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 Beaver Fishery
Eastbourne Road Newchapel Lingfield Surrey RH7 6HL Tel: 01342 324006 or 07710 656041 (mobile) E-mail: beaverfarmfishery@live.co.uk Beaver Fishery is also on Facebook 
 Established over 30 years ago with just two ponds for angling, Beaver Fishery has grown into one of the top angling venues in the South East.
With a total of 10 waters varying in size from ponds to lakes, plus a half mile stretch of the Eden Brook, the fishery is spread over a 49 acre site on the Surrey/Sussex border just north of East Grinstead. The result is a major complex which provides a range of fishing to suit everyone from juniors and novices through to specimen carp anglers and matchmen.
This is because Beaver Fishery is owned and run by the same people who own Beaver Water Plants, the UK's largest wholesalers of aquatic plants. As a result, the waters and banksides have been lavishly planted with a wide range of lilies and flowering marginal plants which not only provide cover for the fish and angler but also burst into a blaze of colour to gladden the heart of those who want their surroundings to be every bit as impressive as the fishing.
Suitable for disabled anglers, on-site facilities include Jeff's Burger Bar which serves hot and cold food and drinks and has the facility for orders to be delivered to anglers at their pegs. There is also a well-equipped tackle shop and even a mobile bait and tackle delivery service. There are car parks near every lake plus two sets of ladies and gents toilets and showers.
Night fishing is allowed and to ensure security for anglers the waters are patrolled 24-hours a day by fishery staff including a resident Fishery Officer who is always on hand to offer help and advice and who oversees matches.
There is also a half-mile stretch of the Eden Brook, a tributary of the River Eden, which offers mixed fishing and is locally renowned for its big pike in winter. For a detailed map of the fishery just click on the plan to the left.
It all adds up to making Beaver well worth visiting.
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Yet the thing which strikes the summer visitor to Beaver is not just the woodland setting and attractive waters but the way the fishery has been developed to create a natural environment which attracts a host of wildlife.
Indeed, one part of the site is an SSSI which is a marshland wilderness hosting an abundance of animals, birds and insects which bring another dimension to the fishery.
A recent addition is two log chalets, one at the end of Tuscany Lake and one on Jeff's Lake, both of which which can be hired at £30.00 per 24-hours irrespective of the number of guests. Alternatively, prices are negotiable for longer stays.
As for the fishing, Beaver Fishery offers two specimen lakes with carp to over 45lbs and catfish to 70lbs, five other lakes which hold specimen fish and are suitable for pleasure anglers, and two lakes which are used for matches where the competition record stands at 120lbs and where bags of 50lbs-plus are not uncommon.
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| 24-hour ticket (max two rods) |
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| Overnight (max two rods) |
Three rods are only allowed from October 1 to March 31.
Concessionary rates are only available Monday to Friday.
 Snipe Lake
One of the two main specimen carp and catfish waters, Snipe was the first lake to be constructed at Beaver Fishery. Covering two-and-a-half acre, it has two islands and holds 17 swims, some of them double pegs or larger. Dropping straight down to four feet around the margins, the average depth is only four-and-a-half feet although there are some deep areas where six feet can be found and some shallow areas where the lilies grow.
Anglers fishing both Snipe and Tuscany must go equipped with at least 42-inch landing nets for carp and 50-inch nets for cats, they should also have a good sized unhooking mat. Please note that anglers under 18 years of age are not allowed on either water.
Similarly, anglers fishing for the carp use modern bottom-fishing methods with marine halibut and other flavoured pellets, scopex and dynamite boilies, and pop-ups with dressings being the most popular baits.
Fishing close in to the islands, around the margins, next to the lily pads and under the overhanging trees are usually the most productive spots, although fish are also frequently taken in more open water.  Tuscany Lake
At about an acre and a quarter in size, Tuscany is the nearest lake to the main car park at Beaver Fishery and caters for a maximum of 10 anglers at any one time. Although it has fewer features than Snipe Lake at 11 feet it is much deeper. As a result, anglers tend to fish the margins or have one rod in the margin and the other in open water. Tuscany catfish run to the upper 70lbs and there are a lot more fish in the mid-30lbs to 40lbs range plus a good number around the 50lbs mark. Again, the carp go to the mid-30s and there are a lot of fish between 20lbs and 30lbs.
Once again, floating baits work well for the carp in the summer months with bread crust, lightly pinched and fluffy bread flake, floating pellets and dog biscuits again being the most popular choice.
 Jeff's Lake
At an acre in size with just 12 pegs, Jeff's Lake again holds a good head of specimen fish but is more popular with pleasure anglers who want a good day's sport with the chance of catching a fish of a lifetime. Also used to hold occasional matches, Jeffs holds a good head of silver fish in addition to carp to well over 30lbs and a lot in the 10lb to 20lb range; tench to 10lb with plenty around 7lbs and pike to mid 20s. In addition there are good sized 'dustbin lid' bronze bream, the biggest to come out in 2009 weighing just over 14lbs, roach to 1lb 8oz, rudd to 1lb and perch to 4lb 2oz.
One of the features of the water are the host of marginal plants whilst a popular spot to fish is near the inflow from the Mill Race which aerates the water and keep the fish active and feeding, even on hot summer days.
 The Major's Lake
Originally developed as Beaver Fishery's match lake, the three-acre 32-peg Major's Lake now holds specimen carp and pike to 30lbs plus. Although still sometimes used for matches, it has been superceded for competitions by Maze Lake (see below) and is now proving popular with pleasure anglers. The Major's Lake is a modest four to five-and-a-half feet deep at the end furthest from the car park falling to between eight and possibly as much as 12 feet along the bank nearest the car park.
As with nearly all the other Beaver Fishery waters, The Major's Lake is stocked with an abundance of aquatic plants and with pike to mid to upper 30s, carp to the mid-30s, sturgeon to the low 20s, bream to 14lbs, tench to 8lbs, perch over 4lbs, quality roach and rudd to 2lbs and crucian carp to 1lb 8oz the fish are equally as impressive, making this a popular water for anglers of all abilities and preferences.
Those who love to watch a float usually fish the waggler on the bottom or up in the water in summer whilst the winter pike anglers use live and dead baits which must be bought on site to avoid the risk of introducing diseases to the fishery from other waters. When it comes to bait, everything and anything goes with pleasure anglers usually doing well fishing their chosen bait over a bed of coarse fish pellets.
Although Majors is a very good pike water, treble hooks are not allowed and anglers required to use only single or double hooks. This is because in the past both anglers and fish have been injured by treble hooks which can be difficult to remove.
 Maze Match Lake
Most match waters these days are either pleasure lakes which are also used for matches when the need arises or purpose built canal-type 'snake' waters created especially with pole anglers in mind. Beaver Fishery's Maze Lake is a blend of the two. Offering a combination of both modern match swims and pegs with plenty of open water, lush banks and lily pads, the Maze Match Lake was built in 1995 and accommodates a maximum of 42 pegs.
Popular match anglers using the pole and pleasure anglers on the waggler, The Maze Match Lake averages between four-and-a-half feet and five feet deep although there are one or two deeper holes in the margins along the car park bank where up to six feet can be found.
The Maze incorporates three island 'fingers' giving channels which are ideal for pole anglers whilst the car park bank and corner pegs offer plenty of open water for pleasure and match anglers alike. The match record for The Maze was set early in 2003 at 120lbs whilst pleasure catches in excess of 50lbs are not uncommon.
 Junior Lake
As you may guess just by looking at it, Junior Lake was formerly a series of plant raising lagoons which are now crammed with colourful water lilies and marginal plants along the bankside. A true delight in summer. But don't be fooled. Those lilies can be just of much a hindrance as an attraction with the big golden tench making straight for the roots once hooked and anglers of all ages needing skill and perseverance to ensure they come to the net.
Averaging only four feet deep - five at its deepest - Junior Lake is a great waggler water suitable for all baits from maggots and sweetcorn to chopped worms and bread - but don't fish too light just in case you get stuck into the tench!
 Moat Farm Pond
Near the southern boundary of the fishery, Moat Farm Pond has existed for many years and is named after a medieval farm building, the remains of which can still be found in the nearby woodland which borders the water. Cleaned out an enlarged to about half-an-acre in 1994, this secluded and peaceful pond is one of Beaver Fishery's favourite waters and seems to fish well in all conditions. It is well stocked with carp to 18lbs and tench to 7lbs 8oz plus a good head of roach, rudd and perch.
Because much of the Pond is only between four and five feet deep it is a popular waggler water although once again some anglers also fish a second rod set for ledgering.
All baits from boilies to maggots work well on Moat Farm with the boilies, luncheon meat, sweetcorn, maggots, worms and bread probably being the most favoured.
 Daughter's Lake
To the west of Moat Farm Pond is Daughter's Lake, a one-and-a-half acre water with more of Beaver Fishery's beautiful marginal plants and water lilies. Daughters has developed into a specimen lake as the fish have grown on naturally. Holding a total of 20 pegs, Daughter's not only offers some nice specimen common, mirror and ghost carp to the mid 30s and grass carp to the low 20s, but also a good head of barbel, chub to over 8lbs, tench, roach, bream over 10lbs and even sturgeon, one of which is thought to be well over 30lbs and possibly even 40lbs!
Because of the depth, however, many anglers prefer to opt for ledgering with swimfeeders being a popular option using baits of luncheon meat, catfood, maggots, worms, sweetcorn and boilies. A lot of anglers also fish tight to the far margins picking up the larger patrolling carp.
 Eden Pond
Why is it that the most remote ponds on many fisheries are often the most enchanting and delightful, not for the size of fish they hold but because of their character and mystique? That's certainly the case with Eden Pond, a secluded little water on the western fringe of Beaver Fishery which is full of tench - some to double figures and many between 5lbs and 7lbs - as well as crucian carp to 2lbs.
Shallow throughout at only three to four feet with the occasional dip to six feet, the water is crammed with features from lily pads and islands to bullrushes. As one would imagine, it is an ideal float water with sweetcorn, double maggots, worms and luncheon meat being the most popular baits and floating pellets, dog biscuits and bread always worth a try in warmer weather.
Horseshoe Pond The latest edition to Beaver Fishery's portfolio of waters, Horseshoe Pond was a stock pond until May 2010 when it was opened for fishing. Completely carp free, Horseshoe is well stocked with roach, rudd, perch, bream and tench.
Anglers who have fished it say they have had great days' sport with plenty of bream to 7lb and tench to 3lb 6oz. Rudd have been caught to just over a 1lb and perch to 2lb 4oz. Best methods so far have been pole fishing tight to the far margin or lilies with maggots and sweetcorn both working well. Small cubes of luncheon meat have also targeted the bigger bream.
The Eden Brook Although often heavily overgrown, shallow and slow running in summer, the Eden Brook changes its character in winter when it collects all the water from the Beaver Fishery site and becomes an attractive and productive silver fish and pike water. Due to be improved over the coming winter to make it more accessible to anglers, the river will be dredged, widened and the banks planted. It holds carp to 16lbs and good heads of roach, perch, rudd and chub.
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With Tuscany (below), Snipe is a water for serious anglers and with catfish to the upper 70s - the biggest to come out so far stands at 76lbs 0oz which was taken in August 2010 - and mirror and common carp to the mid 30s. As a result a minimum line strength of 15lbs and size 10 hooks are recommended. In addition, the water holds ghosties and grass carp which come near to the 35lb mark.
As one would expect, anglers fishing for the catfish tend to ledger with big baits. Several worms, large pieces of luncheon meat about two inches square or cat food and other smelly meat baits work well. Be warned, big baits are needed with some anglers even using half a tin of meat as a single bait.
More traditional techniques also work well with floating bread, dog biscuits and pellets being popular when the fish are taking from the surface. Because much of the lake is fairly shallow, float fishing is also popular and this has accounted for some good bags of big bream and tench which inhabit the water.
Because of its depth - the water gradually runs from 11 feet up to about three feet at the Jeffs Lake end - most anglers bottom fish Tuscany using hair-rig boilies, worms, luncheon meat and cat meat and pellets but again a minimum line strength of 15lbs, 50-inch landing net, large hooks and well padded unhooking mats are recommended.
Between five and seven feet deep throughout, Jeff's is a popular float water with many anglers going for the roach, rudd and bream whilst those after the bigger fish tend to go on the bottom with hair-rig boilies, luncheon meat, pop-ups, sweetcorn, maggots and worms being the most favoured baits. All methods including traditional and method feeder work well on Jeffs, as does fishing the pole in the reed-fringed margins.
Offering plenty of features, the water has a central island and combines plenty of open water swims with reedy pegs where there is plenty of cover.
Again, all methods work well with anglers after the carp normally using hair-rigged pop-ups or floating baits fished near to the island or in the margins and lily beds in summer.
This means that two club matches can be held on the water at any one time without either competition being able to see the other.
A popular weekend match venue, it also differs from some other competition venues in that there are some bigger carp to mid double figures, perch to over 5lbs, crucian carp to just under 4lbs, good bream to over 11lbs, plenty of skimmer bream, roach to 2lbs and some good quality rudd.
Although the golden tench run to over 11lbs - the biggest recent fish coming in at 11lbs 8oz - the water also holds a good head of green tench to 12lbs, mirrors to 20lbs, crucian carp to 1lb 8oz plus a good head of roach and rudd.
Although there are only nine fishable pegs on Moat Farm Pond, there is one double 'family' swim which was created in 2003.
Although the water averages between four and nine feet deep, in places there are some deeper holes which make it essential to plumb chosen swims before fishing if anglers intend to go on the float in a part of the water they do not know.
The quintessential traditional angler's Pond, Eden is as popular with OAPs and schoolboys as with serious anglers. An added benefit is the car park which has recently been constructed and does away with the need for a fairly lengthy walk.
Beaver Fishery is within easy reach of both M25 and M23 motorways. From the M25, leave the motorway at Junction 6 and head south on the A22 towards East Grinstead. Go straight over the main traffic islands at Godstone and Mormon Temple and the fishery entrance is on the right opposite the Woodcock Inn.