smufter

^^^^^^^ This

Two cats. Colin, a ginger Tom that drives up mad. Dob (so called because she is white with blotches over, like she has been "dobbed" with a paintbrush).

Got to be honest, I'm not a "river" man. I have only ever fished at Normanhurst or Harmers. Haven't fished Rye Nook, understand it is supposed to be reasonably good, but we are spoilt for choice for day ticket waters around here. As I say, I am going over to Crowborough to fish at Stream Valley if you fancy it. One of the nicest day ticket waters I have fished.

Hi Jonno I'm a member and have fished it plenty of times. Lovely, natural lake about 1 1/2 acres in size. Plenty of fish in there, the carp run to just over 20 and give a good scrap. A good head of decent sized Tench in there too along with some fair Perch. It's quite a trek up through the woods to get to the water though, so my advice is travel light! No night fishing but you can fish from 4am until dusk. The lake isn't very deep, and there is a shallow bay at the far end, ideal for a bit of stalking if you fancy. Last year it was quite weedy, you had to pick your spots pretty carefully, I haven't been this year yet, I keep promising myself to pop up there but something else always crops up. I have been told that the weed isn't quite so prolific at the moment. You used to have to buy an additonal "day ticket" (only cost a £ or so) to fish it. This was not done as a money raiser but just so the club knew how many were fishing it at any given time. They dropped this last year as an "experiment" and as far as I am aware it hasn't been re-introduced. I have also taken a mate up there, guests are allowed, I think the price of a guest ticket is about £8.00 a day. You can buy one of these from one of the local tackle shops. They chopped a load of the trees down up there a couple of years ago, and some say that the lake has been ruined because of it. The far bank is devoid of any greenery now, and is very exposed. It's not a particularly nice bank to fish if I'm honest. There aren't that many swims so if you plan on going on a week-end, make sure you get there nice and early or you will end up with a duff 'un. During the week it's a lot quieter, I tend to have Wednesdays off of work and have sometimes been the only one fishing all day. Because of it's location it is nice and quiet, no noise from passing traffic or hoards of people walking by. The odd dog walker but they really are few and far between. If you want any more advice or fancy a session up there one day give me a shout. I can also offer you some advice on other local day ticket waters if you want. I am off to Stream Valley Lakes in Crowborough this coming Wednesday. A nicer water you would be hard pushed to find. Rob

I too use Soft Ghost. Never given me a problem and knots well.

Hi Vinny, I'm not really much help to you as I have only fished the Speci Lake at Falkenvil once, but I hope to get back there and have another go later in the season. Nice little lake, only a few swims and quite a trek from the car park. The day I went it was bloody horrible, blowing a gale and either rain or hailstones for most of the day. It was muddy too....VERY muddy. I was the only one fishing it that day and blanked. Not a twitch. I understand the biggest fish in there is a Grassie at just under 30? The owner (Keith?) is a friendly guy, very chatty, and will give you some good pointers if you ask him. As I say, I intend to go back and give it another bash soon. If you fancy a trip over there PM me. I live in Bexhill on Sea by the way. But that warning again....it's quite a trek from the car park to the water. If you are planning on taking a load of gear, best either borrow or buy a barrow! Welcome to the forum by the way. Rob

Hope you have a great time, and tight lines!! I have booked up my first trip over for next year, would have loved to have gone this year but have already used up my holiday entitlement at work. Safe journey

http://hastingsandbexhillangling.co.uk/ The lake I prefer fishing is "Normanhurst".... I've thought about joining Cranbrook AC but their waters are just a little bit too far for me to travel to regularly. There are a few other places to fish around here, Falkenvil in Hailsham isn't too bad, and you have got Moor Hall pools in Ninfield which have some reasonable fish in them and are pretty good if you are looking for more of a "runs" water.

If you fancy fishing my local club water for a "break" while you are down that way let me know. It's just round the corner from Wylands, only about 2 acres in size and not massive fish, I think the biggest Carp run to mid twenties, but it is a lovely looking, natural water and very quiet as it's quite a way from any main roads. A nice head of decent sized Tench in there too, (if you are that way inclined), and apparently some decent crucians, although I have never caught one. No night fishing but you are allowed to fish from 4am until dark so not too bad a session. Has a couple of nice bays, and the far one is quite shallow, lots of carp go cruising in there so an ideal spot for a bit of stalking/surface fishing. I'd be up for a mid-week session (normally take Wednesdays off work) so if you are interested let me know. Rob

Be interesting to read the replies as you could be fishing my favourite club water! It sounds exactly the same. I get round it by freelining my bait out in the hope that if it does find weed, it won't sink too far in and the fish will still find it. It works to an extent, but I'm limited to shorter chucks through lack of weight! There is a lot of fish holding water than I can't cover!

Similar situation.........I usually find my baitrunner starts screaming just as I'm in the middle of rolling a fag. Or halfway through a slash.

Looks like it

Thanks for the warning Ian. I had heard about this before so am aware that there are certain rules and regulations mate. I won't be taking any chances. Thanks again Rob

Dunno what happened there!

No mate. Not guilty. I didn't want drive and survive. Looks like I'm sorted now though.

Thanks for the info! I will buy some extra fluoro

No it wasn't!! No mention of location, gallery pics, value for money, "looks nice" etc. bait recommendations, tactics or rigs. That I would call "constructive". Your only comment was that it had a barbless hook rule and was most probably run by twits. I hardly call that constructive. You then hijacked the thread to climb onto your barbed hook soapbox.

Both run to make lots and lots of money! Twits? Dont know but Barston does have a no surface fishing rule, thats a joke and could quite easily have been made up by a twit! The fact they both have barbless rules tells me a lot and i'd visit neither place, more room for guys like you who would! Look, I asked on this thread if anyone had any details about a particular fishery I was intending visiting. The argument about barbed or barbless hooks is for another place, another time. You have added nothing constructive to this thread, and despite me answering as politely as I possibly can, your above post comes across as very condescending. "Guys like you who would"......what the hell does that sweeping statement mean. Are you intimating that "guys like me" don't care about fish care??? If so, you couldn't be further from the truth.

That's something I need to confirm with them today. By the way, Elsons Lake at Stanwick Lakes fisheries. Apparently it's steeped in history and one of the country's premier waters. Barstons lakes, where the forums winter social has just been held. Both have barbless rules...Run by twits???

Just that France will be more of a holiday. I can do things other than fish while I am out there. Nice restaurant, bit of sight seeing. To be honest, I could (could) go to Weston Park next week if I wanted to!

Thanks for the replies lads, and points taken. But I won't decide not to go to a venue because of the barbless rule. There are loads of fisheries around that still demand it. I'm not saying they're right, not saying they're wrong. Bit like saying you won't go and play golf at a top notch golf course because they ask you to wear a collar and tie for the evening meal. If I want to play their course, and that's their rules I'll wear a collar and tie or do the other thing. I've been to a couple of places that state in the rules that they will ask to see end tackle if required....but neither of them did. I think that if you are acting like a prat then you deserve it if it happens, but I wasn't so it didnt!

I appreciate what you are saying, but I'm firmly in the camp that barbed hooks do more damage. I've seen plenty of inexperienced anglers struggling to get a barbed hook out of a fish, and like this writer feel that more damage is done at unhooking time than during a fight... http://www.anglinglines.com/blog/barbed-v-barbless/ He makes a valid point that if a fish snaps you up, it stands a helluva better chance of shedding a barbless hook than a barbed one. I'd hate to think what damage a fishes mouth would have if it had had a hook stuck in it for a couple of years.

Errrr..most of the places I fish have a barbless rule. My own club water has a barbless rule, and I wouldn't like to think it's being run by "twits". I'm not being argumentative but are you looking at it from the fishes or the anglers view??? I'd be keen to know. Rob

Looking to go to France next year for the first time. Don't really want to do "drive and survive"...I don't mind the odd overnighter or week-end under canvas, but don't fancy a week of it. Looking to go in early April if it's available want to avoid late April/May for obvious reasons. Reading the catch reports, June doesn't seem to fish too badly so wouldn't rule this out either. Would have liked September but work won't allow me leave then. Not after massive fish, my experience (and budget) won't run to some of the more illustrious fisheries, just want a small(ish) water with a chance to catch an upper 20, maybe a 30. That would do for me at the moment. Came across this place which looks ideal for my requirements, but just wondered if anybody on here had fished it before, or knew anybody who had?? Looking at catch reports, carp run to mid 40's. Village close by with a range of shops, pubs and restaurants but also a bbq area and all cooking facilities so a quick stock up from the local supermarket with bangers, burgers, chicken and bacon and you'd be good to go! link deleted as per forum rules £700.00 for a weeks exclusive use of the lake which includes rental of the 4 bed cabin, so if I can get 3 mates to come along with me that makes it £175.00 each for the week. Not too far from Calais (3.5 hours apparently) so getting there won't be a major heartache. So apart from the fact that it hasn't got any 70lb stonkers in it, it seems to tick all the boxes as far as I'm concerned. My best mate is a keen fisherman, but he's not really a "carper"...more into his river fishing for Pike, Perch and Chub. The fact that there are other species in this particular water might tempt him, but at the moment I'm on my own. Any comments or suggestions welcome. Ta Rob

You could be right BC. Saw quite a few of the guys bivvied up for the night, I couldn't as a) I don't have a bivvy yet b) I was working today Had a great bit of news earlier. The mate that I went with yesterday is a roofer by trade. He had to go around a big nursing home in the area this morning to price a job up. There was a lovely lake in the grounds, that the manager showed him round. Big carp swimming around, and they gobble up the scraps thrown in by the kitchen and the residents also throw in scraps of bread that get them feeding. The manager has said that we can both fish it whenever we want for free. And it hasn't been fished for over 20 years. I'm excited already!!