2010 Venues

#1

During a discussion with a member this morning, he expressed a view that we should dump some of the venues we regularly visit like Colemans, Monk, Hartleylands and Rayne and go elsewhere. Not because they are poor places but just to have a change. ( No prizes for guessing who I was talking to ).

I usually chat to members while taking match bookings and I get the impression they are very happy with these places and want to carry on going there. We have to find a couple of new places for next year to replace one of the Colemans dates and Pea Lane anyway. I usually book Monk lake 2 for our first match as its one of the few places you can guarantee plenty of bites and fish in late March though I think Nicks lake at Hartleylands would also give a good day.

So what are the venues you want to fish each month next year. We need 8 one a month from March to October, 2 in Kent and the rest in Essex. This will not include the private lake which I will try to book again next year as an unofficial trip.

My choices would be
Definates
Monk
Colemans Pathfield
Rayne top lake
Hartleylands either Nicks or the Res
Rockells

For the other 3 it would be a choice after investigation of

Brookhall
Blasford Hill ( match lake only 20 pegs and a tight squeeze no info on the big lake).
A return to Southend farm on the main lake this time.
Mill barn farm… as suggested by Graham. On the Reservoir as I wasn’t impressed by the usual match lake a circular canal type lake.
Colemans Wood lake or new lake depending on what arrangements the owner makes next year. Wood lake is likely to be silvers with good barbel and new F1s.
Blind lane though Im doubtful on this one.
Newlands Hall on part of the main lake.

Other suggestions from said member
Elphicks Kettles lake
Tylers common Ash lake ( full of very small carp) though it may be possible to us one of the other lakes but NOT the match lake as I don’t want several members having heart attacks.
Puddledock.

Im also considering a couple of unofficial days on Colemans cottage Lake possibly midweek and even a long trip to Alders

Come on then what are your views.

#2

not being a member but having fished elphicks ,if you can get kettles or sandwich at the height of summer they can be rewarding ,and they generally fish all over ,no out and out fliers .

#3

The thing that has always put me off on Sandwich is the very very shallow water on the far bank swims. Wouldnt suit a lot of our guys as their wagglers would end up stuck in the mud on the bottom. There are a couple of swims that stick out and I have always found the deeper car park side far better than the shallow water.

#4

thats where you tell them to fish the method .

#5

Can't argue with the definates.

IMO Sandwich isn't a match venue the far bank is to shallow unless it's full and that's increasingly rare.
Tylers is overpriced for what it offers.
Rayne, I feel is dependant on whether he carries the severe pruning right round the lake. I got the impression that it's work in progress.

Mill Barn Farm Reservoir sounds like it might be fun.

The Match Lake at Churchgate might well be worth considering.
I've heard a few murmours that the stock levels at Newlands Hall aren't what they once were. :(

#6

None on any canals then

#7

We have no desire to try for a PB shopping trolley or a specimen bike frame down this way Simps.

#8

With Rayne Top Lake I feel that even if he does carry the pruning all round it still could fish reasonably well. Im sure it didnt fish on the day we were there was because the work had only just been done, the fish are still in there after all. It just wont be such a picturesque lake to fish.

I forgot about Churchgate, Ill have to take a trip done to suss it out.

#9

Having given it a little more consideration, I wonder if it might not be an idea to swop one of the "Kent" matches to Hawkhurst. Better facitities than Monks or Harleylands by far and it would give all members the chance to stock up on pellet at a sensible price.

#10

For me it is not about the venues but meeting up and having a good giggle

. I guested a few times last year and thoroughly enjoyed all the venues I fished.

The only place I fished before was Rockells and Colemans Pathfield. All the others were new to me and my travelling partners. That is part of the beauty of it.

Dave and his selection committee have secured some good venues over the years and I have every faith in them coming up with some crackers for 2010

. Wherever they are, I will try to make as many as possible.

All I ask for is plenty of notice so I can book hoidays and plan my calendar to include the matches.

#11

Having taken a few beginners to colemans wood lake a couple of times, we all pulled out a few fish. I think it's worth it

. I havn't fished at hawkhurst so I wouldn't mind giving that one a go

#12

Hawkhurst is a far better venue than Hartleylands both for the cafe and fishing

#13

My suggestions for 2010 (8 matches) would be:
- 2 matches at Colemans - on different lakes - Pathfield+ either Woods or the new match lake if its open. A midweek match on Cottage lake would still be in addition to this.
- Rayne Lodge top or bottom lake
- Rockells farm
- give Churchgate match lake a try
- give Mill Barn Farm Res a try
- Monk match lake 2 for our early season match - has always delivered a good set of mixed bags across the board early on in the season
- 1 other from Kent - Harleylands or Hawkhurst - or both if you want to up it to 9 matches

Gowith · #14

Dave I think I can onlr endorse what Keith as mentioned that in the past you have come up and done a good job in picking various venues ... The only one I'm not too sure of is having more than one at Colemans . Quite enjoyed Pea Lane !! though

#15

Fished Mill Barn Reservoir lake (Great Wakering - that's in Essex for you boys of Kent) on Monday (9th Nov). Invited Dave along but he declined so have posted this report as he requested.
Didn't target the carp in this lake as I know they would have been few and far between this time of year and my boredom threshold is low - I'd much rather catch silvers little and often rather than wait for one carp an hour. Anyway although I dabbled with corn and bread I stuck with maggot and caught roach, rudd, bream and perch. Nothing spectacular but steady which for this time of year isn't bad, for me, anyway. The best roach was 1.5 to 2lb and about 1lb for the rudd. The better perch and bream were around the 2lb mark. I reckon I had around 20-30lb of silvers which isn't a bad weight considering no carp. I did see a couple of carp caught but this was to a guy who seemed to have long spells of inactivity. So there you go. To reiterate the lake has quality roach, rudd, bream and perch along with a very healthy head of carp up to 25lb. As mentioned before I had at least 200lb. fishing corn in the margins in early June. Hope this is of some interest. Surfice to say this is my favourite venue in south east Essex.

#16

So what are the venues you want to fish each month next year. We need 8 one a month from March to October, 2 in Kent and the rest in Essex. This will not include the private lake which I will try to book again next year as an unofficial trip.

How about 8 in Kent and 2 in Essex

Here's my twopenneth.
Rockells, Rayne Lodge, Hartleylands Res. would be my first choice - Monks is probably the best for early season tiddler bashing and the Hawkhurst swimming pool just for the breakfast although I don't particularly like either of them.
Having fished Coleman's for a number of years I now think it's overfished and overrated and they need to do something about those stupid little landing nets.

Churchgate might be worth another go but I get the impression that the lakes are understocked.
Mill barn is probably worth a go and possibly Brookhall, as said before Sandwich lake at Elphicks is far too shallow and anyway they used to have a rule that there was no match fishing until November and I suspect it would also be expensive.
Others worth considering could be Puddledock Birds Green. Fennes and Blasford Hill.
Over to you Dave.