Previously used as irrigation lakes for a nearby fruit farm, the Butlers Hill pools provide a friendly fishery which is not too commercial but which is ideal for pleasure anglers and small club matches.
As part of ongoing improvements, the overgrown far bank on Island Pool, the first pool you come to on entering the fishery, has been cleared and platformed pegs created, excess bankside vegetation removed, overgrown trees and shrubs pruned back and steps built up the bank to Middle Pool. Also, a new flush toilet has been provided.
In addition to improving the actual fishing, the owners hope to make the venue more accessible for disabled anglers. Although keepnets are allowed, no fish over 3lbs should be retained and plastic baits should not be used.
Ticket money is collected from anglers either on arrival or on the bank once they have started fishing and anglers wanting to night fish the pools should note that the gates are locked at 10.00pm and open again at 7.00am. Spectators are not allowed at night.
Island Pool
This one-acre pool, which is up to 12ft deep by the overflow near the entrance, holds Mirror, Common and Ghost Carp to 28lbs; chub to 5lbs; roach and rudd to 1lb; and bream and tench to 3lbs.
Like all the pools at Butlers Hill, it fishes well on both rod and pole whilst float and ledger techniques are equally effective. In summer, floating baits are particularly successful for anglers after the carp, which can usually be seen cruising just under the surface on warm evenings, and the chub which take bait readily off the surface.
Although the banks drop sharply to about five or six feet deep around the edges and for much of its depth, the two islands have ledges around them before shelving to the bottom.
Whilst many anglers fish successfully in the open water in the centre of the pool, it is often more effective to fish either just under your feet or to use a ledger or two or three swan shot on a running ledger to reach the island ledges where the fish patrol. Trying to reach the ledges with a waggler can be tricky because of the overhanging branches.
Of the three Butlers Hill pools, Island is the most popular with carp anglers who use both modern and traditional techniques and baits. Because of its depth it also fishes well in winter. Indeed, in February 2004, one angler fishing the pole took over 45 fish weighing between 3lbs and 8lbs in one sitting baiting with small pieces of luncheon meat and loose feeding pellets.
Best baits for the silver fish are maggots, worm, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, cat food and pellets whilst anglers after the bigger carp rely on all of the above plus boilies of various flavours.
Middle Pool
Much shallower on the whole than Island Pool, this is another one-acre water which averages about four feet throughout most of its length and is stocked with roach to 2lbs; rudd to 1lb; bream to 4lbs; chub to 5lbs and Mirror and Common Carp which run well into double figures.
In addition, the water is home to a good head of smaller Ghost Carp which provide lively sport well into the colder months.
Whilst the water fishes much the same as Island, because it is shallow and has a silty bottom it is usually more coloured. Because of this anglers can often tell when the fish are on the feed because they stir up so much mud that parts of the lake become noticeably more cloudy. This means it is always worth having a walk round the pool before tackling up to pick a swim where the fish already have their heads down.
Although not as popular with serious carp anglers as Island Pool, it can still be a very rewarding water to fish. In September, 2003, one angler landed a 23lb Mirror, whilst several other anglers have reported being broken by what they believe were even bigger fish.
Like Island Pool, Middle Pool has banks which shelve steeply to the bottom and with rushes along the sides and far end there is always plenty of cover for anglers fishing either close in or stalking the carp. For summer 2007, new platform pegs are to be installed along the far bank of the lake to make angling easier from this side of the water.
Being a shallow pool, most anglers tend to float fish Middle Pool and it is very popular with pole anglers using casters, maggots, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and pellets. Boilies, dog food and larger pellets are all good for the carp, as are floating baits fished both close in by the side and in open water during warmer weather for both carp and chub.
Far Pool
As its name implies, Far Pool is the furthest from the car park and although only about half an acre in size is ideal for anglers who want to get away from it all. Because of this it is now being developed as an adults-only specimen water with more than 50 double figure carp ranging between 10lbs and 16lbs having been introduced over winter, together with some quality specimen roach which weighed over 1lb.
These supplemented the existing stock which include a mix of carp to double figures as well as roach, rudd, tench and bream. Because the water is only about three-and-a-half feet deep at maximum it is a great spot for waggler fishing and testing out new techniques or baits. It's also a great place if you have had a few blanks and want to remember what's its like to catch a fish!
Following the addition of the new fish it will also pay to use modern as well as traditional carp fishing techniques.
Again the most popular baits tend to be maggots, casters, sweetcorn, pellets and luncheon meat but with the fish being relatively easy to catch virtually anything goes.
How to get there...
Butlers Hill Fishery is three-quarters of the way along the A3400 between Shipston-on-Stour and Chipping Norton. Travelling south, continue through Long Compton and start up the hill as you leave the village. Over half way up is a road to the left signed to Great Rollright. Take this and the first left again which has Butlers Hill Farm on the corner. Continue down this lane for about 200 yards and the entrance to the fishery car park is on the right. Please note that the Multimap Post Code reference takes you to the farm at the top of the lane, the fishery is the three lakes down this lane.
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Butlers Hill Fishery
Further improvements have been made to the fishing at Butlers Hill over the past 12 months with the development of Far Pool as an adults-only specimen carp pool and the introduction of night fishing on all three waters.
Even the names of the pools have been changed - from the rather impersonal titles of No 1, No 2 and No 3 Pool to the more descriptive Island Pool, Middle Pool and Far Pool.