stevew1805

I am trying to find out as much as I can about a Devonshire lake called Beechmere Pool. It also goes by the names Bradmere pool and Bradford pool. Here is a link to an "Legendary Dartmoor" website that features the water: http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/bradmere_pool.htm I first became aware of the pool when I read "Confessions of a Carp Fisher" by B B, and I was so taken by his description that I thought it would be truly terrific to fish this piece of carp fishing history. I would take a jaunt down to Devon to have a look for myself, but it is an awful long way from London where I live. Do any of you Devonshire carp anglers know anything of the pool or if it is still available to fish? Many thanks in advance. S

No luck as yet. I am still looking.

I am going to try and find out if people can still fish it. The pool is even more steeped in history than Redmire.

Is that Beechmere Pool?

well if you do go visit the pool, let me know what its like, i might also go down one day to have a walk around i think if i was to fish redmire i would never want to leave It's not cheap, but it is a little promise I have made to myself.

Yes. I think Beechmere ranks up there with Redmire as legendary lakes. I am almost thinking of taking a trip down to there to see it now that I know where it is. I have also promised myself I will fish Redmire one day too. The book is terrific should anyone be thinking of reading it.

Does anyone have any information on Beechmere Pool. There is a thread about it here: http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?p=427864#427864 The pool features in the famous book "Confessions of a carp fisher" by BB. The pool has a rich history, including a supposed ghost of an old priest. BB gave it a special place in the history of carp angling, and if it were still available to fish, I would pay a goodly sum to do so. Any information gratefully received.

That's a marvellous piece of research. Well done Kris. I share your interest in this pool, and I will put up a post concerning it. I will also add this link to my blog and conduct a little research of my own. I will place any findings here.

I hope you continue to enjoy it Kris.

The second best angling book I have ever read: http://carpernutcase.blogspot.com/2009/03/confessions-of-carp-fisher-by-b-b.html HEALTH WARNING I usually try and write balanced book reviews - kind of. But this one is anything but balanced. It is completely subjective and totally biased. And, what is more, it has a dig at those who don't agree with me. By all means have a read and leave comments. But you have been warned.

I reckon you will be in for a treat Carper. Enjoy! I got "Caught in Time" through the post recently. I think I will enjoy that one too.

Hi Rainbow, welcome to the site. I did a complete venue review here: http://carpernutcase.blogspot.com/2009/02/newland-hall-brook-lake.html I think you are right to say that the fishery pays less than the other facilities. However, I think they have some variation in bailiffs over there now and, whilst some may be of the hard working variety to which you refer, I think there are others less inclined to work. When we went it was in real need of work and litter was strewn everywhere. I get the feeling that unless the owners put some commitment in, then the place will remain as it is. Which is a shame, as it could be rather pleasant.

Yep. I have it. It is in a queue of books that I am reviewing. It is certainly a hefty volume. I am going from Izaak forward, so it is quite low down on the list. However, I have the first DVD, which is absolutely stunning. I will be posting a review of this too later this week. I will post it after my trip out this week to catch another monster.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I here present for your delectation, delight, entertainment, amusement, and, no doubt, severe criticism, a review of the aforesaid author, volume, and messages contained therein. May this humble effort strike up a chime in your breast, and may such intimations as I make be of some small service: http://carpernutcase.blogspot.com/2009/03/still-water-angling-by-richard-walker.html S

I found this topic whilst doing a search. I know it is old, but here is my review of the fishery: http://carpernutcase.blogspot.com/2009/02/newland-hall-brook-lake.html

Hi chaps. As some of you may know, I am building a carp angling blog. One of the features of the blog is a review of every venue I fish, together with my angling companion, Lord West, as we slowly fish our way across Southern England. Below is my first review, and I would be very grateful to you if you could let me know any thoughts you may have and if you think it is something of value. You might forgive me for not mentioning bait? It struck me when writing the first review that they will all contain very similar sections: location, venue condition, pricing and so on - I have therefore created a template which I have used to write the review of last weekend's session. The last section, entitled: "The Exploits of Lord West", may be skipped as it is not really part of the review. It is more a character I am trying to develop for a book. You are, of course, free to read it and, should you do so, I would be interested to know if you enjoyed it or if it bored your fishing hats off! Many thanks in advance, S Newland Hall – Brook Lake Roxwell Chelmsford Essex CM1 4LH Telephone: 01245 230202 Fax: 01245 231463 Web Site: http://www.newlandhallfishery.co.uk/index.htm Pricing These prices cover anglers for two rods. A third rod may be used at the discretion of the Bailiff. An additional charge of £3.00 per session will apply. Monday to Friday day ticket (06.00 - 18.00): £8.00 Sunday to Thursday night ticket (18.00 - 06.00): £8.00 Saturday to Sunday day ticket (06.00 - 18.00): £9.00 Friday & Saturday night ticket (18.00 - 06.00): £9.00 Half weekday session - Monday to Friday (12.00 - 18.00): £5.00 Concessions Juniors (16 and under), OAP's and the disabled will qualify for a £2.00 discount per session.. However, there is a minimum charge of £6.00 and proof will be required to qualify for the discount. Access The Brook Lake requires a walk of around 100 yards from the car park to the waterside, which is approached from the West. The walk could be significantly increased should you decide to fish on the far, Southern bank. Water Details and Fish Stock The Brook Lake is pegged for 50. It is heavily stocked with common and mirror carp up to 30lb, roach and tench. There are only one or two carp over 30lbs, several “twenties”, lots of “doubles”, and many more single figure fish. The average stamp of fish is around the 8lb mark, and I would definitely class it as an easy or “runs” water. The lake lies from East to West and is a vague 600 to 800 yards long. In total, I would say it is four to five acres in size. It is a crude, elongated, rectangular shape and is perhaps 120 yards at its widest point. There is an island at the Western end which is approximately 70 yards from each bank. From the island, a bar runs all the way to the Eastern bay and is around 50 yards from the North bank. The bar is only a mild gravel undulation on the bottom and is not more than two or three feet high. Other parts of the bottom are silted with an average depth of around six or seven feet. In Winter there was no sign of weed, which makes the water extremely snag free. The prevailing wind would seem to be from West to East. The island is the only obvious, immediately visual feature, but the margins look, and are, prime spots for fish. The lake is surrounded by old, overhanging trees, brambles, and reeds. A bait quietly and well presented in the margin areas will almost certainly yield fish, just so long as there is minimal waterside disturbance.. I get the impression that the carp, if not disturbed, will patrol around the island and then along the gravel bar to the Eastern bay. However, the island acts as a magnet to anglers, some of whom are none too quiet, which can push the fish into the less obvious areas of the lake. I made a good inspection of the water and the only fish I saw rolling were away from the island to the East. This was accompanied by heavy bubbling at first light. There is a very good case to be made against fishing in the most obvious, island swims, and seeking out the quieter areas. The swims vary considerably in size, with several double swims available, but also many singles, some of which are “tight”. As we fished in the cold of February there were not too many other anglers on the bank, but I imagine the Spring and Summer will see the swims full and the noise levels almost intolerable. Venue Condition The approach road and car park are heavily pot holed and have been for several years. One pot hole accounted for my companion's oil sump almost ten years ago, and to this day he bears an understandable grudge against it. The car park itself is muddy and very prone to water-logging, as is the path to the lake. The swims are much neglected, and when Lord West and I were there shortly after heavy rain, many were almost completely under water. They urgently need attention, even if just to make them level. There is litter and rubbish all over the venue which, in the warmer months, must surely attract a large number of rats. There are several bailiffs as far as I could see, and these vary from the open and friendly, to the sullen and uncommunicative. The owners do not appear interested in investing in the water, and this shows. On the opposite bank to Lord West and I were a collection of seven teenagers, only one of whom was fishing. The others made a great deal of noise and commotion, but were not moved on or moderated even when the bailiff ventured past them. It is very, very clear that this venue has been neglected for several years. Bad behaviour is tolerated by the authorities, some fish have clearly been mistreated in the past, and no attempt has been made to keep the place clear of litter, or in good fishing condition. This is all a great shame as the lake and surroundings could be very pretty given a chance and a little work. Sorry Newland Hall owners – but you are not managing this venue very well, or even at all; and the proof is in evidence everywhere. Session Details Lord West and I fished the lake in late February at a time when the weather had become relatively mild after a very cold snap. The prior week or two had seen freezing conditions, but at the time of our visit the temperature was over ten degrees centigrade during the day and no lower than five at night. The nights were calm with virtually no wind, and the days saw a slight breeze which put a modest ripple onto the water. We selected a double swim on the North bank as The Noble Lord and I are social angling companions. Owing to the time of year, we did not pre-bait the swims in front, preferring instead to fish with small PVA bags in order to gauge the feeding behaviour of the fish. We did however lightly bait the margins to our left and right. Unfortunately for me, another pair of anglers appeared further along my margin and, prior even to inspecting the lake, threw in large quantities of boilies, which proved a bad move as Lord West was highly successful in his margin whilst mine proved almost dead. This would seem to have been a bad case of over feeding in Winter and putting the fish off as a result. Lord West and I fished two days and one night from a Friday. The Noble Lord, being the better angler, bagged the greater number of fish, but between us we managed twenty carp from 3lbs to 17.5lbs. In total, we must have fooled some 80lbs of fish – all gently cared for and returned safely. We used identical tactics and bait. A simple, semi-fixed bolt rig was employed with a short, braided hook length. The line behind the lead was sleeved in green tubing for a distance of two feet. We also used flying back leads, and tethered back leads to try and ensure as much of our fifteen pound monofilament mainline remained as tight to the bottom as possible. This proved successful, but when such back leading was not used we experienced several line bites and I fear we may have spooked some fish from our frontal swims. During the day, the fish seemed to feed in spells of perhaps two hours each, and then “went off”. These spells did not seem to be sparked by any change in weather or conditions so far as I could tell. After dark, the Noble Lord had almost non-stop action with his margin rod from evening until around mid-night; although most of the fish were of the smaller size. In the end we ceased using the margin rod in order to get some much needed sleep. It may seem counter-intuitive, but we did well to keep away from the island and its noisy, bank side inhabitants. We took some fine fish from the gravel bar in front by the use of back leads, and small PVA bags. The margin was fruitful when not over-baited, and our haul was most satisfying given the time of year. Summary The Brook Lake must be regarded as an easy lake to fish, and even a novice should catch. It does hold some nice fish, although many bear the scars of amateur or ignorant anglers, and very poor water management. The venue could be a picture given a little time and treasure. However, the water is neglected, badly managed, strewn with litter, unnecessarily water-logged, and, as a result of the litter, infested with rats. In Summer I imagine the water will be extremely busy with all kinds of anglers; from the serious, to the plain stupid. In Winter however, it is much quieter; there are fewer rats and intellectually challenged teenagers, and with a little care some splendid Common or Mirror carp may be taken. Newland Hall Brook Lake has great potential, but I fear this will never be realised until such times as the owners take it seriously and invest. Sadly, I do not think this is going to happen any time soon. The Exploits of Lord West The Noble Lord is a kindly fellow, steeped in angling experience and piscatorial lore. Some people keep their experience to themselves, but Lord West is never happier than when he is passing on samples of his vast store of angling knowledge to those less expert than he. He spent much of the first day of our trip holding forth and impressing upon me the crucial importance of water craft. At dawn on the second morning, I was awoken from my slumber by a quiet scratching on my bivvie door. I climbed slowly into the chilly air to find a silhouetted Noble Lord looking keen and alarmingly fresh. His hat was pulled down to its customary jaunt, and he was holding his old telescope. “I'm going to look for fish Old Chap.” he told me as he rubbed his hands together and breathed through frosty breath. “Are you coming?” “Err, right ho” I said with more enthusiasm than I felt. I rubbed my eyes and felt for my spectacles as I made a vain attempt to nudge myself awake. The Lord made a slow and quietly stepping way to our left; his long, angular legs bending and creaking as he went. I followed slowly in his train blinking and thinking of coffee. “Ah ha” he said quietly as he alighted upon a tall and old oak which was leaning precariously over the misty lake. In one silent bound his lean figure ascended to the first branch. He cut a keen and surprisingly nimble outline in the gloom as he hauled himself up to a likely perch. Once there, he remained perfectly and majestically still as he covered the lake with his eye piece. Before long I saw his crunched body tense and I followed his gaze to a patch of reeds perhaps forty yards further along the margin. “Fish” he whispered quietly. “Big fish”. Without a sound he descended from his arboured lair and took my arm. “One hundred and fifty, The Wonder, bread, net” he said simply, and I knew from long experience that The Noble Lord had told me how old the tree was and instructed me to retrieve some items of tackle from our camp. “The Wonder” is his favourite carp rod. Made by the late and very great Richard Walker, it is eleven feet in length, made of polished split cane and built very much along the lines of the Mark IV. Its full title is “Walker's Wonder”, and it was tackled up to a centre pin reel (from Messrs Knot and Crabtree of Traversham), eight pound breaking strength, and set ready to freeline a bait. The Noble Lord shuns the hair rig method and is happy with a razor sharp and sturdy forged “Model Perfect” number four. I retrieved these items, together with my own landing net (the NL's is somewhat small, rather old, and patterned with holes), and crept back to the old oak. Lord West was not there, but as I looked along the bank, I caught a glimpse of his hat as it disappeared amongst the reeds just where he had been gazing so intently shortly before. “Quietly now” he said as I approached and handed him the rod and bread. I crouched down as low as I could and knelt beside him. About one rod length from where we were hiding I could make out some movement amongst the submerged greenery. The NL expertly slipped a chunk of crust onto his hook such that the bread would float crumb down and hook up. He made a gentle, under-arm cast and the bait landed with the softest of plops right beside the moving reeds. “There are two, perhaps three doubles here my lad”, he whispered as he very slowly tweaked the line. I was awake now and, with increasing tension, I watched the line laying on the surface. “Gently, gently” from his Lordship, but only slow breathing from me. I gazed on in a kind of glorious torture as a fish rose slowly to the surface and tapped the crust with his nose. But there was no take; not yet. The NL was like a pillar of marble as he crouched, motionless and silent. And then came the explosion from the water. One fish had seen the other poking at the bread and this seemed to have spurred him on to steal the offering from his submerged friend. The NL's strike was like lightening as the fish took the bait; the rod bent over almost to the double and a furious fight broke out as the fish tried to head for the reeds. But the Wonder took the strain and soon The Noble Lord had him out in open water. “Now I've got you”. The fight lasted perhaps seven or eight minutes, but quite soon the fish had almost played itself out and showed good signs of being beaten. “Shall I try and net him now?” I asked. “Not yet my boy. We have quite enough snags already”. I waited a little longer but soon came the summons for the net. I slowly sunk the mesh into the water and Lord West expertly drew the fish over it. I raised the net and for the first time that day I could clearly hear His Lordship's voice. “Well done that man”, he said, “Splendid job. Now let's have a look”. I moved slightly to one side so as to improve the display. “Yes, very nice. A Common. Fourteen pounds twelve ounces”. Over the years, his Lordship has learned to judge the weight of a fish by eye only, and he doesn't even own a set of scales. I sometimes weigh fish on my set, but I have yet to see his judgement proved wrong. “Let's unhook him in the net”. He reached down and, with a wristy swish, he slipped the hook out of the top lip. “Put him back lad” he said. “Lad”, and me at forty four. I reached out and offered the fish to the water, sinking the net to ease his way. Very soon the carp was free, but just as he sipped the net, my footing gave way and I plunged helplessly after the fish into the freezing lake. Several splutters and coughs later, the Noble Lord pulled me back onto terra firma. If I had been sleepy before, I was awake now; and not as warm as I prefer. “Come on lad. Let's get you dry” said His Lordship. “But remember this. You must never forget the margins”. And I never have.

I will be putting my review in a post today. I will ask for feed back from the lads on here, hone it a little, and then create a template that I will use for every venue I fish. The reviews will hopefully be of a high quality as I take notes when I fish and try and absorb as much information as I can. All these will be posted on my blog.

The ban on alcohol and juniors is a good one in my view; but to ban night fishing seems unjust. The regulators have either failed in the first instance, or have not realised the opportunity in the second.

well done to your mate on his new pb and its good to see its not as bad as everyone makes out. its a shame i couldnt make it down there, but work interfered with my plans. what was the biggest fish out, and how many singles did you have mate. I'm the lucky guy with a new PB - I am made up and thanks to my pal for all his help. I will put a venue review and a summary of the session on my blog; but as Southend said there was quite a bit of rubbish about, the swims could have been looked after more - even just levelling them would help - and I imagine the rats will be much worse come the warmer months. With a little effort and a few bob they could put the place right. It is a nice old lake with plenty of ancient trees and wildlife; and most of the fish were in lovely condition. It is rough around the edges (so to speak), but I had a great time.

We should be there about 9AM on Friday and will probably leave earlyish Sun day morning. Not really sure where or why we are fishing as my buddy is the head man in that department. I hope to see you. I am tall and extremely good looking. I will be wearing a black pin-stripe suit with a copy of The Times under my left (LEFT) arm. The password is "Hamburger".

Hi Simon, What lake will you be fishing? We will be on the Brook lake, and we will try and get onto peg 33. We will be there around 9AM on Friday. Would be great to meet up and shake your hand. You might even like to try some of my Sahara chilli if you are cold

hi mate, i was thinking about doing thursday night and friday day. if your up for that then i can meet you there. ive got a new bait that im testing at the moment but i havnt tried it on a runs water so it would be good to give it a go, cheers, simon And I am that masked friend(beginner). It would be great to meet a fellow carp.com man Simon. I promise to try and not make too much of a hash of things - but please don't laugh Steve P.S. Hi Buddy!

Thanks iambunn. I am certainly learning a lot from it. I hope others are too.

Hi Kieth,I started comming onto the forum to see if I could get to know any like minded souls and to see if I could learn a thing or two and perhaps help on or two. Most anglers you see nowdays or in fact in the past do not think for themselves,they simply do what they have been shown either first or second hand. A few think for themselves work out how to catch fish,and either first or second hand teach all the others. Magazines and forums for that matter can help beginers, they also can help thinking anglers in their train of thought. But in a lot of situations you know they will read and follow like sheep. For what it's worth, I think this is spot on. I like to think that when I go out I will always be asking myself the question: "Why are you doing that?". In other words I will try and think my way through what I do and, after a time, be able to build up a store of knowledge that I can deploy and hopefully catch regularly. The other thing I have found is that, as a novice, I did the usual thing in buying books, magazines, DVDs, and joining forums. Very soon I found I had a healthy dose of "information overload". I quickly stopped trying to remember everything, and felt I needed to start simple and slow, and then gradually grow into a thoughtful angler with good water craft skills and a range of fishing options at my disposal.

Terrific points lads - many thanks. I am completely on board with top quality, razor sharp hooks - that seems a no brainer to me (no offence meant). Also, I agree the DVDs were aimed at sales. I will also be trying different things in different situations and recording my results. I am going out for the first time on 20th Feb with an experienced pal who catches regularly. I will soak up all his advice so I can walk before I can run; but over time I imagine (and hope) I will try different things - I just need to try and learn as much as I can and keep things as simple as possible.