To be found in a delightfully tranquil setting within easy reach of Banbury and Daventry midway between the M40 and M1 motorways, Brickhill Farm is a small and intimate venue with carefully mown grass banks and wooden platform pegs on two pools.

Both pools are stocked with a mix of tench, bream, perch, roach and rudd as well as a good smattering of crucian, mirror, common, koi and grass carp.

As its name suggests, the fishery was developed on the site of an old brickyard which dates back to 1834. The excavated clay was used to make bricks, pipes, tiles and coping stones but when digging finished the resultant pits filled with water from natural springs.

In 1996, Brian Rose, the current owner, decided to stock the two small pools with trout before converting them to coarse fishing lakes about three years ago.

Work has just been completed on totally refurbishing a small fishing lodge where all-day breakfasts and a range of light meals and snacks can be purchased throughout summer and during matches in winter.

Run as out-and-out pleasure waters which are also available for small club matches, Brickhill Farm has few rules with the only restriction being that anglers must use only barbless hooks and that braid is not allowed. Keepnets can be used, but fish over 3lbs should be returned to the water immediately.

All the fish are home grown and were fed for two years before the fishery opened for business. Because the majority have never been caught the fish are in pristine condition.

Although the tench, bream and crucians only run to about 1lb, both pools hold some stunning perch which go to an impressive 4lbs (see photographs below). Fishery owner Brian Rose says he also believes he has even bigger perch, some of which he thinks could top 5lbs.

There are also some good hard-fighting mirror, common, grass and koi carp. Whilst there is a large head of fish around the 3lb to 4lb mark which are great fun to catch as they scrap like crazy for their size, there are a decent number of bigger fish, the largest of which are now just over 20lbs.

The roach and rudd, average between 4ozs and 8ozs in size although there are some larger fish whilst the crucians run between 4oz and 2lbs and are beautiful fish.

Because parking is convenient and both pools have well maintained grass banks and wooden platform pegs the fishery is suitable for disabled anglers.

On arrival anglers should start fishing as their day ticket monies will be collected on the bank.

Peter's 4lb Brick Hill stripey was no April's Fool!

Brick Hill is well known locally for its cracking perch - and here are two reasons why. On the left is Northampton's Mark Boss with a 3lb 8oz specimen which he took mid-May 2009 from Peg 19 on Bottom Lake float fishing a red maggot and sweetcorn cocktail in the margins. To the right is Peter Sharpe, also from Northampton, who took this 4lb 2oz beauty on April 1, 2009. Peter was again fishing the margins on bottom pool, this time on Peg 14 with a worm and sweetcorn hookbait.

Another feature of the pool is a two to three feet wide ledge about two feet deep which runs between Pegs 1 to 20. The sides then drop to the bottom of the lake which varies between three feet and 14 feet - the deepest water being found in the bay nearest the fishing lodge. Depths over the remainder of the pool range between four and eight feet.

Many anglers who fish Bottom Pool stick to the margins where plenty of good fish can be taken. When doing this it pays to trickle feed free offerings of pellets and maggots. The depth of Bottom Pool means that anglers not fishing fairly close in on the waggler or pole again tend to opt for the swimfeeder.

Whichever peg you pick on Bottom Pool it pays to plumb the depth, particularly if you are after one of the deeper holes where the fish, especially the roach, shoal up. The majority of the holes are only eight feet wide, so once they have been found accurate casting is essential to ensure you hit the same spot time after time.

Most anglers fishing Bottom Pool for the tench and silver fish tend to use a 16s or 18s hook tied to 1lb 8oz to 3lb line whilst those after the carp step up to a size 12 or 14 hook and 6lb line which is more appropriate for the bigger fish which run to double figures.

Here again regular feeding with small amounts of groundbait mixed with maggots, casters and samples of hookbait is essential to keep the fish in your swim. Once the fish are biting, feed little and often to keep them going.

In warmer weather, fishing a floating bait in the margin again proves successful whilst a lot of anglers after the carp also target the two foot deep shelf which runs around the island as this is a favourite haunt for the fish being the main feature on the water.

Fishing up in the water in open water in summer can also give good results, although here again it is essential to trickle feed free samples in order to get the fish fighting each other for the food.

As the island is one of the most obvious features of the water this attracts plenty of fish and is a natural point for anglers to cast to. Here again fishing on the bottom or with a floating bait in still weather conditions can account for plenty of fish.

When it comes to baits, bread, pellets, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, maggots and casters again all work well for the silver fish with fishmeal and fruit flavour boilies, halibut pellets, maggots and casters all accounting for good numbers of carp.

Unlike Bottom Pool, however, this water has no holes, although it is still advisable to plumb the depth accurately.

Stocked with a similar range and stamp of fish as Bottom Pool, the depth of Top Pool again means that anglers not fishing fairly close in on the waggler or pole again tend to opt for the swimfeeder, although the shallower water in the bay near the fallen oak tree (pictured left) is ideal for fishing the pole or waggler.

Best baits on Top Pool include bread punch, luncheon meat, pellets, sweetcorn, maggots and casters whilst those after surface feeding carp in the warmer weather opt for floating bread, dog biscuits or floating pellets.

Anglers fishing for the carp on the bottom usually fish a swimfeeder packed with a mix of groundbait and casters, baiting the hook with small fishmeal or fruit boilies, maggots or even cheese. Bread is also a good all-round bait and worth trying if you are after picking out some of the bigger fish.

These baits are also good for the grass carp which inhabit both pools and are renowned for their speed and fighting abilities. Looking like large chub, these torpedo shaped fish run anywhere between 4lbs and 10lbs and are well worth catching - if you can get them on the bank!

Anglers fishing the shallower water around the edges generally opt for the pole or waggler, fishing either up in the water or on the bottom and loose feeding with a mix of maggots, casters and pellets.

From Junction 16 of the M1 the simplest way to Brickhill Farm is to head towards Daventry on the A45. Just after Dodford turn left onto the B4037 and go through Newnham. When you reach the A361 turn left again towards Banbury and when you reach Byfield take the left hand turn signed West Farndon. After abut a mile turn right at the T-junction towards Eydon and after 100 yards take the left turn to Eydon and Culworth. After half a mile turn left again to Woodford Halse and the entrance to the fishery is about 100 yards on the right.

From Junction 11 of the M40, follow the A361 signed Daventry and when you reach Byfield follow the signs for West Farndon. After about a mile turn right at the T-junction towards Eydon and after 100 yards take the left turn to Eydon and Culworth. After half a mile turn left again to Woodford Halse and the entrance to the fishery is about 100 yards on the right.

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