Set in 17 acres of the unspoilt and peaceful Culm Valley,West Pitt Farm Fishery has four spring fed lakes stocked with a wide variety of quality fish. Excellent coarse fishing for all. whether you are a competitive or pleasure angler or just starting out, West Pitt offers quality fishing for everyone. Each lake is stocked with a varied but compatible mix of good sized specimens, including carp, tench, roach, rudd, bream, chub, perch and golden orfe. Fishing at the Farmyard Pond is for our cottage guests’ private use. Guests who have not fished before and keen to try – we will be happy to arrange a lesson and for the loan of equipment.
Guests staying in our holiday cottage fish at all our lakes at no additional charge.
Day ticket fishing is £7 per person, for an evening ticket (after 5pm) £4 per person. Three lakes at the Fishery: Kingfisher, Mallard and Willow. The Fishery is open from dawn until dusk. There is no night fishing at West Pitt.
The Farmyard Pond or Duck Pond as is it is fondly named by our regular guests. This pond is for our guests' exclusive use. Being half an acre in size with an average depth of two feet it holds large numbers of Carp to 15lbs as well as Roach to over a pound and Rudd to 12oz. No keepnets. Popular baits are corn, meat, worms and bread, the latter being used to target the carp on the surface.
Higher Lake (Kingfisher Lake)The predominant species in Higher Lake is Golden Tench which run to 5lbs, there are good numbers of Roach to 1lb 8oz, Bream to 8lbs together with some beautiful Golden Orfe and Koi, together with carp in the high teens. The lake record currently stands at around 150lbs. All techniques work here with the pole and waggler being most popular but do not neglect the feeder. Pole and waggler fishing between 9 and 11 metres is productive, the bed contours can easily be found with careful plumbing. Start by fishing the deeper part of the swim but be aware that the fish may come up in the water particularly where loose feed is being used. Do not neglect the margins, good numbers of fish can be caught close in, literally within a rod length of the bank. Maggots, casters, worm, corn, meat, pellets and paste all work well. Whatever bait is chosen the golden rule is accurate feeding, use a pole pot or a catapult when waggler fishing. If small roach become problematic on maggot, a change to a larger bait such as corn will bring a better stamp of fish. In winter, good catches of roach can be taken on red maggot and pinkie with the odd bonus fish falling to corn.
Mallard Lake At about one and quarter acres in size, Mallard Lake is the largest of the West Pitt lakes. It is probably the most popular and the predominant species is Carp which run to 22lbs, with large numbers from 3lb-10lb. Catches of 120lbs and more are not unusual. Other species include Tench to 5lbs, Roach to 1lb 8oz and numerous Rudd. Mallard is shallow around the island at 2-3 feet deep. The lake slopes off to deeper water at the dam end near the outlet where 9-11 feet can be found. The most popular techniques are pole, waggler and feeder including the “method”. Again, do not forget the margins and keep loose feeding accurate. Corn, meat, pellets and paste are all popular baits. Bread has proved effective both on or just below the surface or on the bottom.The whole lake fishes well in the summer with the island and dam being popular, the deeper water near the outlet is favoured in winter when 50lb bags (larger I think) are not uncommon.
Willow Lake Although only half an acre in size, Willow Lake should not be underestimated. It holds Carp to 15lbs, Tench to 7lbs, Chub to 3lbs, Crucian Carp, Perch to 2lbs with plenty of smaller Rudd and Perch to keep the novice angler happy. Waggler and pole are the favoured methods, using corn, pellet, meat and bread to target bags of Tench and Crucians. Select and feed two areas, one close in, the other further out. If you are catching Tench and Crucians and it goes quiet it probably means that a Carp has moved in. If your tackle is robust enough carry on feeding and you are likely to catch it but it will probably weigh in excess of 5lbs, if not switch to your second line. Bags made up of a dozen Crucians with a similar number of Tench are not uncommon. Floating baits such as bread and mixers can be used to target the Chub and Carp during the warmer months with the evenings being a favourite time to use this exciting method.
Fishery Rules
All nets to be dipped at the Fishery
All fish to be landed using a landing net
Keepnets are permitted on Mallard and Willow Lakes - no fish over 5lbs to be retained in keepnets. Stake nets out and empty at sensible intervals, at least every 5 hours.
All nets to be soft mesh or similar fish friendly
Barbless hooks only, maximum size 10
No boilies or nut baits. Groundbait in moderation.
Only free-running and other safe lead, feed and 'method' rigs are allowed. No fixed rigs.
The use of spinning / artificial lure methods is not permitted
The use of braid is not permitted
Maximum of two rods.
There may be restrictions on the use of keepnets at certain times of year
HOW TO FIND US
West Pitt Farm, Whitnage, Devon EX16 7DU
From J27 of M5, head for Tiverton of the A361. Almost immediately exit by the slip road signed for Sampford Peverell. At the mini roundabout, turn right for Holcombe Rogus. Second mini roundabout, straight over. Half a mile, turn left for Whitnage. Half a mile, turn right for Whitnage. Half a mile, left at Pitt Crossroads. West Pitt Farm Fishery entrance is signed on your left after West Pitt Farm Cottages.
