Carp fishing in England has never been more popular and with this boom in popularity comes a demand for more and more carp lakes. We asked our resident fishing expert Wayne Box to come up with his list of the best carp lakes in England. When I was asked to write about the best carp fishing lakes in England it send me head into a spin as there are so many excellent venues that spring to mind! For the sake of the blog I have narrowed it down to just ten of the very best and included a mix of day ticket waters and syndicates, all of which are accessible to everyone so long as you accept that there may be a waiting list for membership!
Berners Hall Fishery
Situated in Essex just a stone's 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. 8-15 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 750 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. With fish in the Res to over 50lb, 30+ numerous 40lb carp present and a huge stack of 30's and 20's that will keep you busy if you get the tactics right.
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.
Poultons Lake is also sheltered by 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 3 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. With only 3 swims this lake makes it ideal for individuals or small groups. Car parking is also conveniently close to this lake which makes unloading for a session a breeze.
Pre-booking is strongly advised, and is done via Catch. Berners Hall really does offer superb carp fishing and is a great opener of our list of the Best Carp Lakes in England.
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. With fish in the Res to over 50lb, 30+ numerous 40lb carp present and a huge stack of 30's and 20's that will keep you busy if you get the tactics right.
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.
Poultons Lake is also sheltered by 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 3 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. With only 3 swims this lake makes it ideal for individuals or small groups. Car parking is also conveniently close to this lake which makes unloading for a session a breeze.
Pre-booking is strongly advised, and is done via Catch. Berners Hall really does offer superb carp fishing and is a great opener of our list of the Best Carp Lakes in England.
Wellington Country Park
I couldn't not mention 'Welly' as the stock of fish is truly staggering. The 30 acre lake near Reading in Berkshire has attracted many of the top anglers in the UK, lured in by the chance of a PB and lots of them! The exact stock is not known but based on catch reports, there is approx fifty fish over 40lbs and roughly thirty fish over 50lbs and the lake record is over 60lb! Run as a syndicate, Wellington Country Park carries a lengthy waiting list and big price tag but if you are prepared to wait and stump up the cash then a photo album of giants awaits you. Don't think that the Wellington Country Park residents give themselves up easily though, it is not unheard of for inexperienced anglers to struggle on Welly. Korda and Danny Fairbrass have filmed underwater videos here and there are numerous videos available on YouTube, along with lots of articles written about the place. If you want to be added to the waiting list give the estate office a call but be prepared for a very long wait!
Linear Fisheries
One of the most well known day ticket venues in the country and with 9 different lakes there is something to suit all abilities. If it's runs you are after then you need to be heading to either Brasenose one, Brasenose two or Hardwick/Smiths. if it's the chance of a big fish then you need to be heading to Manor Farm or St Johns and finally for a bit of both there is Oxlease lake and Hunts Corner. Not forgetting the coarse fishing lake Hunts Corner Pond and the beginner carp lake called the One Summer Pond. Situated just outside Witney in Oxfordshire the lakes are easy to get to and spotlessly clean, just be warned that in the summer and at weekends it can be ridiculously busy. Another great addition to our list of the best carp fishing lakes in England.
Horseshoe Lake
The home of the Carp Society and a cracking fishing lake as well! Holding some of the best-looking carp in the land, Horseshoe Lake is a 62 acre gravel pit stuffed with almost 1000 carp up to and over 38lb in size. Horseshoe is also home to specimen Tench, Rudd and Pike for those who are looking for other coarse fish. The lake is a V shape and spilt into two different areas called Summer Bay and Winter bay by a long point that also houses some of the best swims on the lake. The huge lodge is the home of the Carp Society offices and it's here where you will find the toilets, showers and a great tackle shop. If it's dark scaley carp you are after then Horseshoe is the place for you, only Carp Society members can book to fish but membership is only £25 and entitles you to tread in the footsteps of many of the country's leading anglers.
Farlows Lake
Farlows lake is steeped in Carp fishing history as one of the original gravel pits of the Colne Valley, with some of the UK's finest specimen Carp on offer. There are 3 lakes on site but if it's big carp you are after then head straight for Pit 1 which is a myriad of islands, bays and weedy corners. Home to some stunning carp up to and over 40lbs Farlows could be described as medium difficulty despite boasting of 1200 carp in 25 acres. If it's runs you are after then Pit 2 might be a better option, stocked with mainly 20's and upper doubles the Pit 2 carp are some of the most stunning I have ever seen and can be caught on a variety of methods and with 500 carp in 6 acres, fish can be caught whatever the weather.
Grenville Lake
Grenville Lake is a mature, windswept 72 acre gravel pit in the heart of rural Cambridgeshire. Depths of up to 38 feet hide an extraordinary stock of very large carp. There are currently over 100 35lb+ carp and with fish growing at a rate of up to 7lb a year the 3 fish over 50lb will be joined by many more in the near future (these figures may be even higher now!). Grenville is run as a syndicate with a waiting list but places do come up most years and with well over fifty, yes fifty, different 40lb carp the fishing is truly exceptional at times. There are many features and even some videos of Grenville which will give you a flavour of just how exceptional the fishing can be.
Cherry Lakes
Now for something completely different. Set in the glorious Cotswold Water Park, Cherry Lakes is a holiday carp fishing venue with some outstanding fishing coupled with luxurious bankside accommodation. Having stayed here numerous times I can vouch for the peace and the superb fishing and in one weekend I was fortunate enough to land a 35lb and a 36lb mirror from the main lake. There are 3 lodges and a cottage on the main lake, each with well over an acre of water each and fishing is from one side so a bait boat can be useful. There are 3 other smaller lakes with their own lodges that are perfect for those looking for a few runs. One of the lakes is a mixed coarse lake with stunning crucians, tench and of course big carp, there really is something for everyone, including the wife/girlfriend who will think you are whisking her away for a romantic weekend, with the rods in the car of course!
There we have it our list of the best carp lakes in England, obviously we couldn't fit all of the good ones in but these hold personal memories for myself and some of the other anglers here at TFT.