Cefn Mably Lakes

Fishing at Cefn Mably Lakes

Lodge Lake

The largest lake at just under five acres and the flagship specimen water, Lodge Lake holds the largest fish including a 41lb specimen, 30 different 30s and more than 100 20s. The lake has undergone a structured stocking policy over the years to get it to this level.

Each of the 10 spacious swims is well maintained with a gravel base to ensure good day’s clean fishing. There are 5 pods serving the 10 swims which you can double up on. Depths vary from 4ft to 14ft, so you always have an option whatever the weather or season. Tactics vary depending on the day and the conditions, but the margins are always worth targeting. In the months fishing over a well baited area of pellet and boilie should do the business but when it turns colder then reach for small PVA stringers with bright coloured hook baits.

Carp Pond

Originally dug and established in 1993, the Carp Pond has continued to flourish and mature into a stunning 1.5-acre specimen carp runs water, with a good head of carp to target over 28lb – a mixture of commons, mirrors and even ghosties. Offering two double swims both are set along the north bank, each enjoys large, gravelled areas spacious enough for your bivvy, whilst two now include bookable Log pods.

Thanks to the spacious swims, everyone has plenty of water and features to go at including productive margins and lily pads, open water spots and an island on peg one. Depths range from 2ft to over 9ft at its deepest section. Baiting regularly will keep the bites coming once you have found the carp but to do that spread your rods initially. With a relatively soft, clean substrate, a mixture of clay and silt, many anglers have great success utilising solid PVA bag tactics.

Horseshoe Pond

Similar in stocking density to Carp Pond, this 2.5-acre lake takes its name from its unique horseshoe design and offers eight spacious swims – four of which are joined by a gravel path and can be booked on a day ticket and two of which offer Log Pods.

There are plenty of features to target including the long heavily planted finger which breaks up the two sides of the venue. Swims 5 to 8 along the south bank also benefit from both close marginal spots and open water areas. With depths ranging between 2ft to 8ft in places, fishing small parcels of bait such as PVA bag tactics will often produce bites, especially when fished to the islands and the well-established lily pads.

Spring Lake

Built in 1993, Spring Lake has matured beautifully to offer privacy, seclusion and some great fishing. Originally a trout lake, carp were introduced in 2011 and the water is well maintained with regular nettings to remove bream, roach and rudd, allowing the carp to thrive. It now boasts over six 30s, 40 20s and numerous high doubles, with the current lake record standing at 32lb 10oz.

You can only fish from the Osprey and Kingfisher cabins and each has half the lake to target, with markers giving you indications of where and where not to cast. Cradles and large nets must be used as standard. The other two cabins on the lake – Heron and Grebe – cannot be used to fish Spring Lake.

Bridge Pond

Bridge Pond was built back in 2005, is shaped like a figure eight and has a healthy head of larger carp, including over 20 20lb fish, with the largest weighing in at 30lb 10oz. It is home to four cabins – Wagtail, Skylark, Woodpecker and Robin – which were built during Covid. Each features a composite deck that drops down to a fishing platform for exclusive lake access.

Oxbow Lake

The old 40-peg match lake has been netted, restocked and transformed into a water containing a fantastic head of carp ranging from 12 to 30lb. With a uniform depth around the lake and three cabins on each side separated by a large island, these offer secluded fishing with a good amount of water to go at. The cabins surrounding the lake are Kestrel, Harrier, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk and Falcon.

The Overflow

If exclusive and totally private fishing is your thing then this mixed coarse fishery is just the ticket as it has just one cabin – Pochard. It’s the complex’s only coarse lake offering carp from 2-17lb plus a good mix of bream and roach, making it ideal for youngsters as it’s been heavily stocked to ensure plenty of bites. An added benefit is that, as it backs onto a peg on the Lodge Lake, you can also book a swim there to target the specimens.

Willow Pond

Stocked with a good head of carp in the 12-27lb bracket along with some smaller fish for younger guests, Willow Pond is exclusively home to the newest lodge, Gooeseander, which opened just last June. Perfect for families (it has one large bedroom and a sofa bed) or couples who want a larger space, this is great place to earn your carp fishing stripes.

Accommodation

​Home to the Lodge On A Lake concept, the venue has a mix of Log Pods and well-appointed cabins spread throughout the lakes, offering dedicated fishing areas and pegs.

Cabins

The mainstay of the accommodation are the 16 cabins which sit right next to the water’s edge, each one unique and individually designed to blend into the surroundings with decks offering panoramic views over the lakes. Each cabin has a private hot tub, its own parking space, outdoor furniture, shower, double bed, gas hob, oven, microwave, TV, all bed linen, pillows and fresh towels, not to mention free ultrafast broadband with speeds of up to 1,000mb.

You’ll find Kingfisher, Osprey, Grebe and Heron cabins on Spring Pond, Sparrowhawk, Harrier, Kestrel, Goshawk, Falcon and Merlin on Oxbow Lake, with Wagtail, Woodpecker, Robin and Woodpecker on Bridge Pond. Willow Pond houses the new Gooseander cabin while Pochard has its own exclusive Overflow Lake. Both of these can sleep two adults and two children. All cabins allow fishing from the deck except Heron and Grebe, which are accommodation only although fishing is permitted on the other lakes. Woodpecker, Osprey, Pochard, Harrier, Falcon and Gooseander allow small dogs, too. Check in is at 3pm, checkout is at 10am on day of departure.

Log Pods

These neat pods with heating, electricity, lighting and even a 4ft porch for relaxing are a great alternative to a bivvy. You’ll find them beside the water with five on Lodge Lake (pegs 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10) and two each on Carp Pond (pegs 1 and 3) and Horseshoe Pond (pegs 5 and 8). Check in time is 3pm. Pods are to be vacated no later than 2pm before changeover for cleaning.