Lakes & Waters
12 lakes and waters across the UK.
12 lakes and waters across the UK.
12 lakes found
Match Lake is a 30-peg snake-shaped water crammed full of fish, making it an ideal venue for club matches, individual anglers and youngsters. The lake is predominantly stocked with fairly easy to catch carp between 8oz-10lbs along with plenty of roach and rudd between 8oz-1lb, ensuring consistent action throughout the day. With a maximum depth of approximately 4.5 feet and an even bottom, the lake is straightforward to fish. Fishing close to the near or far bank usually pays dividends. Due to the ease of fishing and high stock density, anglers are restricted to one rod or pole at a time. To prevent overfeeding in this heavily stocked water, there is a four pint limit on maggots, meal, sweetcorn, casters or pellets per session, and a one kilo limit on groundbait which can only be used in a pole cup or feeder. Barbless hooks are mandatory as per match/pleasure lake rules.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
A former trout lake and completely unspoilt match venue, Beeches is matured with reed beds and trees offering a unique character unlike typical commercial fisheries. Situated in the top right-hand corner of the site, this 4-acre water features two small arms plus a main bowl section, ensuring every peg offers different fishing opportunities. The lake varies in depth between 4 feet and 6 feet throughout, with 37 well-spaced pegs providing over 16 metres between each angler. The natural features including reeds, trees and varying depths make this an interesting and challenging water that rewards tactical thinking and adapting to conditions. The fish in Beeches are notoriously hard fighting, particularly when hooked in the margins near reed cover, so heavy pole gear and quick reactions are essential to land them successfully.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
If non-stop action and constant bites are what you're after, then Bennys Lake delivers in spectacular fashion as Lindholme's mega match venue and most recently developed water. This impressive 8.5-acre lake was formerly a specimen carp lake and then a trout fishery, but in 2014 it was opened up and transformed into an incredible match venue that has quickly established itself as a favorite among pleasure anglers and match competitors alike. Bennys has been primarily stocked with a huge number of F1 carp which average between 4 ounces and 8 ounces, running up to over 2lb, providing the kind of hectic sport where catches of 200 to 400 fish in a single session during summer months are entirely realistic. The lake features 60 well-maintained pegs with depths ranging from 4 to 8 feet just a few metres from the bank, increasing to around 10 to 12 feet of water in the middle sections. This water is particularly suited to pleasure fishing and is absolutely perfect for beginners, children, and anyone wanting to build confidence and improve their skills in an environment where bites are almost guaranteed. The current lake record stands at an incredible 427lb set by Andy Bennett from peg 28, demonstrating the sheer quantity of fish present.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
Lindholme's showcase water and most popular lake for competition angling, Bonsai underwent a full makeover in 2022 and now represents the pinnacle of commercial match fishing. Visitors pass this impressive 4.5-acre water as they enter the fishery, immediately seeing why it hosts major events and attracts anglers from across the country. The lake features 85 exceptionally well-maintained pegs across its three acres, with an incredible 90% of these pegs having an island feature to fish to at distances ranging between 13 metres and 30 metres away, ensuring every single peg offers different tactical options. Depths vary considerably from 3 feet in the shallower areas up to 10 feet in the deeper sections, providing year-round fishing opportunities as fish move between different depth zones according to conditions and seasons. This is where the current venue record of 321lb 8oz was set by Andy Bennett in July 2014 from peg 24, demonstrating the incredible potential this water holds for specimen weights.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
Just like Willows, Laurels is an interesting and feature-packed lake full of arms and points sticking out into the main body of water, creating numerous bays and varied swims around its 3.5-acre footprint. The lake features 69 numbered pegs, although a couple at the top end are now disused to create more comfortable fishing space for anglers. Laurels has established itself as a very consistent all-around performer which produces quality sport throughout the entire year, even maintaining good catches when frozen over during the harshest winter conditions. This is one of the deeper lakes at the venue where anglers will typically find 5 to 7 feet of water on the long pole line, providing excellent holding areas for fish in all seasons. The lake holds some spectacular ghost carp and the large perch population is a particular speciality, with several fish now weighed in matches over the 4lb mark, typically caught during the colder months when the water clarity improves and these predatory fish feed more confidently.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
The smallest water at Lindholme Lakes, this compact 1-acre rectangular pond features 24 permanent pegs with fishing available from both sides, making it the perfect intimate venue for small club matches and social events. Despite its modest size, Strip Lake punches well above its weight in terms of sport, providing consistent action throughout the entire year with convenient parking located close by at either end of the lake for easy access. The lake maintains a uniform depth of around 4 feet all the way around, creating stable conditions and ensuring fish can be found across the entire water regardless of weather or season. The corner pegs feature deeper water and undercut banks with heavy reed cover, particularly on the road bank side, requiring strong gear to extract fish from these snaggy areas. Strip is an excellent water for building confidence, teaching tactics, and enjoying sociable fishing sessions without the pressure of competing on larger, more demanding venues.
Lindholme Lakes Country Park
A lovely 3-acre reed-fringed water situated on the left-hand side of the complex, Willows features 57 well-positioned pegs with convenient car parking available at both ends of the lake and down the left roadside for excellent accessibility. The lake is characterized as open water measuring around 3 feet 6 inches to 5 feet deep in most places, though some corners feature areas of dense vegetation that provide excellent cover and ambush points for larger fish. This is primarily an open water lake that fishes consistently well throughout the year, though certain bays and features perform better depending on seasonal conditions and prevailing wind directions. The lake holds some exceptionally large ghost carp and mirror carp specimens over 20lb which occasionally get caught in the edges or fishing close in during late afternoon and evening sessions, providing exciting opportunities for specimen hunters. However, the main quarry for most anglers are the prolific F1 carp which average a respectable 1lb 8oz, providing non-stop action when targeted correctly with the right approach and bait presentation.
MAP Marston Fields Fishery
Laurels has recently been completely re-modelled to maximise its fishing potential, transforming it into a 'snake lake' design with an average width of 14.5 metres. The central island area has been reconstructed and increased in size to create the new layout. Now featuring 26 pegs, the lake offers 3.5 feet of water down the track, with shallow shelves of 18 inches to 2 feet on both the near and far sides. The lake is well stocked with carp to 8lb, F1s, bream and quality silvers. Pole fishing dominates this water, with anglers catching consistently on top 2+2, up on the far shelf and down at the edges. The best baits tend to be pellet, maggots and corn, with the varied depths and features providing multiple tactical options throughout the day.
MAP Marston Fields Fishery
Oak provides 28 pegs and is stocked primarily with carp ranging from 2lb up to 6lb, offering consistent sport for anglers of all abilities. The lake also holds a good population of roach, skimmers and a few rudd, providing variety throughout the session. A bomb fished in the middle of the lake is a particularly effective method here, while both long and short pole lines work well with pellet as the main bait. The mixed stock and responsive nature of the lake make it ideal for pleasure fishing and learning match fishing tactics.
MAP Marston Fields Fishery
Sycamore is the largest lake at the venue with 50 pegs arranged around a long, rectangular strip design. A distinctive island runs straight down the middle of the lake, providing excellent features for targeting fish. The lake responds well to traditional pole tactics, with the waggler and method feeder to the island proving particularly effective. Pellet is the best bait choice for the carp which range from 2lb up to 20lb. The rectangular shape and central island create varied fishing opportunities around the entire lake, making it ideal for matches and pleasure sessions alike.
MAP Marston Fields Fishery
Willow features 32 pegs with an average depth of 6-8 feet throughout. The lake offers excellent fishing both short and long on the pole, with the method feeder proving highly effective when cast just short of the island. Adjacent to the island the water is shallow, but a metre off the island there is a nice flat plateau at two and a half feet deep which holds fish well. The lake is stocked with carp averaging between 1lb and 5lb, with some fish between 6lb and 20lb, plus a good head of roach and skimmers. The bottom features a gradual slope with no significant shelves or ledges until reaching the island area.
Makins Fishery
Another match style serpentine lake at 1.5 acres making this lake the biggest on phase 3. Fishing tight to the island or down the inside margins and the deeper first shelf on pole or float. Big weights are found anywhere along the straights. Pellets loose-fed with banded hard hook pellets or meat, corn and paste.