Moorlands Farm’s epic comeback as a big player on the commercial fishery scene gained further traction in 2023, as thousands of anglers returned to tackle the revamped complex. Making it your number 1 'Commercial Fishery of the year' in the 2023 National Angling Awards.
The Worcestershire venue had been showing signs of ageing, with the standard of fishing dropping a touch and the numbers on the bank falling away.
That downward spiral was halted a couple of years ago when top match angler Grant Albutt signed on the dotted line to become the new owner.
He had a vision to return it to its best, and wasted no time in making the dream a reality.
Of the six lakes on site, three of them have been given a full-on makeover. Island was drained, reshaped and restructured to incorporate a central island, while Bank and Moors had the crumbling banks rebuilt before new pegs were installed.
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Grant has no intention of stopping there either, with plans to upgrade all of the other waters in the near future. Detailed assessments of the stocking have also been undertaken, and fish added where necessary.
This proactive approach has led to a very noticeable improvement in the fishing, with big hauls of carp and F1s dominating in the summer, before the silverfish came to the fore once winter arrived.
The café and bar have also been spruced up, and when you add together all the improvements, it’s easy to see why attendances from both match and pleasure anglers have rocketed. Moorlands is back on the commercial fishery map and there’s no doubt that the momentum built in 2023 will continue into 2024.
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HIGHLY COMMENDED - FOREST LANE FISHERIES
This fishery cemented itself as one of the most prolific venues in the land when it produced a series of colossal match weights, some of them approaching the 1,000lb mark.
The Arena Pool one again staged a successful Fish North final, with The Vale producing colossal hauls that included Adam Richards’ astonishing 990lb of barbel, carp and chub.
Pleasure anglers have been equally delighted at the action, with the double-figure carp in The Don producing plenty of personal bests.
HOW YOU VOTED
Moorlands Farm, Kidderminster, Worcs
39.5% of you voted
Moorlands Farm played a huge part in the astonishing growth of the commercial fishery scene and tempted anglers to travel from all over the land when its popularity spiked in the 1990s. As competition grew, the venue slowly faded away, with a good proportion of once loyal visitors heading elsewhere.
That has all changed in recent years though, with top match angler Grant Albutt buying the complex and spearheading an impressive comeback. Grant has pledged to get the complex back to its best and has wasting no time in making that a reality by completely rebuilding the previously crumbling Bank, Island and Moors Pools. The café and bar have been revamped too, with plans to give all other lakes onsite a makeover in the coming months.
Forest Lane Fisheries, York, North Yorks
39.06% of you voted
Everybody claimed that the huge weights that Todber Manor produced couldn’t be repeated elsewhere but Forest Lane proved that this wasn’t the case at all. Adam Richards came agonisingly close to breaking the 1,000lb barrier with 990lb from Vale Lake. The complex is also home to the Fish North final, with competitors giving The Arena Pool widespread praise because of how fair it is. Away from the match scene, the big carp in The Don have packed on the pounds at pace, with the lake producing the first double figure specimen of many anglers.
Bradshaw Hall Fisheries, Bolton, Lancs
15.6% of you voted
A lot of anglers turn their attention to commercial silverfish once the winter arrives and this venue has proved on countless occasions in 2023 that it is up there with the best in the land on this front. Huge nets of roach, ide and skimmers are banked every week, with Andy Bennett’s 88lb carp-free haul one of the most eye-opening this year. Access has been greatly improved to all the lakes in recent years, with match and pleasure anglers alike returning week in week out thanks to the all-round experience on offer.
Todber Manor Fisheries, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
2% of you voted
This fishery cemented itself as one of the most prolific venues in the land when it produced a series of colossal match weights, with some of them breaching the 1,000lb mark. Carp are the dominant species on the match side of things, with Ash, Hill View and Homeground the famed bagging waters. There are also several specimen orientated waters that have been in fine form throughout 2023, with Big Hayes and Paddock amongst the lakes home to carp over 30lb and giant catfish.
Springvale Lakes, Newark-on-Trent, Notts
2% of you voted
A lot of commercials have a standout lake or two that can produce its most impressive action but that isn’t the case at Springvale, with huge nets of both carp and silvers coming from every pool each week during 2023. The frantic silverfish action has caught the eye of many, with over 100lb of ide, chub and skimmers banked on countless occasions by both match and pleasure anglers.
Westwood Lakes, Boston, Lincs
1.3% of you voted
The Fish O’Mania final had never previously been staged on a snake lake and when Falcon at Westwood got the nod to host the 2022 final, eyebrows were raised. Those doubters were soon silenced as Kristian Jones won one of the most epic finals ever held, after making a breath-taking comeback in the dying stages.
But was that match a fluke or could the drama that unfolded be repeated in 2023? You bet it could, with several contenders all in with a genuine chance of glory throughout the day before Matty Dawes was crowned champion. Away from Fish O’Mania, the complex has been in great form thanks to restocking programs and elite fishery management. Visitors continue to travel from far and wide to sample what the venue has to offer, with few fisheries able to rival the log cabins, café and bar that are onsite.
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