I am going to do some travelling about this winter to see if i see any interesting lakes to give a go next year.These are a couple of the waters I am interested in and have never visited or know anything about;

1.Drax Lake
2.Claxton Brick ponds, near York
3.Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, near York

If anyone knows any information on these lakes then i would appreciate it.

Cheers Tim

have had a wonder around the sand hutton water a few years back i think its on the york and district,so they should tell you more,nice looking water,was told back then the biggest was 25ish,thats all i know.

Well oiled, morning.

Although i now reside in sunny Hertfordshire, I cut my teeth on many a Yorkshire water expedition!

1)You should really be able to find plenty on this mate?! In fact thats the reason I never bothered fishing it. Have you tried a search?

2)Claxton, lovely place when I last fished it in the late 80's, early 90's. Not a lot can be arsed with the walk. Sort of split into three lakes, two of which are the main body of water with a slim, shallow channel through to the third. Quite a few fish to just around twenty pound, think it had just been restocked when I last fished it, so don't know what the current state of play is. Very interesting topography, nice lake, used to be underfished.

3)Sand Hutton, visited at the same time, so unfortunately the info is a bit dated. Deep and moody gravel pit. Very steep banks and one of those deep, dark lifeless looking moorland pond type waters. Didn't fancy it but a much nicer prospect, and at the time prolific water is just further up the road, Park View.

Total contrast. Estate type lake, shallow, similar depth, silty here and there with gravelly bits where the fish had been. Nice and clear and if you use your nowse you could do really well on there using a bit of people and watercraft. Again over ten years since I fished it but can confirm commons to 16+ and at least one 20lb mirror.

Hope this helps, although you will have to do some further investigation as it's a bit dated.

What sort of fishing were you looking for as I may be able to offer a couple more ideas, out that way. From west Yorks as I used to reside in sunny Scarborough.

Which is where Elliot Symak grew up, remember 'My water', nice.

Cheers

CA

Cheers for the info.I have recently past my driving test so want to try a few new places.I am currently on Nostell and i am getting a bit fed up of the place.It isn't what it was like a couple of years a go.I am starting on Motorway next year, but want to give a few other waters a try.Preferably waters which are not heavily fished and hold some decent size fish.These are the only lakes I have heard of and thought i'd find out about them.If you can give me info on other waters you know of, then i'd be grateful.

Cheers Tim

Tim,

From what I understand Motorway isn't all that quiet but certainly on the circuit, if your after that kind of thing?

Decent sized fish? Not heavily fished. Unfortunately rare besties in Yorkshire as your well aware of.

Lightly fished waters that could hold uncaught 30's do exist though, in fact I know. Mentioned a couple of possibilities of them before on this site so get seraching Tim.

Also, buy the book called 'Yorkshire Stillwaters', A5 size and crammed with water info, although probably a bit dated now but certainly relevant.

Buy an ordnance survey map and look for Yorkshires version of the 'Colne Valley', North Frodingham down. Some will be familiar, some not, some hardly fished.

Regards

CA

Colne Alone,

Cheers for the advise.I have a few venues in mind that could possibly hold some large fish.I feel really selfish by not mentioning them though.

I want to give motorway a chance as it is near me and i like the look of the place.I'll keep searching though.

Cheers Tim

Hello

Yes, finding waters I think is certainly one of the hardest things to do in carp fishing/fishing these days. Especially up there as the competition is so intense due to the limited choice.

Keep em' to your chest and good luck fishing and searching.

Regards

CA

I am looking for a water next year as well having been out of carping for 8 years, and have enquired about Ripon Racecourse lake.I had a couple of mates fish there 7ish years ago and where connecting with mid doubles with a splattering of uppers, but have no idea how hard it has been fished since,i heard a lot of lads from Bradford had turned up a year after but havent heard any reports.
Nice size water with 2 islands and under features. Run by Ripon Piscatorials has far as i know.

Try a look at some of these:-
Wentworth lakes at greaseborough.
Selby is always good for some decent fish (may struggle in winter)
Wakefield book-horbury lagoon (both sides)-one side has some good carp in it.
Newmillerdam!! did a thirty this year-lots of walkers and bream anglers
Motorway is the place to get your string pulled from a good fish. It's only busy at peak times, and stays empty for the rest of the year.
AI pits give a lot of variation.
Cromwell lakes nr Newark will give lots of runs.
Messingham at S****horpe will give action but smaller carp.
Langholme, the next 100 carp are going in, in the next couple of weeks. Anglers fishing it at the moment are having terrific sport.
The Trent continues to fish well.
shops to ask in
erics of leeds
chapmans s****horpe
carp cabin at sheffield

Andy how good is your info about Newmillerdam? I walk round it on a regular basis, never seen a Carp Angler on there. I know it is supposed to have some Carp in it but I have never seen any signs. E-mail me or we can talk at the meetings this year.

Chris Betts

Chris
Info is pretty good, I have seen a couple of anglers on there, but they are very tight lipped (to me anyway). The tip is.. don't go too far from where you park near the dam. have the odd walk after dark and I think you may see one or two on.
Our first meeting is on the 16 th Nov, gary Bayes. see you there.

Cheers Andy. Not a water that really interests me, but will have a look. Gary Bayes, that should be interesting, especially now. Will be there.