Having been involved in the fishing world for as long as I can remember and being a fishery owner since 1962, the opportunity to develop the Springlakes complex was too good to pass up. The lessons learned and the knowledge gained from the past years have been instrumental in making Gold Valley Lakes a fishery that has been described as unbeatable. The commercial fisheries of today are regarded as a failure if they do not throw up massive weights each day. Some twenty years ago a 20lb or 30lb catch was something most anglers would dream of but not obtain, here at Gold Valley we have developed a fishery that responds well within the rules we ask anglers to adopt, we do not introduce tons of fish each year in an attempt to keep catches high, but laid the foundations in the early 90's.
Our original stocks were unfished for and most were obtained from game waters and private estate lakes, a situation far away from the farmed fish which are sold on and on again and in some cases ending up in some waters who's reputations leave a lot to be desired. Here at Gold Valley it is a case of the “proof of the pudding” with our original stocks having had a number of seasons' spawning, producing thousands of fish, which have grown on and added to the attraction that is Gold Valley.
As well as the rebuilding of the water areas, an in-depth landscaping programme has been undertaken, with Willows, Birches, Alders, Ferns and many other trees and bushes planted to add to the natural countryside look that the surrounds of the lakes enjoy.
Our 4 ½ hour match record is 308 lb-13oz taken from peg15 on Gold Lake on the 7th May 2000, this was a competition that 67 anglers contested (not a twelve peg knock-up) the total weight for this event was in excess of a staggering 3,345 lbs and 16 anglers each returning 40 lb to 50 lb without weighing, so with 51 anglers weighing an average of over 65 lbs each (all superbly strong resident fish), this was a red letter day in the short history of Gold Valley.
We feel that Gold Valley is now benefiting from the early days, as well as the 180 professionally constructed fishing platforms on the thirty-two acre landscaped complex, there is secure and safe parking for over 300 cars, all parked within the grounds of the Springlakes Country Club boundaries. There is a licensed bar with ladies and gents toilets. The lakes are available for day and night fishing, club bookings, league bookings and corporate days or just a fun get together, all of which can be followed by a prize giving, private buffet or meal in the Springlakes bar or function room which over looks the lakes. Pre match breakfasts or mid day meals can also be booked and the bar area is open daily for refreshments.
| JOHN RAISON |
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The Secret of Springlakes' CARP O'CLOCK ' by KEITH ARTHUR
When I fish matches at Springlakes I try and have a cunning plan. Although it is possible, especially if you're Will Raison or Steve Gardener, to win without Carp, for us mere mortals Cyprinius Carpio are necessary for victory. My cunning plan revolves not around how, but when to try for them. Except in the height of summer when they munch all day (and probably all night too!) the Gold Valley Carp will feed sporadically. The first fifteen minutes are crucial, you may not catch a Carp but either your float or quivertip will tell you their mood. No sign of life is good, believe it or not: they'll turn up. Roach bites are good too; you'll catch them if you fish for them. `liners' especially the slow ones, are a nightmare. The temptation is to wait and see, but don't. I get on with catching my silver fish and implement my cunning plan and wait until “Carp O'clock” it may be two hours into the match, it could be the last forty minutes, but the signs will tell you when it arrives, either obvious fish activity or your neighbours, who have sat it out, start catching. That's the time to `go for it'. I had to call it something and Carp O'clock seems to fit.
Keith Arthur (Tight Lines)
GOLD LAKE - An original natural lake that was extended in the early 1930s'. Depths now vary between 3ft and 8ft with forty-five well-spaced swims around the six-acre lake. Peg 10 holds the current record of 174 lbs for the Angling Times Winter League. Peg 15 holds the U.K. 4 ½ hour match record of 308 lbs-13oz. 100 lb plus match weights have been recorded from every peg on Gold Lake, the best non Carp winning weight being 98 lbs of Bream from peg 6, a magnificent catch taken by Dave Schofield, all pegs can produce on the waggler whether fished as wag & mag up in the water or fished at a fuller depth over groundbait or lose feed, one of the most popular methods on Gold lake is a float rod of 13ft to 20ft, fished close in with luncheon meat or worm, some big pleasure catches (60 or 70 fish a day) have been taken on this reasonably easy way to fish, the favourite pegs for this method are on the canal bank (pegs 1 - 23). Fishing at a distance, either with a feeder or big waggler is another style that produces big catches. The corner pegs 1, 23, 24, 45, are best left alone for distance fishing, feedered maggots in the summer and feedered groundbait in the winter being the general rule of thumb, the pole fishing on Gold is unsurpassed, with double figure weights of prime Roach from most pegs, add to these some Bream, Perch, Tench, Crucians and a few Commons or Mirrors and 40 lb or 50 lb is on the cards. Gold lake is favoured by the majority of night or long stay anglers who target the big Carp, double rod fishing in conjunction with boilies or meat resulting in many personal bests being achieved.
Gold Lake 45 pegs
MIDDLE LAKE - Covering 3 ½ acres with just thirty-seven swims. Middle lake was designed for bagging up on various methods and styles from pole to feeder or waggler. Carp and Tench with back ups including Bream, Roach, Perch and Crucians being the target fish, the middle of this lake is shallow (2ft or so) with 3 ½ ft plus, as you come back towards the bank creating the situation of feeding fish moving in and out allowing easy fishing and big weights, the largest all bream match catch on middle being over 130 lbs.
Carp match weights of 100 lbs have also been taken from every peg on middle with 152-14oz lb being the best from peg 77. The largest recorded carp from middle being 17 lb - 10oz.
One of the favourite styles on Middle is to fish a waggler up in the water and change to a straight lead as fish start to shy off, but remember to keep feeding, not large amounts of maggots but try to have 6 or 10 maggots dropping through the water all the time, the best pegs for this style being the 50s, or early 60s, or any where in the seventies, all other styles work well on Middle lake with corner pegs 46, 67, and 68 being favourite for bigger fish either on the pole or long rod. The areas around the island are unpredictable and a softly softly approach is advised, pole and maggot against the islands have produced some prolific weights of Carp for both match and day ticket anglers.
Midddle Lake 37 pegs
SYNDICATE LAKE - Similar in size to Gold lake (6 acres) average depths of 5ft, again with shallow areas in the middle. Syndicate holds a very large head of fish with Carp again being the dominant species. Fish can be caught easily on most styles from feeder to pole, all types of fishing have accounted for some memorable days, pegs 93 to 106 are favoured by the feeder anglers, pegs 83 to 92 can produce fish on the close in line, 107 to 115 can respond to a wide variety ranging across pole, feeder or long rod, 116 to 124 are good pegs for fishing close in, all the suggested close in pegs should be fed a second line in order to widen the chance of a day to remember. The roach fishing on Syndicate has developed well with 83 to 90 and 116 to 124 being the recognised areas; Syndicate also holds a large head of Crucians, Tench, Bream and Perch with many approaching the specimen bracket.
Syndicate Lake 42 pegs
BAT LAKE - Bat lake is one of the most popular small lakes in the Hampshire / Surrey area with just eighteen swims and just under one acre, depths vary from 12” to 4 ft plus. The lake was formed around the “Bat Cave” a specially constructed building erected for the conservation of bats; Bat Lake holds Tench, Carp, Roach, Perch, Bream, Crucians and Rudd. The Carp go to around the 9 lb mark and on the odd occasion that competitions have been held on Bat lake weights have run up to just short of 120 lb. Pole with float being the best method, with meat and hemp or maggots being the baits to use.
Bat Lake 18 pegs
BUNGALOW LAKE - A one-acre lake in the old style contains twenty-three swims with depths to 6 ft. Some small islands, old willows, rushes and pipe reeds add to the day to make Bungalow Lake a must for either the experienced angler or the beginner. The heaviest five-hour match weight from bungalow being 126 lb taken in the month of December - need we say more!
Bungalow Lake 20 pegs
STOCK POND - A natural wild area with provision for just fifteen anglers offering superb sport with Ghost Carp, Hi-koi, Commons and Mirrors to double figures, Stock pond also contains Chub,Tench, Roach and Perch.
Stock Pond 15pegs
