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The fishing on Cosgrove Park is first class but there are times when you just need to get away and try something different, whether you are tempted by a small intimate commercial style venue or a big water - big carp venue there is something in the local area that may tempt you to occasionally stray from the park!
In this months blog I will describe my top 5 local venues that should suit every anglers taste.
Drayton Reservoir - off A361, Daventry, Northants NN11 0SG
Tel: 07889 532 563 (bailiff) - Email: porcha359@yahoo.com
Opening Times
Drayton Reservoir is open for fishing all year round from 7:00am until 9:00pm in Summer (Monday to Friday) and 6:30am until 9:00pm (weekends). The fishery closes for a day ticket anglers half an hour before dusk in Winter. Night fishing is available by 'ADVANCE BOOKING' only.
Ticket Costs
Day Tickets Adults £8.00 (one rod) £12.00 (two rods) - OAP's/disabled/juniors £5.00 (one rod) £10.00 (two rods)
Evening Tickets (after 5:00pm) - £5.00 per rod
Night Fishing (noon to noon) - £25.00 (max two rods)
Drayton is a big water big carp 'bagging venue'. Although it can be fished match style is really lends itself to proper tactics of boilies and buzzers! It can also be fished overnight so appealing to the bivvy brigade.
The fishing at Drayton is mostly from wooden decking - here is the famous 'Boards' section available for overnight or longer sessions.
Top Tip - Drayton Resr is fairly deep averaging 10' to 13' deep. Although boilies fished on the bottom will catch at any time of the year don't ignore 'Zig Rigs' fished from half depth up!
A typical Drayton 'double' - one of 18 that I caught in a 24 hours session in March
Alders Farm Fishery, Ivy Lane, Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9AH
Tel: 01525 261 713
Opening Times
Alders Farm Fishery is open 7 days a Week from April - 7:30am to Sundown
During the Summer months, as the days get longer, the fish feed later. Ever fancied going fishing after work/school but didn't want to pay the whole day ticket? Well now you can at Alders Farm Fishery with a Twilight Ticket.
Ticket Costs
Day Ticket - £10.00
Dawn till Dusk - £16.00
Twilight - from £5.00
Night Fishing - (members ONLY) £20.00/per night
Alders Farm is a lovely picturesque place with 3 proper lakes and several small pools. Two of the lakes - Ash and Pines are match style big weight carp bagging waters. Match weights regularly top three figures and pleasure catches are exceptional. There is also a specimen lake that holds carp to well over 30lb.
The very picturesque Alders Farm from left to right Ash, Specimen Lake and Pines
Top Tip - Towards the end of your session don't ignore the margins, the carp will come in and feed within inches of the bank!
Duncote Fishery, Duncote, Near Towcester, Northants NN12 8AL
Tel: 01327 351 439
Opening Times
Duncote Fishery is open all year round, Dawn till Dusk - No Night Fishing.
Ticket Costs
Summer £10.00 (two rods) - Winter £7.50 (two rods)
Lakeside has two fairly small lakes that provide great sport for both match and pleasure fishing for a variety of species. Match weights can reach into three figures and pleasure fishing can a 'fish a chuck'. Adults only.
Lakeside at Duncote is a lovely fairly exclusive venue that offers great match and pleasure fishing
Top Tip - Lakeside has a good stock of barbel that can be targeted by fishing a large lump of meat close in!
Boddington Reservoir, Near Byfield, Northants NN11 6XU
Tel: 07740 534 891 (bailiff)
Opening Times
Boddington Reservoir is open all year round, Dawn till Dusk.
Ticket Costs
Mid-Week Adults £6.00 (one rod) £10.00 (two rods) Concessionary £4.00 (one rod) £8.00 (two rods) Pegs £6.00
Weekend Adults £7.00 (one rod) £11.00 (two rods) Concessionary £4.00 (one rod) £8.00 (two rods) Pegs £7.00
Evening (after 5pm) Adults £4.00 (one rod) £8.00 (two rods) Concessionary £4.00 (one rod) £8.00 (two rods) Pegs £4.00
Permits available from the bailiff on the bank. Concessionary Permits are available to anglers who are in possession of a concessionary rod license.
Boddington is a very large water that contains a big head of good carp, roach and for winter anglers pike. It is a water to practice your long range fishing on, whether that be using 'proper' carp gear - boilies and buzzers or more usually with long range match gear. Feeder tactics are the preferred 'method'.
Boddington is a very large man made water that offers quite different fishing
TopTip - Fish at long range (50m +) using a method or 'hybrid' type feeder with micro pellets and a mini boilie on the hair!
Gayton Wood Farm (known locally as Huckerby's), Between Blisworth and Gayton, Northants NN7 3HV
Tel: 01604 858 210
Opening Times
Gayton Wood Farm is open from 6th June - Mid March
Ticket Costs
Day Tickets - £5.00
Night Ticket - £6.00
Huckerby's as I would know it is a small two lake venue that offers great fishing for the price of a cheap day ticket. It can be busy but it offers a good stock of carp and roach that can be caught on a variety of techniques including floating baits!
The smaller 'bottom lake' at Huckerbys
Top Tip - Although floating baits can be successful the carp are quite wary of these baits so try pellet waggler tactics fishing shallow and keep firing pellets out to encourage the carp to compete!
These then are my top five favourite local venues to try if you fancy a change of scenery!
Tightlines - Gary S