Oakham Farm Fishery

Island Pool

Half-an-acre in size, Island Pool is the first water anglers come to when entering the Oakham Farm Fishery. Designed as a carp and tench fishery, the Pool contains mirrors and commons up to 20lbs and tench to just over 2lbs. Whilst there are many smaller tench, the mirrors and commons tend to average between 2lbs and 5lbs. There are also a few roach.

Ranging in depth from between two and six feet, the deeper water is to the south of the island and the shallower to the north. Because it is reasonably shallow, the pool lends itself to float fishing either with rod or pole, although as with all the Oakham Farm pools, the pole is very popular. Because of the head of tench and carp, best baits tend to be maggots, pastes, luncheon meat, sausage meats and sweetcorn.

Oakwood Pool

At over half-an-acre in size and holding a good head of mirror and common carp to over 20lbs and roach to over 1lb, Oakham Wood Pool is the largest and most popular of the Oakham Farm waters. The average size for the carp is in the 4lbs – 5lbs range although specimens to 20lbs have been caught. Much of the pool averages between five and six feet deep, except at the top end where it shallows to between two and three feet. This is a favourite haunt for the carp in summer when floating baits can be effective.

As with the other Oakham Farm pools, all general baits are effective particularly the standard luncheon and dog meats, dog biscuits, pastes, sweetcorn and maggots for the carp and maggots, caster, worm and bread baits for the roach and bream.

Poplar Pool

Sometimes overlooked by anglers because it is at the top of the field and smaller than the other Oakham Farm waters, Poplar Pool is deeper than it looks and holds a good stock of roach and carp, some of the roach running to 2lbs. Whilst the majority of carp are around 2lbs, plenty of fish to 5lbs are caught, so it is worth more than a second look.

Averaging four to five feet deep, there are two holes which go to between seven and eight feet deep where the fish often like to lie. As with Island Pool, it is worth fishing towards the island and around the lily pads in summer. When the other pools get busy in the better weather, anglers can do a lot worse than try their luck in Poplar Pool whilst it makes an ideal venue for parents with youngsters who are taking up the sport… a 2lb plus carp will hook them for life!

Barn Pool

Marked on old maps dating back to 1825 and probably earlier, Barn Pool is thought to be a natural pool which has been enlarged twice in recent years to about four times its original size. Generally it is between three and four feet deep with steep sides, so fishing in the margins can be as effective as fishing one or two rod lengths out.

It is a delightful setting in summer, particularly fishing the pegs in the wood where the swims tend to be about three feet deep and where it is said the best fishing can be had. Other popular spots are fishing the shallow water under the willow in about two feet of water and fishing along the bank with your back to the barn.

Again, Barn Pool is predominantly a carp and tench water with a good stock of carp between 10lbs and 12lbs and tench to about 2lbs which give anglers plenty of good sport. Like many small carpy waters anglers have plenty of room for experimentation and regulars swearing by everything from prawns and macaroni to even banana as baits.