At about three-quarters of an acre in size, Dragon has two central islands, holds 22 pegs and has consistently proved one of the most popular match waters at the fishery with the match record, set in 2005, currently standing at 135lbs. If you want to get in the prize money here it is reckoned you need 50 to 60lbs to be in with a chance.

About six feet at its deepest, Dragon Pool has a shelf about two feet deep which runs some six feet out into the water. The bottom then slopes at about 45 degrees down to a central channel before rising again towards the islands.

Stocked with a good head of F1 and crucian carp around 1lb 8oz and 2lbs, the pool also holds perch averaging 12oz to 1lb but which run to 3lbs, plenty of roach around the 8oz mark and running to 1lb, as well as similar sized rudd and a small number of skimmers. Match weights should improve following the stocking of about 800lbs of silver fish from Specimen Lake.

The most popular baits when fishing the waggler are caster or maggots with an increasing number of anglers now opti for hooker pellets. Again, these are best fished across to the islands as fishing close in to the margin does not tend to work well in matches, although it can be successful for pleasure anglers if the water is fairly quiet.

Pole anglers tend to fish the central channel, although here it is important to find out at what depth the fish are feeding. When fishing the pole the most popular baits tend to be pellets and chopped worm feeding with a mix of groundbait and hook samples fed on the pole cup.

All-in-all, Dragon Pool is a great little water for small club matches of 10 anglers or more and ideal for pleasure anglers.

Suitable for the disabled because they can park their cars near to the entrance road pegs, it is fairly straightforward to fish and hold a good mix of fish from small roach, rudd and perch through to more challenging double figure carp.

Also, during 2007 it is hoped to introduce a head of chub and barbel into the water to add to the variety.

With an average depth of about four feet - slightly more towards the centre - Bens is similar to Dragon in that it has a two feet deep shelf running out about six feet from the bank. In summer it is often worth fishing on top of this shelf as you can pick up patrolling carp, particularly on warm evenings.

Pleasure anglers tend to float fish this water either with pole or waggler, using cheese, maggots, casters, luncheon meat or tinned cat meat in summer or maggots or casters in winter.

Because the water holds a good number of decent sized pleasure carp, anglers are recommended to fish a 5lb or 6lb line with 14s or 16s hook.

Anglers opting for the swimfeeder tend to fish to the middle of the water using cheese, sweetcorn or luncheon meat.

Again, Ben's is a popular club and Open Match water and because it is close to the car park is particularly suitable for disabled anglers, having a good solid and even grass bank.

When it comes to fishing matches on Ben's, most anglers go for the pole fishing between five and six metres out with pellets, caster or maggots. Again, you need to find the depth at which the fish are feeding and be aware that this varies according to the time of year and water conditions.

A new match record for Ben's was set in 2006 at 166lbs by a local match angler who pellet up in the water on pole from Peg 1.

A similar technique also works well when fishing the waggler, although anglers must remember to feed little and often to attract the fish around their bait and to hold them there.

Stocked predominantly with carp, roach, rudd and golden orfe, Ben's is a good year-round water. The carp are predominantly a mix of mirrors, commons and ghosties with the majority of fish in the 5lbs to 6lbs range although there are a decent number of double-figure fish around the 15lbs mark which can give a good account of themselves when hooked.

For match and pleasure anglers there are also good heads of roach and rudd in the 6oz to 8oz range.

As with Dragon Pool,when it comes to matches, anglers need between 40lbs and 50lbs of fish to be in the top three places.

These fish supplemented a good number of small carp to 6lbs which were moved from Station Specimen Lake over winter. Oak is also home to a good number of tench which were originally stocked in 1998 and are now said to be in the 4lb to 5lbs range, as well as carp to 8lbs and perch to 3lbs - again all original fish from when the water was first stocked.

At an acre in size, Oak is slightly larger than either Dragon or Bens pools and, being further away from the car parking area, often tends to be quieter than its two siblings except when being used for matches.

Although relatively featureless on the surface, Oak has four gravel bars running across its main length and over winter these were planted with reeds to give anglers a feature to fish to and an area where the fish can shelter.

Although there are a few deeper holes dotted around the pool, much of it tends to be between four and five feet deep. In winter it is worth searching around your swim to see if you can locate the slightly deeper water as this may be where the fish tend to congregate.

Because Oak is now a small carp match water the most popular baits tend to be maggots and casters in winter with cheese, luncheon meat, pellets, sweetcorn and tinned cat meat more popular in summer.

Popular with pleasure carp anglers who do not want to go for the big fish in the Station Specimen Carp Lake, Brook Pool again has a shelf about two feet deep running some four feet out from the bank. Apart from this, Brook is fairly featureless.

Anglers fishing the waggler have tended to prefer corn, luncheon meat and cat meat whilst pole anglers opt for pellet, caster and maggots. For some reason, few anglers opt to fish the feeder.

Anglers targeting the carp favour boilies - either strawberry or scopex flavours - luncheon meat and sweetcorn. During the afternoons and evenings waggler anglers tend to fish both the margins and open water are popular whilst pole anglers fish five to six metres out varying their depth until they find the fish.

Known to hold carp to 30lbs, it is now believed to hold a minimum of 150 double-figure carp with few fish smaller than 10lbs. Species include mirrors, commons, ghosties and leathers.

The largest of the Lavender Hall Waters at nearly two acres in size, Specimen Carp Lake has three central islands and a promontory which has been reduced in size to increase the surface areas of the water available for fishing. Despite its size, Specimen Lake only averages between four and five feet deep although it does drop to between seven and eight feet out from Pegs 2 to 8.

Because Specimen Lake is now an out-and-out carp venue it has its own rules. These require all anglers to have their own landing nets and unhooking mats and to fish a minimum line strength of 6lbs and a maximum of 15lbs. Braid can only be used on the hook length. Although bolt rigs and elasticated feeders are not permitted, semi-fixed rigs are allowed. In line with most fisheries these days, tiger nuts, trout pellets and seed baits should not be used.

Unlike the other Lavender Hall waters, floating baits are allowed on Specimen Lake with dog biscuits and bread the most popular options.

When it comes to catching the fish, normal carp fishing techniques all work well with both traditional and modern methods proving equally effective when used with boilies or luncheon meat. Fishing the waggler is also popular and can prove equally effective, particularly in summer when the fish are on the feed.

For those anglers who do not want to fish boilies on ledger tackle and the ubiquitous electronic bite alarms, fishing the waggler either close in or in open water can be equally productive.

Those fishing the waggler tend to go for sweetcorn, luncheon meat, tinned cat meat and pellets as baits.

Station Specimen Pool is a day ticket water available from dawn until dusk on a first-come-first-served basis so arriving early in summer is recommended. Anglers wishing to night fish the lake must book in advance as places are limited to prevent over fishing.

Lavender Hall's own website Lavender Hall Fishery has updated its own website at www.lavenderhallfishery.co.uk where visitors can get up to date information on the latest match results, catches, fishery news and information on what's happening at the fishery. The website also incorporates a photo gallery. Follow the link to visit the site.

How to get there...
Although Lavender Hall Premier Fishery is technically classed as being in Berkswell, it is effectively in Balsall Common.

Travelling north or south on the M6, leave the motorway at Junction 4a and follow the signs for the A452 dual carriageway to Warwick and Leamington.

Once on the A452 follow the road south to the Stonebridge Island with the Malt Shovel pub on your right, go straight across the first roundabout going under the A45 flyover and onto the next roundabout. Taking the third exit still signed Warwick, head straight down the dual carriageway until you come to the next roundabout with the George in the Tree pub on your right. At this roundabout take the left fork signed Berkswell Station and at the next roundabout turn left towards Berkswell. Immediately after you have gone over the railway bridge you will see the entrance to the fishery on the right. Turn into the yard and follow the track all the way down to the main fishery car park.

If travelling from the south on the M40, leave at the second Warwick exit and at the roundabout follow the signs for Coventry up the A46. Take the first exit off and follow the signs for Brownhills and Lichfield on the A4177. Stay on this road all the way to the Five Ways roundabout and take the third exit heading towards Balsall Common, still the A4177. At the first set of traffic lights near Balsall Common go straight on and straight on again at the next two roundabouts. At the third roundabout take the second exit signed Berkswell Station and at the next roundabout turn left towards Berkswell. Immediately after you have gone over the railway bridge you will see the entrance to the fishery on the right. Turn into the yard and follow the track all the way down to the main fishery car park.

Click here for a large scale map of how to get there.
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