We’ve pulled together a comprehensive guide to the fantastic fishing opportunities hidden within Buckinghamshire! Often celebrated for its stunning Chiltern Hills and picturesque villages, this diverse county is also a vibrant hotspot for pleasure anglers. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of a specimen carp, the delicate tug of a roach, or the powerful fight of a river barbel, Bucks offers an incredible array of day ticket venues to suit every taste and ability.
- Why we like it: It’s a truly beautiful, tranquil setting within Black Park Country Park – a perfect escape from the daily grind. While not a ‘runs’ water for carp, it offers fantastic sport for pleasure anglers targeting silverfish in a serene environment.
- What to Expect: This is a classic float fishing venue. Expect quality roach, rudd, and bream, with the chance of a bonus tench or smaller carp. We’ve had great success with simple maggot, caster, or breadpunch tactics. Keep your approach light and stealthy. There are some pike present for the lure angler.
- Prices: Day tickets are available online via Eventbrite. Check the website for current rates, typically around £8-£10 for a day.
- Top Catches: Quality roach, bream, rudd, and tench to 5lb+. Smaller carp are present.
2. Alders Farm Fishery, Great Horwood / Alders Farm Fishery
- Why we like it: A truly exceptional and incredibly well-run commercial fishery. It offers a fantastic mixed fishing experience with a reputation for incredible catches, particularly for match and F1 anglers. The facilities are top-notch.
- What to Expect: With multiple lakes including Ash, Oak, and Ghost, there’s something for everyone. Ghost and Ash lakes are phenomenal for pole and waggler fishing, often producing triple-figure match weights of carp, F1s, and silverfish. Expect strong, healthy fish and clear, well-maintained pegs. Ideal for pellet and paste, or shallow pole tactics in warmer months.
- Prices: Day tickets typically range from £10-£15, depending on the specific lake and number of rods. Check their website for the most up-to-date pricing.
- Top Catches: Carp to 20lb+, F1s to 5lb, quality roach, bream, and tench.
3. Aldershot Park, Aldershot (Popular with Bucks Anglers) / Aldershot Park Angling Club
- Why we like it: Another venue just outside the immediate Bucks border but frequently visited by local anglers. It’s a popular club-run venue with a range of lakes, offering excellent facilities and well-maintained banks.
- What to Expect: The lakes are generally well-stocked, making it a reliable choice for consistent sport. It’s an excellent spot for pole or waggler fishing for carp, F1s, and silverfish. Specimen lakes offer a more challenging pursuit for larger fish. A pellet waggler or method feeder can often produce good results.
- Prices: Day tickets are available for non-members, typically around £10-£12. Check their website for exact details and purchasing options.
- Top Catches: Carp to 30lb+, tench, and big bream.
- Why we like it: A fantastic, large open-water venue that offers a very different challenge to smaller commercial fisheries. It’s a great place to target wilder, harder-fighting fish, with plenty of room to explore.
- What to Expect: This is a vast lake, requiring a bit more thought and effort to locate the fish. The carp are powerful and can be targeted with traditional boilie tactics, zigs, or even surface fishing in warmer weather. Pike fishing can be excellent in winter. Patience and mobility are key here.
- Prices: Managed by MKAA, day tickets are available for £8 (adult) and £5 (junior), purchasable online. Annual membership is also available.
- Top Catches: Carp to 30lb+, pike to 20lb+, and tench.
- Why we like it: A truly legendary carp fishery, known nationwide for its stunning and often colossal carp. This is a bucket-list venue for any serious specimen carp angler in the UK.
- What to Expect: Farlows is a complex of lakes, each offering a unique challenge. The Main Lake and Lake 2 hold some true monsters (50lb+), demanding serious effort, top-end tackle, and a tactical approach. Other lakes offer more consistent action. Expect well-maintained swims, bailiff presence, and a dedicated angling community.
- Prices: Day tickets (7 am-7 pm) are around £20-£25. Night fishing and 24-hour tickets are also available, with prices varying by lake. Check the website for a full, detailed price list.
- Top Catches: Carp to over 50lb! Also significant pike and bream.
- Why we like it: A huge, publicly accessible urban lake in the heart of Milton Keynes. It’s a surprisingly productive venue for its location, offering a wide variety of species and a convenient angling escape.
- What to Expect: While under significant angling pressure, the fish here are well-fed and can be caught with the right approach. Don’t overlook simple float and feeder tactics for silverfish. The carp are often caught on boilies, corn, or bread. Mobility can be an advantage to find active fish.
- Prices: Managed by MKAA, day tickets are £8 (adult) and £5 (junior), available online.
- Top Catches: Carp to 30lb+, tench, bream, and pike.
7. Willowbrook Fisheries, Steeple Claydon / Willow Park Fishery
- Why we like it: While sometimes known as Willowbrook, this popular fishery (correctly “Willow Park”) is fantastic for consistent action. It’s a beautifully landscaped and incredibly well-managed complex perfect for all skill levels.
- What to Expect: With the Stock, Small, Medium, and Big Lakes, there are options for every angler. The smaller lakes are teeming with hard-fighting carp, F1s, and silverfish, ideal for pole and waggler. The Big Lake is for specimen hunters targeting larger carp. Pellet, corn, and maggots are standard go-to baits.
- Prices: Day tickets for Stock, Small, and Medium lakes are typically £14 for a single adult (two rods permitted). Afternoon tickets £7. The Big Lake costs around £25 for a 24-hour ticket.
- Top Catches: Carp to 20lb+, F1s to 5lb, quality roach, bream, and tench.
- Why we like it: This dedicated carp fishery offers a truly tranquil and picturesque setting within the Buckinghamshire countryside. It’s ideal for the carp angler seeking a proper challenge away from commercial ‘runs’ waters.
- What to Expect: This beautiful three-acre lake is well-stocked with specimen carp. It features varied depths and plenty of features to explore, demanding careful thought and watercraft. Expect hard-fighting, intelligent fish that require a patient approach with boilies or particle baits.
- Prices: A day ticket (7 am to 7 pm) is priced at £14.95. Night tickets and 24-hour tickets are also available. Check their booking system for full details.
- Top Catches: Carp to 30lb+.
9. Oakfield Fishery, Kingsfield / Oakfield Fishery
- Why we like it: A highly popular and professionally run match and pleasure venue that consistently delivers excellent sport. The variety of lakes means there’s always a suitable option, whether you’re targeting big carp or seeking lots of bites.
- What to Expect: Three main lakes: Red Kite, Brook, and Swallow. Red Kite is great for bigger carp and requires a more serious approach. Brook and Swallow lakes are teeming with a mix of carp, F1s, and silverfish, perfect for pole, waggler, or small feeder tactics. Expect great facilities and a welcoming atmosphere.
- Prices: Day tickets for Brook & Swallow Lakes are £11 per adult, £6 for a junior. Red Kite Lake (two rods) is £15.
- Top Catches: Carp to 20lb+, F1s, roach, bream, and tench.
- Why we like it: Another excellent urban venue managed by MKAA. Willen Lake is a fantastic resource, providing a surprisingly wild and challenging angling experience right in the city. Great for a day or night session.
- What to Expect: With North and South lakes, this expansive water holds a significant head of powerful, wild carp. They are often pressured but can be caught with patient and well-presented tactics (boilies, particles, zigs). It’s also a superb venue for winter pike fishing.
- Prices: Day tickets are £8 for adults and £5 for juniors, available online through MKAA.
- Top Catches: Carp to 30lb+, pike to 20lb+, and tench.
- Why we like it: This well-established club offers an excellent array of day ticket fishing across multiple venues, including picturesque stretches of the River Ouse and several well-stocked stillwaters. It’s perfect for anglers seeking variety.
- What to Expect: You can enjoy traditional river fishing for chub, barbel, and roach (trotting, stick float, or feeder) or target carp and mixed coarse fish in their stillwater venues. Check their website for specific venue details and rules.
- Prices: An adult day ticket is £10, and a junior ticket is £5. These must be purchased online in advance.
- Top Catches: Chub, barbel, roach, and carp.
- Why we like it: For fly anglers, this is a beautiful and impeccably run trout fishery. It offers a rewarding challenge away from coarse fishing, set in a tranquil environment perfect for honing your fly-casting and presentation skills.
- What to Expect: The lake is regularly stocked with high-quality rainbow, brown, and blue trout. The fishing can be technical but incredibly rewarding. It’s primarily a catch-and-release fishery, though “take home” options are available. Look for active fish and experiment with different fly patterns and depths.
- Prices: A half-day (up to 4 hours) two-fish ticket costs £38. A full-day (up to 8 hours) four-fish ticket is £60. Season tickets also available.
- Top Catches: Rainbow and brown trout, often into double figures.
- Why we like it: A well-loved, traditional day ticket venue offering good, honest sport for the pleasure angler. It’s a no-frills, friendly fishery with a real community feel.
- What to Expect: The series of well-stocked lakes are generally easy to fish, making it a great option for a relaxing session. Expect plenty of action on the pole or feeder from carp, roach, and tench. Don’t be shy about asking fellow anglers for tips – they’re usually happy to share.
- Prices: A day ticket is a very reasonable £9. An evening session from 4pm onwards is £6.
- Top Catches: Carp to mid-doubles, roach, rudd, and tench.
- Why we like it: A truly stunning, mature specimen carp fishery. Set in beautiful surroundings, this tranquil venue is ideal for those seeking truly special captures and a challenging angling experience.
- What to Expect: The main lake is home to some very large and wise carp. It demands a thoughtful and patient approach. It’s a venue that rewards observation, watercraft, and careful bait presentation. Night fishing is a popular option here.
- Prices: Day tickets start from around £20 for a day session. Night tickets and 24/48 hour options are also available, with prices varying. Exclusive lake bookings are also an option. Check their website for current rates.
- Top Catches: Carp to over 50lb!
Buckinghamshire has lots to offer
There you have it – our in-depth guide to 14 of Buckinghamshire’s best day ticket fishing venues. From the tranquil and wild expansive waters to the bustling, well-stocked commercial fisheries, this county truly offers a world of angling opportunities.
Before you head out, always double-check the fishery’s website or social media for the very latest prices, opening times, and any specific rules. Conditions can change, and being prepared is part of being a good angler.
So, whether you’re loading up the carp gear for a specimen hunt or just packing a small float rod for a relaxing day of silverfish, Buckinghamshire is waiting. We hope this guide helps you discover some new favourite spots and brings you many tight lines and memorable catches.
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