West Counties Report

Around the venues If I told you in Staffordshire there is a fishery with pools within which the average carp is currently over 30lb, you’d be interested, wouldn’t you? What if I told you it’s not a syndicate or a club venue, but is available for all to fish on a day-ticket basis? Still interested? Then check out Baden hall Fishery, where the Quarry is starting to wake up and big fish are on the move.

- Clint Walker

There are at least 10 waters to target on this impressive complex, with a variety of pleasure, match, specimen and runs waters. It also boasts an impressive tackle shop and superb café facilities too – what’s not to interest the angler? It is well run too, with sensible rules and bailiffs on site every day, so if you are struggling for options, there is always someone to ask for advice, and I must say, it’s one of my favourite local venues. The reports this week have been promising too. On the prolific Middle Pool, plenty of fish have been banked, with many anglers reporting multiple hits of fish to around 20lb, and the same on the newly renamed Lodge. It’s on the specimen pools where things are getting really interesting. Regular Ashley Pulley racked up a new personal best with a 29lb 10oz common, beating his previous best by just 2oz. Don’t be under the misapprehension that Quarry, Bridge and Glovers are easy, as they are not, but the rewards are certainly there. (www. badenhallfishery.com)

Newcastle-under-Lyme tiler Simon Connor dropped on to sutton Carp syndicate, near Market Drayton, for a recent session. Arriving after his mate Dan, who told him he had seen fish showing in front of the peg he was in and the one next door, he set up alongside and used similar tactics to his previous visit, when he had banked a couple of decent fish. His hinged stiff rigs were baited with 16mm Sticky Pineapple pop-ups and fished as singles. Just half an hour later, a savage take saw Simon do battle with a hefty lump which weighed 30lb exactly. He recognised the fish as Stan. (www. suttoncarpsyndicate.co.uk)