Its delightful setting - matched only by the quality of the fishing - makes Cottington an ideal venue for individual day-ticket anglers or those looking to spend a few days fishing with their family or friends. Indeed, Cottington must rank amongst one of the most attractive and varied fisheries in the country.
In addition, there are also several slow-running drainage dykes (top left) which run through the site and which hold good stocks of fish including carp well into double figures and pike to over 20lbs. The dykes can be fished by anyone holding a permit for one of the Cottington Lakes waters and are particularly popular for a spell after June 16th and with pike anglers in winter.
Cottington Lakes is open from dawn until dusk for day-ticket anglers, although night fishing is allowed on all of the waters with the exception of Black Lake, one of the two mixed coarse waters, and the Match Lake.
Black Lake
Offering 52 well-spaced and varied pegs, Black Lake is a general mixed coarse fishery which ranges in depth from approximately three feet by the car park to about nine feet in parts of the bay at the far end and along a channel which runs down the centre of the main section of the lake. Anglers can fish either from the main bank or from the many pegs on the central islands which offer a different perspective of the water.
With three islands, two adjoining bays and an attractive 'canal' stretch running down one side of the water, Black Lake offers a wide variety of swim types to suit pole, waggler and leger anglers and at the beginning of 2004 the water became available for night fishing for anglers aged 18 and over at a cost of £7.00 per night.
Because it is a general mixed fishery, the water is ideal for pleasure anglers and holds a good head of bream, carp, chub, perch, roach, rudd and tench with the carp running to double figures and the bream averaging between 4lbs and 5lbs.
As one would expect on a general coarse fishery, all techniques and baits work well on their day with maggots, paste and sweetcorn being ever popular. However, it is always a good idea to ask in the tackle shop when purchasing your ticket about the current best techniques and baits.
As with all the Cottington Lakes waters, there is plenty of car parking next to the lake.
Alder Lake
Although more open than the other Cottington Lakes waters, Alder Lake is crammed with fish including Common and Mirror Carp into double figures, some big tench and bream, and good stocks of roach, rudd and chub.
Offering 40 well-spaced pegs, Alder Lake varies in depth from five-and-a-half feet to about 12 feet in places and techniques and baits vary depending upon the conditions and time of year, although all methods generally work well.
Because it can be a prolific water, anglers are restricted to using a maximum of two rods and, as with other waters at Cottington, groundbait can only be used if dispensed with a pole cup or feeder. Favouite spots for anglers are at either end of the lake and, as to be expected, fishing into the wind usually provides the best results.
Night fishing on Alder Lake is by prior arrangement.
Lake Christine
An idyllic and beautifully set-out carp pool, Lake Christine is a typical carp angler's dream and, despite being about three-and-a-half acres in size never becomes overcrowded or overfished because the water is limited to six anglers at any one time - making advance booking a good idea by telephoning East Kent Tackle on 01304 380691.
Depths vary between four feet in the bay at the entrance to the water by the car park (above), which is always worth a try, to just over six feet in other parts of the water. With several bays and two islands there are plenty of features to fish to, although it always pays to spend a little time on the bankside looking for the fish and watching where they are patroling or feeding.
Christine Lake holds a good head of Common and Mirror Carp to over 30lbs plus Grass Carp into double figures.
As one would expect with a specimen carp water, fishing early in the morning or during the evenings are generally the most productive times, although fish can be taken throughout the day when the conditions are right.
Whilst all traditional and modern carping techniques work well, fishing with a method feeder in the margins or tight to the islands where there are narrow shelves seem to work best.
Good baits include pastes, bread, boilies, luncheon meat, sweetcorn and maggots, although fishing maggots or worms can lead to carp anglers catching smaller fish or even some of the eels which have found their way into the water from the nearby drainage dykes.
Lake Pepper
About three acres in size, Lake Pepper is a specimen carp water which opened to anglers in 2003 with the size of the fish now rivalling those in Lake Christine It is known there are at least 100 fish in the 10lbs to 20lbs range plus several others running to just over 30lbs. Indeed, the lake record was broken early in 2004 with a splendid Mirror Carp which weighed in at 31lb 8oz.
As with Lake Christine, the number of anglers allowed to fish the water at any one time is restricted - in this case to a maximum of eight - and again anglers should be fairly experienced and equipped with tackle suitable for handling heavier fish. As with Lake Christine, because numbers are restricted anglers are advised to check peg availability in advance by telephoning East Kent Tackle on 01304 380691.
Lake Pepper has a channel running down the length of the lake with the deepest parts being at the far end of the water from Black Lake. Again, both traditional and modern carping techniques and baits are proving to work well.
The Match Lake
Crammed full of fish, the 93-peg snake-shaped Match Lake is an ideal venue for club matches, individual anglers and youngsters being predominantly stocked with fairly easy to catch carp between 8ozs to 3lbs and plenty of roach and rudd between 8ozs and 1lb. Because of the ease of fishing, anglers are allowed to use only one rod or pole at a time.
With a maximum depth of about four-and-a-half feet, the Match Lake has an even bottom, although fishing close in to the near or far bank usually pays dividends. On a recent visit to the Match Lake, Alan Yates (left), a regular contributor to Sky TV's 'Tight Lines' angling programme, even decided to dispense with a float altogether and using a pole lowered his sweetcorn bait to within three inches of the far bank to get stuck into a decent net of fish.
To prevent overfeeding, there is a four pint limit on the quantity of maggots, meal, sweetcorn, casters or pellets which can be used at one sitting and a one kilo limit on groundbait, which, as with the other Cottington Lakes waters, can only be use in a pole cup or feeder.
Having said that, there really isn't a need for tons of groundbait or feed in this water and 2004 is expected to be the Match Lake's best year yet with the current match record of 105lbs, set last year during an Open Match to a catch taken entirely on maggot, expected to be broken.
Elliott Lake
Created by removing the last two lanes of Match Lake, the new Elliott Lake is a small 30-peg water with a central island which is not yet fully stocked. We will have more details and a photograph once it is fully up and running.
How to get there...
From Deal, head towards Sandwich on the A258. The fishery is immediately on the right, marked from the main road with brown Tourist signs.
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Cottington Lakes
The fishery is set in 45 acres of delighful wooded Kentish countryside and offers facilities for touring caravans and camping; a well-stocked tackle shop (below right); the Kingfisher cafe which serves hot meals, snacks and a variety of hot and cold drinks; and the Kingfisher bar. There are also modern and clean toilet and shower facilities for visitors.
On site there's the choice of two mixed coarse lakes, two specimen carp lakes and a 93-peg snake-shaped match lake which is about one-and-a-half miles long and stocked full of fish. Because restrictions are placed on the number of anglers allowed to fish the specimen carp lakes at any one time it is advisable to telephone in advance to book a day-ticket. However, once on site anglers are not limited to which peg they can fish.
For those looking to stay for longer than a day there are 25 caravan pitches spread over five designated areas, one of which is pictured left. Fourteen of the pitches have 10-amp electric hook-ups. There are also five pitches reserved for Caravan Club members, three of which have electric hook-ups, providing extensive opportunities for camping on site. For details of the touring caravan rates, please