Author: Andrew

Fishery of the week South

Elton on song for carp sport

There are few commercial fisheries where you’re pretty much guaranteed a double figure carp every put-in, but Elton Carp Lakes in Gloucestershire offers just that.
Two feature filled lakes cater for feeder and pole anglers, but be sure to gear up appropriately as each take is just as savage and powerful as the last – making some truly cracking fishing.

Top Lake

(10 Pegs)
Carp, Tench, Bream, Barbel
This balloon shaped lake, although relatively small, certainly packs some serious punch with carp to 25lb a possibility, as well as some good sized tench, bream and barbel. There are two islands and a host of overhanging trees to target as well as some pretty deep water. With a uniform depth of 5ft, which slopes away to 8ft in the centre, many anglers rely on Method feeder for most of their fishing,  where bream and tench to 6lb can be caught in these deep pockets.
Alternatively, the feeder to the islands or the pole fished down the edge with worms, corn or paste will bring bites from the carp and barbel as well.

Horseshoe Lake

(60 pegs)
Carp
Elton’s match lake is stocked solely with carp, very few under 5lb. Fish between 8lb and 20lb have been coming out in matches, and one angler took eight fish for 79lb. Each peg has a chuck to an island with the bomb or feeder, but pegs in the middle can reach the island with a pole, as it’s just 14m away. An 8mm pellet fished on the pole or feeder up to the islands will score, but many anglers prefer to fish a top-down near the shelf with paste to claim bites. Floating baits are allowed here and some excellent fishing can be had by flicking floating bread or Chum mixers down the edge or track of the lake. A 400lb bag of commons, mirrors and ghosties is possible using this tactic, even on the hottest of days.