It has finally happened, either the kids have asked you to take them fishing or they are now old enough that you want to introduce them to the world of angling.
The best way to help them learn and stay enthusiastic is to catch plenty of fish in comfortable surroundings and the list for fisheries in this guide proved all that and more. We have venues all over the country, so wherever you live, there will be one nearby to try...
Aston Park Fisheries, Sheffield, S.Yorks
Eliysia’s has been designed and stocked with newcomers in mind, with bites all but guaranteed from a wide range of species. Small carp, F1s, ide, roach and rudd are plentiful, and short pole and maggot tactics will work from the off. The swims on the boarding allow children and their parents to sit comfortably within close distance of each other.
Contact: www.astonparkfisheries.co.uk
GET ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO START FISHING IN THIS HELPFUL GUIDE...
Barlow Country Park, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Narnia is a small mixed gem where you can catch everything from quality roach through to golden tench. You’ll only need to fish a few metres out to get bites, working with either the pole or a light waggler rig to maximise your session. Feed maggots little and often, using one or two as hookbait.
Contact: www.barlowcountryclub.co.uk
Lavington Lake, Grantham, Lincolnshire
Use a whip and maggot, and small rudd will come thick and fast, but there are also plenty of surprises to keep every visitor on their toes. True crucian carp to 2lb can show up at any point on this tactic, as can small mirrors and commons and even fantail goldfish. Fish maggots on the hook, switching to corn if bites dry up – which is often a sign that a bigger fish has arrived.
Pipehill Fisheries, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Alders, Birch and Chestnut are all full of silvers, and you can expect to catch roach, skimmers, perch and even a few surprises, such as barbel. Start by fishing on the deck at short range with maggots, but if you start missing bites, come a little shallower and you’ll often find a better stamp waiting.
Contact: www.pipehillfisheries.co.uk
CATCH MORE FISH BY FOLLOWING THESE SIMPLE TIPS...
Whitmore Fisheries, Preston, Lancashire
Big carp, barbel and sturgeon grab the headlines at this fantastic complex, but East Lake is also teeming with roach that are a brilliant starting point for newcomers. Keep it simple with the short pole and maggot, and hundreds of fish ranging from a few ounces to just under 1lb will be your reward.
Contact: www.whitmorefisheries.co.uk
Partridge Lakes, Culceth, Cheshire
Partridge Lakes has plenty of pegs and lakes to choose from, all brimming with fish to catch. The site is always immaculate and there are plenty of bailiffs and an on-site tackle shop to point you in the right direction. There is also a cafe and toilets there too, to help make your stay more comfortable!
Contact: www.partridgelakes.co.uk
Wold Farm, Podington, Northants
Islands Lake is home to a colourful array of species that will have any newcomer hooked in no time at all. Several small islands are dotted around the lake, and underarming a small Method feeder close to these with a banded pellet hookbait on will help you find some of the most vibrantly coloured carp you’ll ever see, including bright orange and white beauties!
Contact: www.woldfarmfishing.co.uk
THESE BUDGET FISHING REELS ARE PERFECT TO GET YOU STARTED...
Lovells Lake, Market Deeping, Lincolnshire
The roach and rudd are always on the lookout for food, and fishing the whip or short pole will put you in touch with the shoals. String out your shotting on the rig so that the hookbait falls at a slow pace, giving fish that are sat throughout the water column a chance to devour it. Two pints of maggots is the only bait you’ll need for the session.
Contact: www.gocatch.fish
Blythe Waters, Knowle, West Midlands
Thousands of small roach, rudd and perch have been introduced into this lake in recent years, with juniors very much in mind. Bites will come at pace on the short pole, waggler and whip, and maggots or pinkies are the best baits for the job. You’re likely to catch 1ft-2ft deep, but going slightly deeper can help you find a bigger stamp of fish.
Contact: www.gocatch.fish
Springvale Fisheries, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Among the best commercials in the whole of the UK, Golden One and Two and Newcastle Lakes are phenomenal silverfish waters. Ide and skimmers can be caught on the short pole and maggots on the former two, while corn and soft pellets in the margins will account for plenty of tench and a few bonus carp from the latter. There’s parking behind almost every peg.
Contact: www.springvalefishinglakes.co.uk
IF YOU ARE NEW TO FISHING, CHECK OUT THESE BEGINNER FISHING RODS...
Howend Fisheries, Bedford, Bedfordshire
Several hundred pounds of silverfish were caught on Yasi’s Lake during a recent match fishing final, and the majority of those were fell to the pole fished either down the middle or close to the island. Ide, skimmers and tench are the dominant species, and they all respond well to maggots and pinkies fed little and often.
Contact: www.howendfisheries.co.uk
Sumners Pond, Horsham, West Sussex
Whether you fancy catching a handful of carp in the 5lb-10lb bracket or putting a chunky roach in the net almost every drop in, the Match Lake is the place to be. A small feeder to the central island with a wafter or a 6mm hard pellet hookbait will tempt the bigger fish, while maggots are unbeatable for the redfins when combined with light floatfishing tactics.
Contact: www.sumnersponds.co.uk
Greenridge Farm Fishery, Romsey, Hampshire
There are four lakes on-site, but if you want lots of rod bending action from carp ranging from 1-15lb, you need to head to the Horseshoe or canal lakes. Method feeders work incredibly well here, whether you fish them in the margins or to the far bank. Plenty of casting is key, which is great as juniors love casting and reeling in and upwards of 20 carp a session can be expected.
Contact: www.gocatch.fish
Chequertree Fishery, Ashford, Kent
This fishery prides itself on being home to a lot of different species, and you are in with a good chance of catching roach, rudd, bream, tench, perch and even the occasional stillwater chub. Light terminal tackle is the way forward to keep the bites coming, and you can expect to get plenty of bites 5m-7m out from the bank with maggots, corn or soft pellets.
Contact: www.chequertreefishery.com
Acorn Fishery, Clevedon, Somerset
The Match Lake is a snake-style water, and is home to carp, tench, ide and bream. Fishing on the bottom down the middle is the best way to put together a mixed bag, feeding maggots and a few micro pellets through a small pot each time you ship out to get the shoals grubbing around on the deck.
Contact: www.acornfishery.com
East Bilney Lakes, Dereham, Norfolk
The complex is open daily now after a period of instability last year, and the fishing on Reeds Lake is well worth your attention. Lots of roach, rudd and skimmers have been stocked in recent months, and you’ll soon get them interested by fishing anywhere between half and three-quarters of the way over to the island.
Contact: www.eastbilneylakes.com
