Fishery Information
Railway Pit
Around five acres in size, this is predominantly the Carp lake. Specimens grow to over 40lbs with a good number of 20lb and 30lb fish as back up.
An on-going stocking program started several years ago has seen the improvement of fishing year on year and the weights rise.
There are 19 purpose built bivvy swims surrounding the lake giving plenty of room and comfort on the bank and plenty of water to fish.
A bit of time spent talking to the regulars or some exploring with a marker float is time well spent with several bars and weed beds.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Carp is all this lake has to offer though. It also contains a good head of other species, with Bream and Tench breaking 10lbs and an abundance of Roach, Rudd and Perch. Some large Pike are also present.
Lea Pit
A gin
clear 6 acre Lake with one island and 14 swims mostly built to easily
take bivvies is the water for the true specimen hunter.
Not as heavily stocked as Railway with Carp, but those that are there
are very large to over 40lbs.
February 2008 saw a further 15 absolutely beautiful large scaled Mirrors
introduced as part of our stocking program.
The lake also contains an abundance of Bream, 100lb+ catches are quite
possible with individual fish exceeding 10lbs. Large beds of ground bait
are the order of the day as the Bream are numerous and ravenous. Any
swim will produce as the shoals patrol the whole lake.
Although fewer in number the lake offers some excellent specimen Tench
fishing. Individual weights exceed 10lbs and the weedier areas of the
lake should be targeted.
Both the Bream and Tench show best of an evening and through the night
and have proved popular with overnighters with 24 hour all year round
fishing offered.
In the past this lake was the match venue and as a result has vast
numbers of silver fish. Large catches are easily achievable. Specimen
Roach, Rudd, and Perch are also a distinct possibility with a little
effort. Any of the swims will produce, but the road and canal banks
offer the best chances.
Winter brings the chance for fishing for the large Pike. Having fed well
on the vast larder of Roach and Bream, specimens in excess of 30lbs are
present.
Many anglers are not aware of the quality fishing this lake has to
offer.
Marsh Pit
This is the pit for the
true nature lover. Most of this pit is under SSSI rules (Site of Special
Scientific Interest), which means that we cannot do much work to the
banks and the surroundings. One end is overgrown with platforms pushing
out to fishable positions; the other sides have swims cut in to the bank
side growth.
Generally shallow, with a labyrinth of islands, arms and reed lined
bays, there is something to please everyone.
The pit holds Carp to
40lbs plus it is densely populated with Rudd and Tench, this is what
Summer fishing is all about. Even in Winter good catches can be had.
Rudd can be found anywhere and are very obliging. It won't take long to
amass a substantial catch. Don't be surprised to find the odd specimen
tucked away in the reed beds in one of the many bays.
Tench can be a little more discerning, especially with the abundance of
natural food available. The lake is very shallow with extensive weed
growth so some hard work is necessary. However, the rewards are there
with multiple catches of fish to around 8lbs quite possible.
Bream, Roach, and Perch are also present, but not in the same numbers.
Pike are quite numerous, probably due to the numbers of Rudd. The bank
running parallel with the path and the bottom bay offer the deepest
water and Pike are always present. Although noted for Jack Pike, the
lake holds the Consortium Pike record of 31lbs.
Boot Pit
Getting its name from when
two small waters were joined into one boot shaped 5 acre Lake, this is a
very different looking water to all the others, partially covered in
lilies throughout the summer and with many shelves across the Lake, this
is the 42 swim mixed fishery on the complex. Depths vary between a few
feet on the bars to 15 foot in some areas.
Lilly pads and reed-lined margins make the ideal pleasure venue for all
abilities, and juniors are especially welcome.
Many anglers fish the car park swims for obvious reasons; it's not far
to walk and large beds of lily pads are close in. This doesn't mean this
is where the fish are though. Try the opposite bank where you will find
a deep gully close in. It might surprise you how many fish are there.
You can also cast to the back of the lily pads where fish might think
they are safe from the anglers on the opposite bank. Don't ignore the
other areas of the lake, either by the island or the bottom bay. Both
are good holding areas for many of the fish.
Correct feeding is the key. With so much natural food baiting strategies
need to be adapted to compete. Forget little and often, get the bait in!
In 2002 we upped the stock in this pit with 6,000 small Carp to enhance immediately the float fishing and long term Carp stocks. In 2004 we increased the stock still further with 80 Carp around the 3lbs to 5lbs size from the same strain as those we are regularly putting into Railway Pit. In 2007 this was repeated along with a batch of fingerling Carp reared by Lea Valley Parks at their hatchery. February 2008 around 1,000 Roach and Golden Rudd were stocked from Fishers Pond fishery. In 2010 a further stocking of £5,000 of carp around 2-3lbs were introduced.
The original Carp
inhabitants now come out at over 30lbs with the earlier stocked fish now
at 10lbs to 20lbs. The Tench are up to the 8lbs mark, the Bream around
the 6-7lbs mark. As with the other pits Roach, Rudd and Perch play a
supporting role.
Pike in this pit are well sort after by anglers and approach 30lbs.
As with all pits on this complex money is set aside each year for
restocking to maintain the sport.
Two purpose built swims suitable for wheelchairs are close to the car
park.
© Turnford Angling Consortium 2021