Essex has been a hot bed of carp angling for many years and is also home to Total Fishing Tackle HQ! With new carp lakes appearing all the time, we thought we should compile a list of the best carp fishing lakes in Essex for you to go and enjoy, obviously there are way too many to capture them all in one blog piece but these are fisheries our staff members have visited themselves. Where better to start that at the end of the road, Berners Hall Fishery........
Berners Hall Fishery
An obvious choice for our opening venue on our list of the best carp lakes in Essex. Situated just a stones throw from Total Fishing Tackle HQ, Berners Hall Fishery really does have something for everyone. There are three lakes on site providing sport for beginners right through to seasoned carp anglers looking for a personal best. The Res has 24 designated swims spaced out across 24 acres of water. The depth of water does vary throughout the year but generally, the deepest points are approx. 10-12 feet with a clay-based bottom. The carp get caught on a wide range of tactics; bottom baits, pop-ups, zigs and surface fishing at short, medium and long-ranges all depending on conditions, swims, weed beds and the time of year.
The Res has been carefully stocked with over 600 hand-selected carp & 14 catfish from some of the UK’s best-known fish dealers, some of which we have been growing on in our stock lakes since 2006. This has ensured there is a good cross-section of all strains of carp including the original fisher pond mirrors, clean commons, heavily scaled mirrors, fully plated and linear’s. There are numerous 40lb carp present and a stack of 30's and 20's that will keep you busy if you get the tactics right. Meadow Lake is sheltered between the reservoir and the River Roding within stunning countryside is Meadow Lake. The lake was purposely designed and stocked with carp anglers in mind. It has a range of underwater features and an island so there are plenty of good fishing areas other than the margins. The lake has been stocked with the same strains of carp as ‘The Res’ to sizes 30lb+ with a good head of 20’s and doubles.
It has 5 purpose-built wood chipped swims socially positioned along one bank with plenty of water, features and opposite bank fishing available. If its runs you are after the this is place to go. Poultons Lake is also sheltered by the the Reservoir and the River Roding, directly next to Meadow Lake. It is the smallest of the 3 lakes at 1 acre in size. Consisting of a range of depths with many man-made underwater features to find. It has 2 good-sized wood chipped swims to fish from and is very sheltered from the elements. The lake has been stocked with 50 carp to 30lb+ with a good head of 20’s and clean doubles to also target.
It offers a closer range fishing experience to the other lakes and is great for intimate stalking, floater fishing etc. Please note with only 2 swims this lake is for exclusive hire only. Ideal for individuals or small groups wanting their own lake to fish, pre-booking is available please contact us for more info. Car parking is also conveniently close to this lake which makes unloading for a session a breeze.
The Res has been carefully stocked with over 600 hand-selected carp & 14 catfish from some of the UK’s best-known fish dealers, some of which we have been growing on in our stock lakes since 2006. This has ensured there is a good cross-section of all strains of carp including the original fisher pond mirrors, clean commons, heavily scaled mirrors, fully plated and linear’s. There are numerous 40lb carp present and a stack of 30's and 20's that will keep you busy if you get the tactics right. Meadow Lake is sheltered between the reservoir and the River Roding within stunning countryside is Meadow Lake. The lake was purposely designed and stocked with carp anglers in mind. It has a range of underwater features and an island so there are plenty of good fishing areas other than the margins. The lake has been stocked with the same strains of carp as ‘The Res’ to sizes 30lb+ with a good head of 20’s and doubles.
It has 5 purpose-built wood chipped swims socially positioned along one bank with plenty of water, features and opposite bank fishing available. If its runs you are after the this is place to go. Poultons Lake is also sheltered by the the Reservoir and the River Roding, directly next to Meadow Lake. It is the smallest of the 3 lakes at 1 acre in size. Consisting of a range of depths with many man-made underwater features to find. It has 2 good-sized wood chipped swims to fish from and is very sheltered from the elements. The lake has been stocked with 50 carp to 30lb+ with a good head of 20’s and clean doubles to also target.
It offers a closer range fishing experience to the other lakes and is great for intimate stalking, floater fishing etc. Please note with only 2 swims this lake is for exclusive hire only. Ideal for individuals or small groups wanting their own lake to fish, pre-booking is available please contact us for more info. Car parking is also conveniently close to this lake which makes unloading for a session a breeze.
Churchwood Fisheries
Churchwood Fisheries, in Brentwood Essex, is a stunning, tranquil day ticket fishery set within the owners private back garden. There are 3 lakes in total, Jenkins, Churchwood and the Cat Lake. The lakes are set within mature surroundings where fisherman can often watch the resident Kingfishers, muntjac deer along with various other wildlife. Churchwood Lake is approximately 2. 5 acres in size.A maximum of 6 anglers are permitted although like Jenkins larger parties can be accommodated upon request. Carp to 30lbs+ are present with a good head of 20's and many upper doubles. The original stock has been complimented over the past few years with some cracking scaly AJS stockies. In addition to this we have also added a number of faster growing strains from our stock pond which are achieving some excellent growth rates. One such example is a mirror we christened 'Chucky' that was introduced at 18lbs.
Within just two years this fish is now pushing 28lbs+ and looks set to one day be a very large specimen. Jenkins Lake is a little over 1 acre in size with average depths of 7-8 feet. Three anglers are permitted on the lake although larger parties can be accommodated on request. The lake contains some of the most stunning commons and mirrors you are ever likely to catch with several now nudging the 30lbs mark. There is a good head of 20's with many upper doubles to back up the larger fish.
The fishing lodge at Churchwood Fisheries is located within easy reach of all three lakes. The lodge has been specially designed for the modern carp angler and has an array of facilities including hot and cold running water, microwave oven, fridge, kettle and electric sockets for charging mobile phones, bait boats, laptops etc. Also located at the lodge is the shower and toilet. If its 5 star comfort you want then Churchwood might well be the place for you!
Essex Carp Syndicates
With four waters under their control, Essex Carp Syndicates have something for everyone, three of their four waters are syndicate and the 4th is a day ticket open access lake. The cream of the crop reside in The Rise, the largest of all the lakes and with a lake record of over 55lb! There are also at least 25 different 40lb fish present, needless to say there is a waiting list in operation and places are hard to come by. The Sanctuary has appeared in videos all over the carp fishing industry and at 18 acres with over 500 carp present, bites are not too hard to come by. With fishing approaching 40lb there are a few bigguns to go for and there are lots of scaley stunners for you to try and catch as well.Next up is the last of the syndicate venues called The Mill Syndicate Lake and this is a water I remember Dave Levy having a few fish out of a few years ago. The mill syndicate lake is 9 acres in size and goes up to seventeen feet deep in some places , and is surrounded by trees reeds Lilly's etc , with lots of bays and excellent margins the lake bed is made up of gravel spots, silt gullies etc. There are over 160 fish present at the moment well over 50 x 20lb plus fish currently going up to 40lb plus. Lastly is the Mill Day Ticket Lake. Set in the tranquil Essex countryside in Great Baddow Chelmsford.
The mill day ticket is a well established mixed fishery with 11 swims surrounded by overhanging willows, trees, reeds, Lillys, and also an otter proof fence. The lake is just under 3 acres in size and has an average depths of 6-16 feet with over 180 carp up to 38lb giving the opportunity for plenty of bites if you get the tactics right. A fantastic addition to our list of the best carp fishing lakes in Essex!
Par Fishery
Par fishery has matured over the last 20 years and become known as one of the best Carp and Catfish venues in the south east, set in over 12 acres of Essex countryside surrounded by woodland and farm land, a abundance of wildlife can be seen in and out of the water; Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Sparrow hawks, Woodpeckers to the rarely seen siskin, nuthatch and barn owls. There are two lakes on site and the first we come to is Tillingham Lake or the Front Lake as it is sometimes known. Tillingham Lake is the first lake you will come to after entering the fishery it is approximately 4. 5 acres. The lake has 13 good size swims to choose from but is limited to only 10 anglers, giving all anglers plenty of open water to fish and plenty of space on the bank; most swims will accommodate a 2 man bivvy.The lake has manly overhanging trees and an abundance of large thick reed beds, giving the fish plenty of cover and natural feeding areas. The average size of fish is 16-23lb although the current lake record stands at 32lb. 10oz. The front lake is not only a home for carp as in the murky depths of the lake inhabits the Wels Catfish that have reached weights of over 85lb we believe that there are around 30 of these powerful fish present. The front lake also holds Perch, Roach, Rudd and Tench.
Faraway lake is a more engaging water of the two lakes where the average weight of carp is 20lb with a current lake record of 38lb 8oz. At the right time of the year the lake holds around 15 different thirty pound carp with at least 4 fish over 35lb. The lake itself is approximately 4 acres in size and the stock is around 80-100 carp. There are 6 swims to choose from on the back lake which gives all the swims plenty space on the bank and an abundance of open water to fish so comfortable fishing for up to 6 anglers at one time. The lake has plenty of overhanging trees and an abundance of large thick reed beds, giving the fish plenty of cover and natural feeding areas.
Please note that the back lake can be weedy in the summer months. Prices start at £15 for the day and you can even book the whole lake if you want more room or a social with your mates.
Newland Hall Fishery
The Newland Hall Country Estate is situated 4 miles west of Chelmsford, Essex. It consists of a large picturesque 15th century Tudor Manor House with a moat, beautiful gardens and over 100 acres of grass and woodland with four superb fishing lakes surrounded by unspoilt countryside. Anyone interested in big carp will probably want to head straight to Osier Lake. . . . .The four fishing lakes at Newlands total approximately 10 acres. They are all very well managed, very tidy and are heavily stocked. There is ample close by parking, toilets and drinking water. Brook Lake is pegged for 50. It is heavily stocked with common and mirror carp up to 30lb, roach and tench. The lake is ideal for carp, match or pleasure fishing. Moat Lake is pegged for 30.
It is very heavily stocked with common and mirror carp and roach. The average size of fish is smaller than the Brook Lake, which makes it perfect for both match and pleasure fishing. Match winning weights regularly exceed 300lb (see angling press). Park Lake is pegged for 15. It is stocked to a similar density to the Moat Lake with a high density of carp and roach, and therefore is perfect for pleasure fishing and small matches. Osiers Lake is a specialist carp water with only 8 carefully positioned swims. With common and mirror carp from 15Ib to 35Ib it is ideal for the more “serious” carper.
The lake is available on a day/night ticket basis. No booking required, as with the other lakes, the bailiff will collect the money on the bank. It is also available to book for private group sessions with exclusive use for up to 8 anglers for up to 72 hours. This will guarantee total privacy and exclusivity. Eg Friday 1800 to Sunday 1800 (48 hrs), maximum 8 Anglers only £350. There really is something for everyone at Newlands Hall and they are a worthy addition to our list of the best carp lakes in Essex!
Bayeswater Day Ticket Lake
The brain child of Nash Bait genius Gary Bayes, Bayeswater fisheries are located – Generals Farm, A12 Boreham Interchange,Chelmsford, Essex. The day ticket lake is 3 acres in size It holds approximately 300 carp, with 11 different 30’s, there is a lot caught near the 27lb mark with an average 3 out of 4 caught being over 20lb. There are 12 swims in total on the lake with lake records of a 41lb Mirror and a 38lb Common. This a notoriously good cold weather carp water. A tremendous amount of work has gone into the Day Ticket lake and as well as being netted every single year for fish health checks and to remove and non growers, the lakes are meticulously looked after.I asked Gary to tell me about the stock in the day ticket lake - When we net the day ticket lake now it’s anything under 15 pound has to go. This might sound excessive but we reckon there is still a lot of small fish in there with over 300 good fish with an average of around 20 pound going from captures. Last August I did a night on the day ticket lake catching 5 fish, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 29. 8, all spawned out at low-ish weights, the 29 is usually 33-35 pound. This is the type of fish weights we want, bigger the better.
So, although it’s impossible to say exactly how many fish are in the day ticket lake there is definitely 5 different 30’s regularly caught, best weights being 32, 34, 35, 38 and 38. There used to be a bit of a gap from 30 down to low 20 but now there is a lot of 25 pounders caught and several fish have put on good weights. There are some easily recognised fish that seemed to always be scraper 20’s that are now mid 20’s and even after spawning there is a lot of 20’s being caught.
So there you have it our list of some of the best carp lakes in Essex and having just got back from Berners Hall myself, I can safely say it is fishing exceptionally well with numerous 30lb carp being caught