Poppy Hill - Lake 1
Lake 1 is the first lake you come to on your left as you enter the Poppy Hill complex and one of its banks runs parallel to the carp park. It covers an area of approximately 2.8 acres with two islands in the main body of the lake. Depths are fairly consistent across the lake having a relatively flat bottom, depending on how high the water table is you'll normally be fishing in about 6 foot. You'll find a few shallower areas being found down "The Arm" (narrower section) and in the summer you can often see the Carp basking in the sun. The water tends to remain coloured all year round with a greenish tinge.
There are 32 swims in total well spaced around the lake. If your a person who likes to bivvy up for those overnighters then there are some generous sized swims that would suit. If your just after a days pleasure fishing there are plenty of secluded swims for you to while your time away.
Poppy Hill - Lake 2
The 2nd Lake is probably 8 acres overall and has plenty of islands and hideaway swims that make you blissfully unaware of any other angler on the lake. Famous for the Tench, the lake was a favourite haunt of Dick Walker and his friends during the fifties and sixties.
Poppy Hill - Lake 3
The 3rd Lake is approximately 7 acres and square. A relatively young lake in that it was still a field in 1963, the lake became famous in 1984 by yielding a Mirror Carp of 44 lb 6 ozs which at the time of capture was the second biggest carp caught in the country. Most club records have come from this lake, including a common of 33lb 4ozs, Bream of 10lb 4ozs, Tench 7lb 14ozs although unofficial reports of fish to 10 1/2 pounds caught by dismissive carp anglers are many. Records also include a Perch of 4lbs 1oz and a 5lb 1oz Eel.
Poppy Hill - Jubilee Lake
Untitled document As the name would suggest, Jubilee Lake was constructed in 2002/3 to celebrate the 50 years of the clubs existance. The area that the lake sits used to be occupied by disused and over grown stock ponds. With only around 10 pegs, last year (2004) saw the first seasons fishing with spectacular results.
Stocked mainly with Tench around the 10" mark, there is also a handful over 2lb and a few Golden Tench.
Jubilee also holds the club record (2004) Pure Crucian Carp (no cross breads here) record at 3lb 4oz although the main stamp of Crucians run at about 6". Rudd, Perch and Skimmers, chunky and about the size of your hand make up the rest of the stock.
The Pole seems to be the preferred method although waggler has also produced some good results with Pellet or Sweetcorn for bait. This is the lake if you want some none stop Tench and Crucian action, there are no real monsters but 50-60lb bags are not uncommon.
Poppy Hill - The Canal
The canal as we call it was constructed in 1991 using the canal principal, i.e. far side shelf. the canal is between 13 and 16 metres wide and 2 metres deep at normal levels with a far shelf about 1 metre wide. It is 200 metres long with 26 permanent swims on 1 bank only , the 1st swim is concreted for wheelchair use. Fish are mainly small mirrors and common carp to 4 pounds but the occasional double turns up. Other species that have been introduced over the years include Crucians (best caught 1998 was one of 2 lb 13 ozs) Roach and Rudd to 1 1/2 pounds, small tench and Ide.