smufter

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!!

28 rods out today. Didn't even see a fish. I don't even think I heard an alarm go off Reasonable looking water though. I'll give it another go definitely.

No mate, but I understand there are a few "lumps" in there. A friend of mine lives just down the road in Paddock Wood and has fished there before, reckons it's ok. Two lakes, a match lake (which he is going to fish) and the speci lake, which I am going to have a bash at. Cheap day ticket, £10.00 for two rods, so nothing much to lose! Notice that they've recently updated their website too, which gives you the facility to book a swim in advance, which is quite handy! Will let you know how I get on later. Weather doesn't look too bad at the moment. Fingers crossed that the rain stays off...

Haven't had a chance to get up there yet BC. Working this week-end so it won't be for another couple of weeks before I can have a "look-see". Fishing Tricklebrook tomorrow.....

I contacted them direct via their Facebook page and heard back very quickly from "Lil".... Going to pop up there next time I'm in the area and have a look around. Looks like a nice place to fish. Thanks for the info Doug Rob

Sorry mate. I hate the things. Almost as much as Bream