If you like motor sport, then membership of Mallory Park Fisheries and The Glebe buys you not only a season's unlimited angling on seven lakes and pools with widely diverse characteristics, but it also gets you the best seat in the house on race days at this famous Leicestershire circuit!
If you don't like motorsport, then even on race days you soon become oblivious to the frantic background activity as you concentrate on your rod tip, float or floating bait.
Whatever your fancy, one thing is for sure. Whatever your favourite fishing method, bait or water, you can't fail to catch. Indeed, the only complaint many members have is that you can't go there for a full day's fishing because after a few hours you have caught so many fish your arm aches and you want a break!
There is also a great variety at Mallory. Big Lake, the lake in the middle of the circuit is open, large and often swept by the prevailing wind. Outside the circuit, Foundation lake is the main match water where the record currently stands at well over 200lbs, whilst nestling in the trees on the other side of the track are the two Lakes in the Trees - pools full of character which are havens for wildlife in their own right.
Whichever pool you fish at Mallory Park, you can also taken advantage of Lakeside, the circuit's own cafeteria where hot and cold meals, snacks, drinks and refreshments are usually available at very reasonable prices.
Lakes in the Trees
The smallest of all the Mallory Park Fisheries waters, the two lakes in the trees are ancient wild ponds which formed part of the Mallory Park estate before it became a racing circuit.
Although it is only three-quarters of an acre in size, the bottom lake (left) holds carp to about 20lbs and has dozens over 10lbs. It also offer anglers the chance to catch bream to 3lbs and perch to 1lb 8oz from pegs which range from open and in full sun to sheltered under the far tree-lined bank.
Even though the pools are only small they are never crowded and even in the summer there is usually no need to get there early if you want to fish. Because of their sheltered seclusion the pools can become very warm for anglers in summer, so on hot days plenty of sun block is advisable. The top pool is particularly sheleted from the wind, as is illustrated in our two pictures which were both taken at the same time. Whilst the bottom lake (above) has ripples on the water, the top lake (below) is calm as glass.
The top pool holds carp to about 10lbs as well as plenty of roach and skimmers. Both bottom and top pool at Lakes in the Trees are only three to four feet deep with even bottoms so there is no need for long casting or complicated rigs.
Indeed, like all the other waters they are easy to fish - what Roy Marlow classes as 'lazy fishing' - and float, floating baits or legering are all effective.
When it comes to baits you can catch on anything, although sweetcorn, bread and pellets seem to be the most effective.
Foundation Lake
At five-and-a-half acres, Foundation Lake is the main Mallory Park match water where regular member competitions are held. Built in 1986 from a former wetland meadown which had a stream running through it, Foundation is recognised as a fabulous roach water where catches in excess of 50lbs are often taken. Add to that a good head of carp averaging 2lbs to 8lbs but up to 20lbs, with a good head of bream and chub and it's not difficult to see why the match record set last year is now over 180lbs.
Foundation Lake has an average depth of six feet, which Roy Mallory believes to be the best for optimum plants and fish growth, running from five feet deep at the far end to about eight feet by the dam.
As a rule, the best pegs tend to be those opposite the ends of the islands, which make a great feature for the fish. Anglers should also look fto fish near to the cotonesters which overhang the bankside on the islands or close in where trees and bushes provide features on the bankside.
Again, anything seems to go when it comes to fishing techniques, although Roy's preferred method is to fish an 8oz waggler tight against the islands with casters, sweetcorn or paste baits. The water is also good for those who prefer pole fishing. Most pegs fish well, but the deeper water by the dam does not seem to be particularly productive being exposed with few features.
Big Lake
Regarded by members as a semi-specimen water, the Big Lake in the centre of Mallory Park circuit holds carp to over 20lbs with the majority being in the low doubles and thousands of bream, mostly between 1lb and 1lb 8oz.
Again it is classified as an easy water. Indeed, Roy Marlow says it is almost impossible to fish two rods in summer because you would catch too many fish!
That hardly seems an idle boast when you think that last season Roy finiched a members' match with 170lbs - and only managed fourth place. The winning catch weighed in at 244lbs 12oz, with 244lbs 4oz taking second place.
Angling is permitted anywhere around the lake except on the island, which is prvately owned, and on the inside of Gerrards Bend at the far end during race meetings. However, fortunately for anglers this usually proves to be the least productive part of the lake. At 12 feet deep it is the deepest part of the lake and usually only holds any decent head of fish during hot summer weather when the fish retreat there because it is coolest.
The depth throught the remainder of Big Lake averages about six feet and whilst anglers stand a good chance of catching 100lb nets wherever they fish, the favoured pegs tend to be the pegs where you can cast to the ends of the island.
Another feature of Big Lake seems to be that the bigger fish tend to stay in near the bank. Anglers casting further out still catch, but the fish tend to be smaller for some reason. For this reason most anglers fish about four feet out from the bank on the float.
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