Members Only (Club matches only)
Grange Pond is an excellent all-the-year-round fishery.
It is a mixed fishery with 30 purpose built fishing positions, and can provide members with excellent sport in the worst of conditions (except when flooded or iced over).
It holds carp (to 20 lb+), tench (to 8 lb), roach (to 1 ¼ lb), bream (to 9 lb), perch (to 3 lb) and pike (to 20+ lb). There are also chub, gudgeon and 'cocky' ruffe present, and possibly other species as well. Current 3 hour match record is 67 lb 4 oz, taken in one of the clubs Monday Evening Sweeps. In November 2017 82-03 was taken to win a match in five hours. Current policy is to add new carp stock annually whenever the club can afford to do so. On average, another 200 to 300 carp are introduced each year.
Access to the water must be from the (hard surface) car park. A track (with similar hard surface and ideal for wheel chair users) leads down to the lake. The wooden disabled persons' pegs (numbers 5 and 6) are immediately on your right as you approach the lake, and are on the same level as the track. The car park, track and disabled pegs were grant funded by the Environment Agency.
During the summer of 2009 all other pegs on the lake were rebuilt, with concrete slabs on steel frames, all set so they have comfortable access from the circular path and offering comfortable and safe fishing positions, and since then fencing has been erected all around the lake with access gates at various points. It is important to keep these gates closed to deter otters and ensure that in times of flood the fish stocks are retained within the lake.
During March 2016 a massive restocking programme was undertaken, using the Society's funds for this purpose plus a substantial grant supplied by Sport England. This included tench and carp of a range of sizes which should have an immediate impact on sport.
Carp in excess of 20 ponds in weight have been landed annually since 2015.
From where the track reaches the lake, a pathway extends all the way round the lake. It gives reasonable access for anglers' trolleys but can be muddy in wet weather, or slightly overgrown. Pegs 1 and 30 are either side of the corner to your left, and pegs 7 and 8 either side of the corner to your right.
The other corner pegs are 15 and 16, 24 and 25. There is an island towards the far end of the pond adjacent to pegs 23 and 26. The lake is quite sheltered as it is surrounded by bushes and trees.
Under normal conditions the depth is from 4 to 8 feet. There are several shallower 'bars' and raised underwater features present.
The lake is reed fringed in most areas, with the odd patch of other weed near the margins (the carp uprooted and cleared other weed).
During the warmer months, the water responds to a wide variety of methods. Tench and carp patrol the margins all round the lake, and good roach and perch can also be taken close to the edge. Pole or rod and line (waggler) produce well, best baits being casters, maggots, sweet corn, bread, pellets and paste, although worm also works at times. It is best fed little and often, or by laying a carpet and waiting.
The longer pole line also produces well, at ranges from 6m to 14m. You need to target the species you want, and fish for carp and tench (using corn, pellet, meat etc.) or you can fish caster or maggot for a mixed bag (tench and carp may also turn up. Rod fished waggler also works.
The other prolific methods are straight lead, feeder (open ended, method or block) or surface baits. These mainly target carp and tench, but bream and roach may also show from time to time. Again a variety of baits can work, including maggot (including dead maggot), caster, corn, meat, and on the surface, pellet and bread. Although surface baits must only be presented on the hook (no feeding) the method can be deadly on the right day, and catches the larger carp.
During the winter excellent sport may still be had, but a different approach is required. The margin swims only produce on the warmer days, but you can catch well at between 4m and 8m, although 12m-14m can also work well on some days. Small baits work best, with caster, maggot, pellet and corn all having their day, with bread or worm also worth a try. Try putting in ¼ pot of maggots, and then fishing directly over it with a single maggot on a 20 or 22 hook. Use a strong hook length, as I have had carp to over 10 lb on this method. Only feed again when the bites stop for 20 minutes. If you are catching roach and the bites stop, your next fish could be a carp or a tench.
The straight lead or light feeder can also produce good winter sport. Bread, corn and maggot are the most successful baits, and once the fish are located, even the tench will feed on the coldest of days.
LEVAS would welcome enquiries from people prepared to join the Bailiffing team that covers Grange Pond