Whitevane Pond
A prolific carp water which attracts anglers from throughout the country, Whitevane Pond saw more than 280 fish weighing over 20lbs banked in 2004 and a similar number last year. By mid-summer 2006, at least four 40lb-plus specimens have so far come to the net including the common carp 'Tulip' which weighed in at 46lbs 12oz.
Not far behind are several carp in the 30s including a 39lbs common and a 35lb mirror plus at least 15 fish well over 20lbs including one of 29lbs. For pictures of some stunning 2005 fish, Click here.
Despite being only 10 miles from Gatwick Airport it is a quiet fishery where the emphasis is placed on seclusion and the quality of surroundings and angling.
Although it has a reputation as a big carp water, Whitevane Pond also holds specimen crucians, roach, bream, tench, perch and even some good quality Ide, a Scandinavian species of freshwater fish which are classed as game fish in their own country. Resembling big roach, they are of a sufficient size that they sometimes fall to boilies.
In 2004 a new record was also set for the largest tench to come out of Whitevane. Weighing 11lb 8oz it was taken in mid-April 2004 although in early summer a fish weighing just under 10lbs was taken. The average size of the tench is between 4lbs and 7lbs.
And with bream to 12lbs and averaging between 4lbs and 6lbs; roach to over 3lbs and rudd to 2lbs, there are plenty of quality non-carp species to go for.
Although most of the big silver fish and tench are taken accidentally by carp anglers, the lake record for perch, again caught in April 2004, was set at 4lb 13oz by an angler who was fishing for the bream on sweetcorn in Spooks Corner.
Entering his bivvie he spotted a worm and decided to stick it on his hook as a change of bait. No sooner has he cast in than his float streaked off and he was in business!
Day-ticket pleasure anglers can expect nets of 100lbs with pole, waggler and swimfeeder techniques all working well when combined with plenty of groundbait and hookbaits of corn, maggots, luncheon meat or pellets.
When it comes to fishing for the carp, the hot spots are generally regarded as being either side of the Boat House, fishing out from under The Oaks on the far bank of the pool where there is plenty of open water to go at and Pegs 13 to 16.
Having said that, because the water is so well stocked, all pegs give anglers a good chance of catching a fish to remember.
Because Whitevane is relatively shallow it is a fairly easy water to fish. Although up to 18 feet of water can be found off the outlet, the bottom rises gradually from its deepest to between 10 and 14 feet along the dam wall and to between four to six feet off the pegs on the far side of the Boat House around to the foot bridge at the far end of the dam wall.
Most anglers, however, tend to fish to the features, either to the two islands or to the beds of lily pads which provide both shelter and food in the summer months.
Carp anglers tend to use a spod filled with particles such as pigeon mix or party blend hemp but it is important to keep your bait concentrated and to feed regularly.
Even in winter light spodding is recommended with anglers. In summer, anglers generally use about 10kg of particles in a 14 hour session whilst in winter it is recommended to spod about every quarter to half an hour.
When it comes to bait, the boilie is at home at Whitevane, with fresh bird food boilies seemingly being the most productive as they are easily digestible and keep the fish on the feed for longer.
Fruit flavoured bird seed boilies work very well although more traditional boilies such as Scopex, Cranberry and other fruit flavoured boilies catch fish well. However, more traditional baits such as sweetcorn, bread, luncheon meat, worms and even large bunches of maggots should not be overlooked.
Although tiger nuts and peanuts should not be used, these flavours of boilies are quite acceptable to both the management and the fish!
Whatever baits are used, they are best fished on 12lb line and either size 6 or 8 hooks on either a semi-fixed or running lead.
Surface fishing is particularly effective at Whitevane in the summer when chum mixer, floating crust or floating pellets are the favoured baits. Although the ducks can prove to be a problem with surface baits, most anglers tempt the birds away by flicking same of bait away from their hookbait to set up 'secondary' feeding areas.
For some photographs of large Whitevane fish, follow the link at the bottom of the page.
How to get there...
Whitevane Pond can be approached from two directions. Heading South on the M23, leave the motorway at Junction 11 and take left turn onto the road to Pease Pottage. At the roundabout you need to go right following the signs for Pease Pottage and Colgate. Once through Colgate village proceed a further two miles and you will see a sign for Whitevane Pond on the left as you go into a right hand bend.
Alternatively, coming on the A264 South Horsham By-pass, leave at the roundabout signing 'Roffey B2195' and proceed to the Roffey traffic lights. Turn left into Forest Road and carry on a further three-quarters of a mile until you come into a bend with a sign on the right hand side for Whitevane Pond.
Click on the map for a larger version showing how to get to Whitevane Pond.
Please note that the fishery is about a quarter of a mile south of the circled Multimap reference.
To see examples of some big Whitevane Pond fish Click here.
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Whitevane Pond
Believed to date back more than 200 years, Whitevane Pond near Horsham is a picturesque and historic spring-fed 10-acre lake situated on the fringes of St Leonard's Forest and the headwater to the River Arun.
As far as the carp go, there are now several known 30s and at least three which break the 40lb barrier.
Despite this, Spooks Corner is regarded as one of the best spots on the lake for big perch, tench and bream.
Today the cricket field has long gone, but the former pavilion on the site was moved an is now used as the Fishery Lodge where anglers can seek shelter in bad weather or meet for a chat over a cuppa.
Whitevane also offers modern clean toilets, again with hot and cold running water while help or advice can usually be obtained from the on-site bailiff Adam Gramston, himself a keen angler, who is usually on site round the clock and is happy to advise anglers on which are the best pegs, baits and tactics.
Whilst Whitevane has few rules, anglers should remember that fixed rigs should not be used. Although keepnets are allowed for 'pleasure' anglers, they are requested not to retain larger fish and carp should not be retained in sacks or keepnets. Radios, shouting and dogs are also strictly banned to maintain the quiet and pleasant atmosphere around the lake day and night.