| Lifelands Fishery. River Avon, Hampshire |
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| Barbel to 121b
There are not many day ticket waters on the River Avon where barbel to 12 lb have been caught, but this five mile stretch controlled by Christchurch Angling Club offers a good chance of a double figure specimen. The fish do run big here and it is recommended that you fish with no less than a 7 lb mainline. This prime day ticket water also holds a good head of chub, roach and pike. Carp are also regularly caught and the river record stands at 29 lb. The main method for the larger barbel is to fish a lump of meat over a bed of hempseed in the shallows or fish single bigger baits in the deeper holes. Chub are present throughout this stretch and can be caught legering with bread or cheese baits. Float fishing is a good method for the larger roach and bread or maggots works well on the hook. Autumn and winter fishing for specimen pike can give great sport to the day ticket angler. Several large specimens have been caught from this stretch of river on deadbaits and lures. |
The right route
The Lifelands stretch of the River Avon can be found on the A31 at Ringwood, Hampshire. Car parking is available, just off the roundabout, alongside the river. Factfile
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| Leabridge Farm, Hellingley, East Sussex |
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| Carp to 25lb
This half-acre lake was purpose-dug to create a fishery and is a popular day ticket venue among locals. During peak season the lake is only bookable on a £50 fee for the whole of the water which will accommodate up to 10 anglers, so it’s perfect for club matches and knock ups. You must however phone first to book a peg. The main species is carp and there’s loads of them. Pole and waggler both score and a blank day is certainly not on the cards according to our corespondent. Maggots are the main form of attack for the large numbers of smaller carp. If it is the bigger species you are after then a more specialist approach will be needed. If the weather is warm many fish can be caught off the surface with floating dog biscuits |
The right route
Take the A22 from Eastbourne and turn onto the A267 at Lower Horsebridge heading towards Horam. One mile further on, Leabridge Farm is on your left and the lake is situated behind it. Factfile
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| Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset |
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| This huge expanse of water situated near to the town centre is very under fished and has huge potential for the keen specimen angler. Carp anglers have enjoyed good sport with individual carp to over 20lb and eels have been caught well into double figures, albeit in traps and nets that are worked on the venue. The water level is often dropped and raised to suit the nesting of wading birds but there should be at least three feet of water to fish in. There is also a good head of smaller species like roach and rudd which are present in good numbers and provide sport for the float angler. Most anglers target the areas alongside the extensive marginal reed beds either with breadpunch or red maggot. Pike can also be caught and there is a large head of tackle-snapping jacks in the water along with one or two bigger specimens. The bottom of the lake is very silty and a light tackle approach is advised. | The right route
Heading towards Weymouth from Dorchester on the A35 turn off left at the second roundabout and the lake is on your left. At the next roundabout turn left onto the business estate and the fishery car park is half-a-mile further along on the right. Factfile
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| Wally’s Lake, Osmington Mills, Near Weymouth, Dorset |
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| Fish the Method
This picturesque water has a good head of mixed species and fishes well all-year-round. The lake is very shallow with an average of three feet in most areas and is usually well coloured. On entering the fishery the swims to the right, where the bushes overhang the water, are more favoured. However, on colder days the fish can be found in the deeper part of the lake behind the island. For good bags of quality fish the Method is hard to beat. You may have to scale this tactic down to suit the weather conditions but it seems to work well, year round. As particles in the form of hemp and corn are banned, a mix consisting of groundbait, chopped worm and crushed casters works well. Carp are the main target along with tench, bream and roach. If targeting the smaller roach and skimmer bream a waggler and maggot approach is best. Fishing the pole at ten metres is also a good method for tench and carp when using caster hook baits. |
The right route
From Weymouth take the A353 towards Wareham for four miles. After Osmington village, take the next right for Osmington Mills. The fishery is half-a-mile further along the road on the left and is situated behind the riding stables. Factfile
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