At one-and-a quarter acres in size, with 40 pegs and between just three and four feet deep throughout, Main Coarse Lake is an easy water to fish and holds a good variety of species including common and mirror carp tothe mid-20s but averaging 5lbs to 6lbs, ghosties to 15lbs, and some mirror/koi hybrids which are known to run to 18lbs. In addition there are a few grass carp which run to 10lbs and which are dogged and determined fighters.

In addition to the carp there are good heads of silver fish including roach to 2lbs-plus and averaging 12ozs, green and golden tench known to run to 6lbs with several fish having reportedly been netted to 9lbs, eels to over 2lbs and bream averaging 5lbs to 6lbs but known to run to 10lbs. Indeed, in July 2004 an angler with a 24-inch landing net caught one specimen which was too large to fit in his net!

The ease of fishing, accessibility to the water and the variety of species make Main Coarse Lake popular with both young and older anglers, experienced and inexperienced with all standing a good chance of catching decent fish.

Main Coarse Lake is full of features including plenty of bays, an undulating bed with gullies and drop offs and plenty of overhanging trees, bushes and bankside vegetation to provide cover for anglers. Towards the end of 2004 Bill Baker intends to replant the lily pads which used to grow at the far end of the lake.

The banks drop straight to a bottom, which is lined with stones for the first 10 feet out all the way round, giving a hard clear bottom. This means that fishing close into the margins is popular either on the bottom or on the surface with a good number of fish being taken close in.

The overhanging trees and bankside vegetation also mean that stalking the margins for carp in summer can be very productive, for although the trees overhang the lake there are very few snags in the water itself, meaning fish can usually be played in the open once they are hooked.

Although Main Coarse Lake is only shallow, the undulating bottom and features means that it pays for anglers wanting to fish the open centre of the lake to plumb the depth to find the features.

Those wishing to ledger should use either standard or Method feeder, with the flat Method being popular these days.

When it comes to baits, as with most fisheries almost anything goes, although most popular and successful on Main Coarse Lake tend to be sweetcorn, soft hooker pellets, maggots and bread fished on the bottom. Dog biscuits and bread crust fished on the surface early morning and evening are also popular, as are vitalin dog mix and sweetcorn fished on the flat Method feeder.

Although there are few snags in Main Coarse Lake, there is little point in fishing light on the water because of the number of decent carp. Also, few angers bother to fish the pole. Recommended hook sizes are either 10s or 12s - which don't even put the roach off - to a minimum line strength of 4lbs to 6lbs.

Offering a total of 12 pegs and about half an acre in size, House Lake holds a 40/40 mix of carp and roach with about 10 per cent bream and 10 per cent tench. The carp include commons, mirrors and at least one known leather which run to 18lbs plus at least three grass carp which go to 18lbs and ghosties to 6lbs.

In mid-August Jason Tolley from Castle Bromwich in Birmingham caught a 16lb grass carp fishing a half-inch square of luncheon meat on 4lb line and a size 10 hook. Jason, who is pictured with his fish (left), was float fishing on the bottom just three feet out from the bank when the fish took.

At an average of three-quarters of a pound and running to two-and-a-half pounds, the roach are in beautiful condition and have a lovely blue sheen. One angler early in 2004 reported he had caught a 4lb specimen which he said measured 14 inches from the tip of its nose to the fork of its tail. The tench run to about 5lbs and average between 2lbs and 3lbs whilst the bream run to 2lbs with plenty of skimmers.

Unlike the Main Coarse Lake, House Lake quickly goes deep to about six or eight feet a rod length out from the bank whilst in the centre between nine and 10 feet can be found. Even by the lily pads the water is between five and six feet deep, and here it pays to fish mid-water on the waggler.

Although as with Main Coarse Lake House Pool has few snags, because of the carp anglers are again recommended to use size 10 or 12s hooks and 4lb to 6lb line. Pole anglers should step up accordingly or they too will be broken.

The fishing can be prolific in House Pool, which is why it is becoming increasingly popular with Nine Oaks regulars. Again, once up the slope to the pool the banks are suitable for disabled anglers whilst being quieter than the main lake it is a great place to get away from other anglers and at the same time stand a good chance of catching decent sized fish.

Again, as with the Main Coarse Lake, one of the secrets of House Pool is that presentation is paramount and anglers should keep things as simple as possible. Fishing sweetcorn, maggots, bread or pellets over a bed of pellets is a great way to start fishing and should lead to positive results.

Available on both 'Catch and Take' and 'Catch and Release' basis, all three pools are fly-only waters which ranges in depth from 10 to 12 feet with steeply sloping sides which go straight to the bottom.

Weir and Pallen are the largest of the three waters offering some six fishing stations each whilst Derwent, the smallest, has between three and four stations.

As one would expect, anglers fishing these pools should watch closely to see which type of fly are rising from the water and then try to imitate them as best they can. This can often mean changing flies regularly until you find which the fish are taking.

Most anglers fishing Weir, Pallen and Derwen tend to use a floating line with a sinking top, particularly with a Gold Head in the cooler months. The fish in Derwen, however, are known to be partial to a pink fly.

Because all three pools are surrounded by trees and shrubs, anglers need to be adept at the flick cast to avoid becoming tangled in the trees, but this adds to the charm of the waters giving them a very 'natural. feel whilst at the same time providing anglers with cover from the fish in the clear water.

Opened to anglers in Autumn 2004, the pools has been developed as an ideal 'Dads and Lads' water where younger anglers can develop their skills without the worry of having their bait being taken by a big fish. This will enable them to learn not only how to attract fish and hook them but also how to play them, look after them on the bank and return them safely to the water.

With just a dozen pegs, the water holds a variety of species including carp, roach, tench, skimmer bream and one koi carp.

Nine Oaks Fisheries on the NetNine Oaks has one of the nicest websites of any fishery on the Net at www.nineoaks-fisheries.co.uk. Fairly new, it is well worth a look!

For photographs of the accommodation at Nine Oaks Fisheries and prices, please Click here.

Go back to Fisheries homepage