Meadowlands Fisheries
Oxford Road Ryton on Dunsmore,
Coventry
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Unlike many commercial fisheries, its Lambsdown Lake bucks the trend of being a predominantly carp venue by also offering a good head of silver fish and tench which form part of the 15 different species in the water.
Warren Pool, the smaller lake furthest from the car park, has also gained a growing reputation as one of the area's best crucian carp waters with some impressive catches being taken and nets of 100lbs of fish regularly winning matches. Indeed, Warren Pool holds the Meadowland match record with a 265lb catch taken by local match angler Baz Byrd fishing pole and paste.
Early in March 2011 over 1,500lbs of additional fish were introduced into Warren Pool. These included a mix of common and mirror carp between 2lbs and 8lbs with the odd larger fish.
With its diverse stocking policy, Meadowlands is a popular pleasure and match fishery with winning weights for Open Matches regularly coming in at between 100lbs and 150lbs. The Lambsdown Lake match record is currently 222lbs.
Anglers are also taking bigger catches of carp. Biggest fish so far is a 32lbs mirror taken on hair-rig luncheon meat fished from Lambsdown's far bank near the point whilst Warren Pool also yields many decent carprunning to over 20lbs. The majority of these bigger fish fall to boilie baits.
Lambsdown Lake
At 13.5 acres, Lambsdown Lake is by far the largest of the two Meadowlands waters and offers anglers a choice of fishing styles and species thanks to its varied depth and diverse stocking.
Up to 12ft deep along the Keller Bank which runs below the entrance road, Lambsdown shallows to between three and four feet at the narrow end near the entrance and up to seven feet along the dam wall. Depths are generally between seven and nine feet in the centre.
The water is believed to hold one of the largest stocking ratios of fish in the country with summer anglers reporting catches of up to 300 fish at one sitting. It is also home to some large tench, the biggest taken to date being 9lb 2oz, and a stock of stillwater barbel running to just over 10lbs. There is also a massive head of bream to 7lbs and roach which have been witnessed to 3lbs 3oz.
Whilst not regarded primarily as a carp water, Lambsdown holds some good sized fish. The largest recorded mirror stands at 32lbs 2oz and the largest ghost carp at 23lbs. In addition, the water has a good head of crucians, nearly all of which are over 1lbs with the biggest to date being 3lbs 8oz.
Because of its size, roach and rudd also abound. The fishery record for both roach and rudd currently stands at 3lbs 3oz whilst the match record for Lambsdown currently stands at 222lbs with regular match weights in excess of 150lb being recorded.
When it comes to fishing Lambsdown, the most popular method in summer is with the method feeder, waggler or straight lead on the rod. Pole with paste or meat also account for large bags of carp in the margins.
In summer, carp pellets, paste and luncheon meat all work well, but with such high fish stocks Lambsdown is a very hungry lake and all baits work well.
In winter, a straight lead with a PVA bag and the pole for silver fish account for bags of up to 50lbs.
Although there are no particular hot spots, winter fishing is always best in the deeper water whilst on the right days in summer the shallower water produces good catches. Pegs 4 to 14 are the deepest to around 12 feet.
When fishing Lambsdown the secret is to build up a tight swim and cast accurately into it, clipping off the line to ensure consistent distance every time. Use groundbait or pellets around an Method Feeder - elasticated feeders are allowed - and bury your bait for best results.
Another good technique, particularly in summer, is to fish pole and paste feeding 4mm fishery pellets. Anglers can also feed about a dozen pellets or hook samples regularly with meat, maggots, casters and pellets all being good baits. Start at 11 metres out until the fish move closer when they can be caught at about three metres.
Warren Pool
Warren Pool has gained an enviable reputation over the last few seasons as a formidable Crucian Carp water with specimens running to 3lbs 8oz and averaging between 2lbs and 3lbs - nice fish by any standards!
In addition, Warren Pool also contains a good head of carp between 1lb and 15lbs which were supplemented with 3,000 fish several years ago. These have now grown on nicely to provide some excellent sport. In addition, there are plenty of roach and skimmers and some quality bream to 7lbs, although the majority are in the 3-4lbs range.
Early in March 2011 a further 1,500lbs of fish were introduced into Warren Pool. These included a mix of common and mirror carp between 2lbs and 8lbs with the odd larger fish.
However, it is as a crucian carp lake that Warren Pool is starting to excel.
Because Warren Pool does not go as deep into the water table as its neighbour Lambsdown, it tends to be shallower with an average depth of four feet.
Deepest towards the far end around Pegs 18 and 19, Peg 19 being the deepest peg on the pool where about six feet of water can normally be found. The pool shallows towards the pump bank between Warren Pool and Lambsdown around pegs 31 to 35 where between three and four feet can be found. This is a favourite haunt for carp anglers, whilst walking round the pool to the right leads to Peg 19 near the trees.
Further round towards where the pool runs into a narrow gully is a favourite spot for crucian carp and bigger ghosties to 20lbs. Here the water is slightly deeper at just over five feet. The landing stages down the left hand bank of the pool overlook swims about five feet deep, and again these are favoured pegs for the carp.
When it comes to techniques, most anglers fish the pole with maggot, caster or meat baits on the bottom over a bed of hemp. As with Lambsdown, regular loose-feeding with free offerings of hook bait is essential to keep the fish in the swim. For the carp, the most popular summer method is to fish the pole with paste or double corn feeding the fishery's own 4mm pellets.
Although the pool is shallow, another very popular technique for both pleasure and match anglers is to fish a Method feeder with 8lb main line and 6lb hook length to a size 16 or 18 hook. Summer anglers using the pole are recommended to use a 10,12 or 14 elastic with 3lb or 4lb hook line, again to 16 or 18 hook.
On-site facilities include car parking and a snack-bar which serves hot and cold drinks and snacks. There is also an on-site ladies and gents toilet.
