Commercial fisheries are generally heavily stocked, meaning usually lots of bites are on the cards. Most commercials have great access with well-maintained banks and disabled friendly pegs, as well as on site facilities like a bait shop, café and toilets. This makes them great for beginners and experienced anglers alike, and a great, safe place to take kids to help them learn how to fish. There will very often be a knowledgeable bailiff and other anglers there too, who will happily share information to ensure you get off on the right foot!
Essential gear, keep it simple
To get the best out of a session on a commercial fishery you don’t need an expensive set up to have a busy day catching fish.
Dependant on your chosen style of fishing, float and feeder tactics are an effective way to catch plenty of fish on a commercial, therefore a float rod 10ft -12ft or feeder rod 9ft – 11ft, with a 3000 or 4000 size reel loaded with 4-6lb mainline is ideal.
If you enjoy pole fishing, then there is lots of action to be had with a short or margin pole, while many commercials have snake type lakes that offer great sport fishing the far bank with 13m-14.5m of pole.
For terminal tackle a small selection of pre tied hooklengths, feeders and wagglers is all you will need along with a landing net, an unhooking mat and some bait. Sitting on a chair or seatbox will help keep you stay comfortable and relaxed.
IF YOU ARE NEW TO FISHING, HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST RODS FOR BEGINNERS.
Proven tactics
Due to the higher stocking levels associated with commercial fisheries, tactics and methods have been developed to take advantage of this. The Method feeder that presents a small amount of bait and your hookbait in one small package can be a very productive tactic, and is a great tactic for catching carp and bream of all sizes!
The pellet waggler or shallow pole fishing can be effective and lots of fun through the summer months as fish compete for bait in the surface layers of water, but if you are looking for a relaxing day by the water this may not be the tactic for you.
Margin fishing, is an excellent way to fish on a commercial as you can hook some of the biggest residents in the lake! However, it is best left towards the end of your session as the fish come in looking for anglers unused bait!
A lot of popular commercial fisheries are narrow ‘snake lakes’ that offer shallow water and cover on the opposite bank for fish and using a good carp rig with a 13m-14.5m pole these areas can be the most productive part of the peg.
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Choosing the perfect peg
Selecting the right peg to fish can make a big difference to your success rate, as fish will choose areas of a lake that offer shelter, so look for marginal features such as reed beds, lily pads or overhanging trees.
If there is an island within casting distance this is often a natural fish holding area and if the lake is particularly busy, you can guarantee the fish will push out to that area in response to the Bankside commotion.
If you fish a lot during the colder months, opt for pegs that offer access to deeper part of the lake as they will hold more fish. Also don’t be afraid to ask, the bailiff or other anglers will certainly be able to share information of pegs that offer better sport than others.
IF YOU LIKE CATCHING A VARIETY OF FISH, OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE HAS YOU COVERED.
Feeding little and often is key
The best way to approach a commercial fishery is to start with a small amount of bait and feed regularly to build up an area that will get fish feeding, the old saying ‘you can put it in, but you can’t take it out!’ is important to remember.
By feeding small amounts regularly, it’s likely to keep fish in the area competing for food for longer and if fish are competing, they often become easier to catch. Use a pole pot to feed accurately and regularly with the pole, alternatively a catapult can be effective for both pole and float.
WAGGLER FISHING IS AN ENJOYABLE WAY TO CATCH FISH ON COMMERCIALS!
What bait to use and to feed
Most commercials have their own pellets you must use in an attempt to manage the type of feed most abundantly going into the fishery, so obviously a bag of fishery pellets is always a great starting point to feed, you can add these to groundbait or feed on their own.
As for hookbaits I’d recommend, maggots, sweetcorn and soft hook pellets to be staples on your side tray, this will give you options to find the best hookbait on the day.
ENJOY A COMFORTABLE DAY ON THE BANK WITH ONE OF THE BEST FISHING CHAIRS.
