It’s hard to beat the thrill of watching a big carp feeding on the surface, mouth open, engulfing your free offerings and heading straight for your hookbait.
Surface fishing is simple, yet very exciting, all you need is a few essentials and If the conditions are right, there are some venues where you can snare a few off the top.
Lazy summer afternoons or a still evening, after work. These waters can serve up some brilliant surface action. If you’re longing for a day of heart-stopping, surface-slurping action, here are some of the best places in the country to do it.
SNARE ONE OFF THE TOP WITH THE BEST FLOATER FISHING RODS.
The Oaks, Sessay, North Yorkshire
Willows is home to the venue’s biggest residents, with carp to over 25lb present. They can often be seen cruising close to one of the four islands that are part of the lake’s make-up, so cast a chunk of breadcrust or an oiled dog biscuit at them and it won’t be long before the bait is slurped down!
Contact: 01845 501321 Web: www.theoakslakes.co.uk
Cudmore Fisheries, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
Avoca, George’s and Tara are the on-site specimen lakes, and floating baits are often the only way to get a bite during the heat of the day. Try to target shady areas of your swim that provide the fish with a little cover, presenting a floater close to an island, in a small bay or close to overhanging foliage.
Contact: 01782 680919 Web: www.cudmorebookings.co.uk
Manor Farm Lakes, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
Becks Lake can cater for up to 32 anglers, and has carp to 30lb lurking beneath the surface. If the wind is pumping down towards the end bank where there are no swims, then floating dog biscuits can work wonders from pegs 18, 19 and 20. Cast a controller float infrequently to prevent spooking any nearby fish.
Contact: 01767 601138 Web: www.manorfarmlakes.com
THE BEST CARP FISHING REELS ARE PERFECTLY SUITED TO FISHING ON THE SURFACE.
Wold Farm Fishery, Podington, Northants
The picturesque Wold Farm is home to a healthy head of fish to 30lb, offering just six swims to provide visitors with plenty of space. Walk the lake before selecting a peg, keeping your eyes peeled for fish on the surface. Failing that, follow the wind and you won’t be far from the biggest carp.
Contact: 07410 705882 Web: www.woldfarmfishing.co.uk
Messingham Sands, Scunthorpe, nr Lincolnshire
Oak Tree Pond is reserved purely for pleasure fishing, and carp that run well into double figures are the target of most visitors. The lake is a horseshoe shape, and pegs 30-32 are a great place to ambush big fish in the narrowest part as they cruise between each side on the surface. Pegs 33 and 34 in front of the small island are also floating bait hotspots.
Contact: 07900 265981 Web: www.messinghamsands.co.uk
Anglers Paradise, Beaworthy, Devon
Top General Lake is home to some stunningly marked carp, with ghosties and colourful koi stocked. Pegs 1 and 10 tend to produce best, as the slightly longer walk to these swims makes them less popular, and quieter. Switch between bread, dog biscuits, floating pellets and whittled-down pop-ups to keep the fish guessing.
Contact: 01409 221559 Web: www.anglers-paradise.co.uk
THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS ARE GREAT FOR CATCHING BIG CARP OFF THE TOP!
Baden Hall Fishery, Eccleshall, Staffordshire
Middle Pool is home to a big head of carp in the 10lb-20lb bracket, and they are frequently caught on floating baits. Polarised glasses are invaluable for spotting any fish cruising the upper layers, and they are well-known to follow the wind in this lake.
Contact: 01785 850313 Web: www.badenhallfishery.com
Barlow Country Club, Dronfield, Derbyshire
The Carp Lake has been responding well to floating baits lately, and the sought-after grassie known as Ziggy, tipping the scales at 28lb 5oz, came out from peg 1 after falling for a dog biscuit. Try to freeline a bait into the path of a cruising fish and you could experience an instant take.
Contact: 01142 891946 Web: www.barlowcountryclub.co.uk
White Springs Fishery, Swansea
Although loosefeeding of floating baits isn’t permitted, they can be used as a hookbait, and that is an effective tactic on The Big Pit. There are several islands dotted throughout, and presenting a large mixer close to one of them can account for carp from 15lb-25lb.
Contact: 01792 885699 Web: www.whitespringsfishery.co.uk
Todber Manor Fisheries, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Wadmill Lake is home to a big head of fish in the 10lb-15lb bracket, and the shallowest end of the pool is where they often sit during the heat of the day. Fishing towards the islands or close to any undisturbed margins will give you a great chance of a surface fish or two.
Contact: 01258 820384 Web: www.todbermanor.co.uk
TAKE THE BEST CARE OF THE FISH WHEN IT'S ON THE BANK WITH THE BEST UNHOOKING MATS.
Suffolk Water Park, Bramford, Suffolk
The Big Lake is home to some stunning fish, and 20lb-plus specimens are on the cards. They can often be seen close to the surface in the shallow arm (pegs 13-30). Use polarised glasses to help you spot any on the move.
Contact: 01473 832327 Web: www.suffolkwaterpark.co.uk
Lavender Hall Fishery, Coventry
Pick a swim on Station Lake with a gentle breeze running through it and a few hefty carp are likely to be nearby. Trickle in a few floating freebies and watch how the fish respond. Present a hookbait once the fish start to compete.
Contact: 07796 998309 Web: www.lavenderhallfishery.co.uk
The Riddings, Atherstone, Warwickshire
Folly and Riddings respond well to floating baits, with plenty of double-figure carp caught each week just a few rodlengths out. Travel light, sit well back from the bank and try to select a peg well away from others to give yourself a solid chance of getting them going on the surface.
Contact: 07398 795456 Web: www.fisheries.co.uk/fishing/riddings-fishery
Linear Fisheries, Oxford, Oxfordshire
No list of prolific carp fisheries would be complete without mentioning this complex, and when it comes to surface fishing, Hardwick & Smiths is a great place to start. Venue regular David Hastings landed a PB 29lb 8oz specimen from the lake using the tactic, relying on a whittled-down Mad Baits F Fish pop-up over loosefed dog biscuits.
Contact: 01865 548199 Web: www.linear-fisheries.co.uk
GET THOSE FLOATERS OUT ACCURATELY WITH THE BEST FISHING CATAPULTS.
