STILLWATERS -

   

BORDEAUX PIT  

 

Bordeaux pit is just a few miles out of Saffron Walden near Little Chesterford and entry is via a locked gate. This water is of some 2.5 acres and is well sheltered from the prevailling West/ South Westerly winds as it sits well below the surrounding fields and sheltered by the Railway embankment to the West.

The water has three distinct sections with two main bays and an island at it's northerly end, in total some 39 swims are available. At full winter levels around 6-7ft of water can be found with the swims around the island some 18" less.

This is a truly mixed fishery and contains Carp, Crucian, F1's, Chub, Bream, Ide, Roach, Rudd, Perch and Tench. Carp are typically from 10 - 20lb with a few bigger fish to 30lb, F1's run to some 3 lb, Crucian's to 3lb, Ide to 2lb+, Chub to 4lb, Bream to 5lb and the Tench have been caught to 8lb with an odd Perch to nearly 3lb. Roach and Rudd are numerous.

The water is though not aimed to mirror local commercial fisheries, it has a sensible stock level but is not overstocked to provide huge catches. A good days fishing can though be anticipated in summer when not to hot and bright with the element of not knowing what you may hook next.

Winter as with any stillwater can be difficult but those who scale right down and feed very sparingly can still take reasonable catches.

 

LONGMOOR LAKE 

     
                                                  

                Mid Point Looking Back to the Car Park                             Mid Point Looking up the Lake

Longmoor Lake is the correct name of what is often referred to as Whittlesford Pit.

The water is of similar size to Bordeaux but very much different in nature, whereas Bordeaux is well coloured in Summer, Longmoor rarely has significant colour and can at times be quite clear. It has an abundant weed growth, although swims are raked out in spring to provide fishable swims. The water in many respects can be considered more of a specimen lake but does have a good mix of fish with Tench and Bream the dominant species, both of which run to double figures, with an average of around 4lb. There is also a head of around 45 Carp to low/mid twenties and few under 10lb. Roach, Rudd and Perch in good numbers together with a few very big Crucians and the odd eel to some 5lb. There are a few Pike and a few Ide were stocked a few years back but rarely seen

The water does contain a good head of fish but the weed supports an abundant amount of natural food that makes a thoughfull approach essential to take the best catches. 

However, some good nets have been taken by those making the effort.

 

MEPAL PIT

 

                

This reed fringed lake extends to some three acres and is oblong in shape with one end almost cut in half by a reed bed.The depth varies from around 8 -17ft with 15 well spacedd comfortable swims. The water is predominantly a Carp fishery and has a good head of fish with most in high double figures and running to 30lb plus. Despite it's good head of fish it is not an easy water, the fish seem to have brief but intense feeding periods but then may be inactive for long periods. However, hard effort is rewarded with some superb quality, very hard fighting fish.
Carp dominate but there is aslo a good head of Roach and Rudd that run to specimen sizes, there are also Perch, Tench and Pike and the odd large Eel in the lake.

 

RIVERS

 GREAT OUSE

 

                                                      

 

The club's stretch of the Ouse extends from the Junction with the Old West at Little Thetford and runs some 1.75 miles downsteam.
Depth runs at around 12ft on average with deeper areas to 15ft. The water is reed and lilly fringed along most of it length and some 20meters wide. The river as all fenland waters has a fully mixed species of fish, dominated by Bream and Roach with a fair head of Tench which seem to prefer the marginal cover.

OLD WEST