Now is a brilliant time of year to get your fishing fix from large natural-style lakes and reservoirs. Before the frosts hit you’ll often find some great sport with bream on the feeder or quality silverfish on the float.
You don't need any special tactics or wonder baits, just find the fish and they are very catchable. Here are a dozen prolific venues to visit for a great day out...
Derwent Reservoir, Consett, Co Durham
Exceptional Northern roach fishing is on offer, with immaculate redfins in the 7oz-8oz bracket making up catches in excess of 30lb or even 40lb. A small feeder approach is best, but on milder days you may be able to get the fish withinpole or whip range.
Contact: 01207 255250
Esthwaite Water, Hawkshead, Cumbria
This time last year some incredible bream fishing was experienced by visiting anglers, with Kev Green catching bags of 448lb, 352lb and 159lb over three hectic days! The group were feeder fishing the boathouse section, but a few other 200lb catches were recorded around the point too. Will this season produce the same results?
Contact: 01539 436541
Swinsty Reservoir, Harrogate, North Yorks
There are plenty of bites to be had here in stunning scenery, mainly from skimmer bream, perch and roach. When levels are low, you may still be able to catch on the pole. Day tickets are available (cash only) from the machine at the office in the top car park.
Contact: 01943 880658.
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY WHEN YOU GO FISHING? CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO FEEDER CHAIRS.
Damflask Reservoir, Sheffield, South Yorks
A sometimes challenging venue, with steep banks and great depths at the dam wall end, but there are plenty of silvers to catch. Try the bottom of the lane on the boathouse bank or park at the new wall on the plantation side.
Contact: 07952 485798
Rudyard Lake, Leek, Staffordshire
Pegs in the low 60s opposite the Lady of the Lake feature are often favoured for the bigger bream weights. But you’ll have a good day on the pole all along the length, with lots of small fish offering a bite a cast.
Contact: 01538 306280
ARE YOU USING THE RIGHT GROUNDBAIT? CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST FOR FEEDER FISHING.
Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield, Warks
Some decent bream sport is on the cards on the largest Bodymoor Heath Lake. A groundbait feeder at long range, fishing in the same direction as the wind is blowing, is often productive.
Contact: 01827 872660
Llandegfedd Reservoir, Pontypool, Monmouthshire
The Bill Smiths section is the best for bream, with a line at about 50m-60m perfect for feeder fishing. There are loads of quality roach to target on a shorter line too, feeding plenty of hemp, casters and even corn!
Contact: 03300 413381
YOU WILL NEED A GOOD FEEDER ROD TO TARGET THESE WATERS. HERE IS OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST.
Ardingly Reservoir, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Good sport from small skimmers and quality roach here on the pole with groundbait and casters. The bigger bream sometimes show in pockets on the feeder too.
Contact: 01444 892549
Durleigh Reservoir, Bridgwater, Somerset
The Method feeder can work well for the bream, with the chance of a big carp too. If this isn’t working don’t be afraid to try a conventional cage feeder over the top with natural baits such as dead maggots.
Contact: 01278 424786
Staunton Harold Reservoir, Melbourne, Derbyshire
There are loads of small roach and skimmers that feed close in, with a 20m chuck on a small feeder enough to get bites all day. Bigger bream can be targeted at ranges of 50m–70m. Burton Mutual AA owns the rights, but day tickets are available from its website.
Contact: 07891 126910
FIND MORE SUPERB FISHING VENUES NEAR YOU BY CHECKING OUT OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDES.
Caldecotte Lake, Milton Keynes, Bucks
This 90-acre water holds some fantastic fish, including bream into double figures and epic roach to over 2lb and even 3lb. Blockend feeder tactics are a good option for the redfins.
Contact: 01908 691777
Albans Lakes, St Albans, Herts
The largest Willow Lake offers gravel pit-style fishing with lots of bream and silvers to catch now that carp angling pressure is starting to slow. Watch out if you’re fishing worms – there are a few catfish too!
Contact: 07947 386178
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