welder

Bunn, have you tried contacting Iain or Kim at Rushes Lake, Vire en Champagne, near Le Mans? The food package is to die for and the place is beautifully situated. Check out their site on www.rusheslake.com and contact them, it's a lovely place to be. The lake is stream fed so water level won't be an issue. Ian.

J, if you decide to fish the lower pool, set up well back from the water's edge and don't have your rods showing over the water as it's gin clear most of the time and you'll spook the fish The bottom is mostly clay/gravel and is pretty uniform in depth with few features. Some light weed but nothing dreadful. Don't overlook the margin, especially as the light is fading or has gone. I've had some success using Sonubaits Boosted Wraps in Pineapple and large halibut pellets. Stringers or small PVA bags work for me. Large beds of bait don't. If I'm fishing to the weed I use a PVA nugget on the hook for peace of mind. Good luck. Ian.

Hi Jukebox, I've only fished the one nearest the bottom of the sloping field, near the lane. I've had some nice fish from there, nothing huge but all in pristine condition and giving a good scrap. Best around 20lbs. You can night it if you ask politely and don't look or behave like a muppet. One of my son's pals did his first ever overnight session on there and had 12 good fish in a 24 hour session, including his PB at 23lbs. The pool at the top of the field looks interesting but I'm concerned about the high voltage powerlines/pylons which cross the pool and the lines are very low at that point. Death by electrocution? No thanks. There is another pool further up Blackgreaves Lane, on the other side of the road and set back, out of sight. I've walked it a couple of times and spotted carp looking to be around 18-20lbs in the margin. Never fished it but it's on my list of things to do. Ian.

I live a few miles from Dingle and the local word is that the new owner is going to use it as a private, family, fishery. No syndicate, no clubs. We should remember that this was the situation a few years ago, before it became available to the likes of us. It started as an irrigation pool for the farmland and was fished only by the, then, landowners. You win some, you lose some. Ian.

Or thrown into the canal........ Ian.

Jules, could I be you just for a while, please? Ian

Milton Pools near Oxford would tick all the necessary boxes. Tackle shop, cracking cafe and newly built chalet/bungalows for rent. Night fishing is permitted, it's advisable to book in advance for the Specimen Pool, though. Your lady could drive into Oxford for a little retail therapy if she were bored, leaving you to target them catfish and carp in the Specimen Pool. I've done a couple of weekends on there and really like it. Take a look on Fisheries .co.uk. For recent catch reports go to www.miltonpoolsfishery.co.uk Ian

Samytee, can I ask, is it one of those waters where you can only use their bait/pellets? I ask because I once fished a very well known commercial near Kidderminster and the fish were exactly how you describe them. This place absolutely crams the fish into their pools and feeds them in winter with a particular pellet. This pellet is the only sort that may be used and the competition for feed amongst the fish means that the only food souce they will ever encounter will have a hook in it. It is just not possible to blank. I won't give the name of the place but it's off the A449, just south of Kidderminster. I wouldn't fish there again if it was the only place left on earth. I'd take up golf, first! Ian

Hi Degger, welcome to this forum. Barston Lake is owned and managed by Nigel Harrhy, a well known and recognised match angler. The lake has been stocked with LOTS of pasties and other small carp to appease the needs of the anglers who attend the frequent matches held there. However, the lake also holds some fine specimen carp, some of which came from a reservoir which was being drained for maintenance, and some which were resident before it became an official fishery. I know this because I fished it when it was a "wild, unowned" water and had good carp on the bank, frequently. My advice would be to fish the bank which has the River Blythe behind you and get as far as possible from the buildings while remaining within fishing range of the islands. If you're happy to catch lots of small fish, adopt the match angler's approach. For better fish use large baits, boilies or pellets. The full English breakfast served in the Clubhouse is well worth the money. Good luck. Ian

Think of the charity money we could raise, ....as well as the bruises. Ian

I can manage hearty kicks. See you at Merrington. Ian

That's all the reason i need to go there I knew that. I've told them to expect you. They've ordered in extra everything.. Expect bonus black pudding.....possibly. Ian Ian, it amazes me that you're still such a nice & thoughtfull bloke despite your many, many, many years spent on this hostile world Guy, thank you for your valued input. I shall look forward to meeting up at Merrington, early September. Meantime be extra cautious whilst crossing the road..check for Mitsubishi Shoguns, in red and gold. One in particular is driven by, well, me. Ian

That's all the reason i need to go there I knew that. I've told them to expect you. They've ordered in extra everything.. Expect bonus black pudding.....possibly. Ian

Well Ric, thank you for that. I've seen it mentioned and I've looked at the Google Earth images previously. It's only 6 or 7 miles from home, I'll take a look. Once again, thanks. Ian

That's the fishery just around the corner, left in Fazeley, from Drayton Manor? Is the entrance amongst some rather posh office/business units? Ian

Elmo, I guess that you're referring to the original (specimen) pool. To be honest, the water is so small that most of the pegs are good but I agree, that side of the pool, especially if it's busy, is a good place to be. I've had some success on the very top pool, which is sort of hidden away and, as a consequence, is lightly fished. Fish to the central reed bed....works for me Oh, and the bacon and egg sarnies, on toast and with brown sauce, are the BEST! Delivered to your peg. Just right. Ian

Is it any good there mate? I looked around it about 8 years ago and i remember the one lake had lots of little islands and stuff. I've never fished it though. Hi Paul, I last fished there around 8 years ago and had some very nice carp and tench out of one of the pools, later in the day I got smashed up while using 15lb line! There are three pools in total. I was chatting to the elderly farmer who owns and dug the pools, he told me that 4 years ago he netted the pools and put all the specimen fish into one pool, called Glebe (or Grebe?) Pool. That's the one I'll be fishing! Ian

Grounds Farm is near The Belfry, just outside Wishaw. I had a walk around there last weekend, fishing it next weekend. Ian

There's that lake at the back of the Snowdome, can't remember what it's called. Kingsbury Water Park is only a few miles away and has several pools. Pine Pool is their specimen carp water. Willesley Lake, near Ashby de la Zouch, is around 6 miles away and is a very attractive water and can be night fished. Fisherwick Lakes, Whittington, is about 4 miles away and has a few pools to try. Pool House Farm, near Middleton, is less than 5 miles from Tamworth and is full of fish. You're spoiled for choice! Ian

Yes, I've got an idea. PM coops_northants and ask him the question. He is the font of all knowledge concerning fishing within Northamptonshire. Ian

I've just reread, for the umpteenth time, Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome. I won this as a Sunday School Attendance Prize about 45 years ago and still I find certain nuances of Victorian humour that had previously escaped my attention, this is a funny story, trust me! The TV show of the same name is doing it's best to emulate the original tale and are doing very well, so far. I commend this book to anyone with a sense of the ridiculous. Jonezy, get it read! Ian

Hi Jukebox, I'd suggest that you have a look at www.Fisheries.co.uk as they list dozens of carp waters in and around the Midlands. One that I can particularly recommend is Lavender Hall Fishery (Google it!) on Station Pool. Secure, safe and good facilities. Another favourite is Willesley Lake near Ashby de la Zouch. Not far from you is Merrington Carp Fishery (Google it!) which, I'm told, is fishing very well at the moment. Good luck. Ian

One of this splendid forum's moderators, coops_northants, is the man to answer your question. I haven't seen any posts from him for a while, but I know he's a busy man. Why not PM him, in the hope that he picks it up? Ian

I use it all the time but twice through the eye. Same as. Ian

Hi and welcome to this forum. I fished Milton, along with a few members of another forum, a couple of years ago and it's a very nice place to be. The facilities are excellent and it's suprisingly tranquil, despite being right beside the M40! Since we fished there it's been stocked with some large catfish as well as more large carp so you're in with a chance of some sport. Pineapple flavours appear to be working, according to their website. I can't remember the peg location/numbering system so don't know where you'll be fishing. Might I suggest the you have a look for Milton Pools on www.Fisheries.co.uk? You'll find it useful. Anyway, enjoy your visit, I'm sure you'll like it. Ian