A one-and-a-half acre U-shaped pool with a peninsular running down the centre which gives access to both parts of the water, Alders has 40 well-spaced concrete pegs and a mix of both intimate and more open water swims.

Most of the pool is between five and six feet deep with banks which are cut at about 45 degrees to the bottom. The beds of lilies down the left hand arm as you approach the pool grow on a raised shelf which is only about one foot six inches deep and forms a great holding area for the carp in the warmer summer months.

The deepest part of the pool is in the left hand bay at the far end where up to eight feet of water can be found, making this a popular spot for the fish in winter.

Alders holds a good head of common and mirror carp, some which reach 22lbs with a decent number of fish in the 11lbs to 15lbs range and a lot of fish around the 5lbs to 6lbs mark. In general, Alders holds the biggest fish of the Pipehill waters.

There are also good numbers of crucian carp to 2lbs with plenty of fish around the 1lb mark but, despite the large stock of crucians, catching these fish can sometimes be erratic but they provide great sport when they are on the feed. In addition to the crucians there are also some crucian/koi fantail crosses, tench to about 1lb 8ozs, roach and rudd to a similar size, perch to about 2lbs and bream to nearly 2lbs. There are also some nice ghost carp to about 5lbs.

Alders is popular with both pole and waggler anglers with a lot of anglers fishing a 3lbs to 5lbs line and Size 14s to 18s hook, although those after the carp scale up to about an 8lbs line and Size 10 or 12 hook.

Most popular baits for the carp include luncheon meat or sweetcorn fished over a bed of feeder pellets whilst those after the silver fish use maggots, casters, worm, soft hooker pellets, sweetcorn or smaller pieces of luncheon meat than they would use if going after the carp.

Popular pegs on Alders include the first bay on the right as you come onto the pool, fishing towards the pipe on the left hand arm and fishing towards the island in the main body of the lake at the far end.

However, anglers fishing to the island should be aware that under the surface around the island are the roots of an old oak tree which once grew on it and that this area is not only snaggy but also a favourite bolt hole for fish once they are hooked, making it advisable to scale up your line strength when fishing this part of the pool and being prepared to turn fish quickly.

About an acre and a quarter in size with 20 hard pegs, has a small island at the entrance end and several beds of lilies and reed which all make interesting and attractive features to fish towards.

Although the fish are not as large as those found in Alders Pool they are much the same species, with the occasional carp to just under double figures but plenty between 2lbs and 4lbs as well as ghosties to 6lbs, crucians again to 2lbs, tench to about 12ozs, roach and rudd to 1lb 8oz, perch to about 1lb and bream to just over 1lb.

Like Alders, Hollybush has banks which are cut at 45 degrees down to an even bottom which is about four feet six inches deep.

This makes Hollybush an easy water to fish with either pole or waggler.

Because Hollybush is an easy water to fish and has plenty of features, it is also quite popular with regulars and newcomers alike. As is to be expected, the most popular pegs are those at either end of the pool and those within casting distance of the island. Fishing to the beds of lilies is also popular as once again this is where the fish tend to hang out.

Because the fish in Hollybush tend not to be as large as those in Alders, anglers can get away with fishing lighter tackle with line strengths of between 3lbs and 4lbs being used by the majority of anglers to a Size 16, 18 or even 20 hook.

Popular baits with many anglers again tend to be small pieces of luncheon meat, sweetcorn, maggots and soft hooker pellets all fished over a bed of feeder pellets whilst in winter maggots, casters and worm generally produce good results.

As with many waters, it pays to feed the swim by putting out a couple of handfuls of pellets before you tackle up and follow these with half a dozen or so pellets and samples of hook bait at regular intervals whilst fishing, particularly after having just caught a fish to keep the remainder of the shoal in your swim.

Because Hollybush is said to be an easy water to fish it is a good place for parents and grandparents to take younger anglers when they are introducing them to the sport or teaching them to fish.

The hard banks and pegs also make it suitable for less able bodied anglers, although the more severely disabled may need help getting to the water's edge.

The most recent of the three Pipehill Fisheries waters having been completed only four years ago, Willow has fewer features than either Alders or Hollybush and is stocked mainly with a mix of carp and roach. To ensure the fish are of a decent standard, the pool is netted every year and the smaller fry removed.

Willow has banks which slope to a four feet six inches deep central track and the island can be reached easily with the pole.

Because the banks are more open than the other two waters, this is popular with groups of two or more anglers as they can see each other and converse more easily.

Again a popular pole and waggler water, Willow holds commons and mirrors averaging between 5lbs and 6lbs with the odd fish to 9lbs, a good head of ghosties to 6lbs and a large number of stock carp to about 1lb.

In addition Willow is quite heavily stocked with roach which were introduced to the water at between 1lb and 1lb 8oz about two years ago and which are now fine looking fish.

Most anglers going for the carp again tend to use luncheon meat, sweetcorn or soft hooker pellets fished over a bed of feeder pellets as the fish in Willow are well used to feeder pellets because they are fed regularly with them when the water has not been fished for a day or two.

Good baits for the roach are sweetcorn, casters, maggots and tail end of worm.

If travelling from the west on the A5 follow the signs for Cannock, Brownhills and then Lichfield or Tamworth. At the Muckley Island roundabout take the A461 towards Lichfield and the entrance to Pipehill Fisheries will be seen signed on the left after about a mile and a half.

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