The Lakes
Farmyard Pond
This pond is for cottage guests' exclusive use. It is half an acre in size.
Species
Carp to 15lbs as well as roach to over a pound and rudd to 12oz.
Depth
Average depth of two feet.
Method
Popular baits are corn, meat, worms and bread, the latter being used to target the carp on the surface.
No keepnets or bivvies are allowed at the Farmyard Pond.
Kingfisher Lake
This lake is about one acre in size.
Species
The predominant species in this 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 100lbs.
Depth
Averaging 6ft but areas up to 10ft if plumbed carefully.
Method
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.
Favoured Pegs
By inlet pipe, off the slip and along the dam.
Mallard Lake
At about one and quarter acres in size, Mallard Lake is the largest of the West Pitt lakes.
Species
The predominant species is carp which run to 22lbs, with large numbers from 3lb-10lb. Catches of 180lbs and more are not unusual. Other species include tench to 5lbs, roach to 1lb 8oz and numerous rudd.
Depth
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.
Method
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.
Favoured Pegs
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 70lb bags are not uncommon.
Willow Lake
Although only half an acre in size, Willow Lake should not be underestimated.
Species
It holds carp to 15lbs, Tench to 7lbs, crucian carp, perch to 2lbs with plenty of smaller rudd and perch to keep the novice angler happy.
Depth
Average depth of 5ft
Method
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 carp during the warmer months with the evenings being a favourite time to use this exciting method.
Favoured Pegs
Any of the corner pegs.
