cambridgeshire
The stocks in Magpie Lake respond well to the pole shallow or in the edge. The Jay snake lake is just as prolific, and quality roach, rudd and skimmers make up catches over 100lb on pole and waggler from Rook Lake.
Location: Fen Road, Pidley, Cambridgeshire, PE28 3DF
Contact: 07824 878492
Day tickets: £9, over-65s and under-16s £7, extra rod £2
Number of lakes: Seven
Facilities: Café and restaurant, tackle shop, toilets, disabled access, accommodation
Decoy Lakes, Eastrea, Cambridgeshire
Any lake will see you hit the ton but, for big fish, it has to be Elm, Cedar, Oak and Yew, the four strip lakes. Home to plenty of double-figure carp and massive barbel, you can fish long pole, the margins, feeder to the far bank or even the pellet waggler. Beastie Lake is also home to some big fish, including huge F1s.
Location: Decoy Farm, Drybread Road, Eastrea, Cambs, PE7 2AD
Contact: 01733 202230
Day tickets: £9, juniors £5, disabled £8, OAPs £8 (Fridays only)
Number of lakes: 11
Facilities: Tackle shop, clubhouse and café, toilets, showers, disabled acess
Moorlands Farm Fishery, Hartlebury, Worcs
Since match star Grant Albutt took over Moorlands, redesigned lakes and new fish have helped make it a real winner, but the oldest lake is still the best. Meadow offers great sport on short pole and in the margins for carp. Check out High Meadow, too, for some massive F1s down the edge.
Location: Greenacres/Manor Lane, Hartlebury, Worcs, DY11 7XN
Contact: 01299 250427
Day tickets: £10
Number of lakes: Six
Facilities: Disabled access, toilets, café and bar, tackle shop, on-site tuition
Todber Manor Fisheries, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Expect match weights in excess of 400lb! Todber’s three match lakes – Ash, Homeground and Hill View – are solid with carp! Simple short pole or waggler tactics work, changing to a feeder if there’s an island to cast to from your swim.
Location: Manor Farm, Todber, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1JB
Contact: 01258 820384
Day tickets: £10, under-12s £5
Number of lakes: 10
Facilities: Tackle shop, toilets, accommodation, food and drink, disabled access
Bait-Tech Viaduct Fishery, Somerton, Somerset
Another big-weight water in the South West, normally the match-only Campbell Lake gets the plaudits, but Spring and Cary Lakes are equally good for big carp. Pellet waggler, long pole shallow and the margins will bring carp well into double figures.
Location: Dew Water Lane, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6LJ
Contact: 01458 274022
Day tickets: £10, over-65s and disabled £8, under-16s £7
Number of lakes: Five
Facilities: Accommodation, disabled access, toilets, tackle shop
Maver Woodland View Fishery, Hadley, Worcs
Get over to Front and Back Deans Pools if you’re after a ton, as both are in sparkling form for nets of carp and F1s on the pole or, if conditions allow, a small waggler. Feeder fans can target the island on Arles Pool, and don’t overlook Hay and Barley Pools. They may be small, but they are some of the most heavily stocked on the complex.
Location: Hay Lane, Hadley, Worcestershire, WR9 0AU
Contact: 01905 620872
Day tickets: £10
Number of lakes: 10
Facilities: Café, tackle shop, toilets, disabled access, accommodation
Jansons Fishery, Elton, Nottinghamshire
Relatively new compared to many fisheries on this list, Jansons has quickly established itself as one of the most prolific waters in the Midlands. Most of the lakes are narrow snakes, making long pole and margin fishing popular for carp, but on Aubrey’s Lake the silverfish sport from ide, chub and skimmers can mean 100lb is not out of the question.
Location: Redmile Lane, Elton, Nottinghamshire, NG13 9FA
Contact: 07555 892127
Day tickets: £7, under-15s and over-65s £6
Number of lakes: Eight
Facilities: Tackle shop, café, toilets, disabled access, accommodation
Guru Makins Fishery, Wolvey, Warwickshire
With so many lakes to pick from, it can be hard knowing where to go on this sprawling fishery, but it doesn’t make much difference as they’re all brilliant! Lakes 3 and 4 on Phase 1 are recognised big weight pools, while over on Phase 3, the Severn and Avon Pools have been redeveloped and shaped and are seeing 100lb winning every match with carp from 1lb to 8lb on feeder or pole.
Location: Bazzard Road, Wolvey, Warwickshire, CV11 6QJ
Contact: 07923 222511
Day tickets: £10, concessions £7
Number of lakes: 17
Facilities: Tackle shop, disabled access, toilets, café, accommodation
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