Carp

In 2002 the fishery described Old Bury Hill as “particularly famous for its carp, pike and zander fishing”, with “450 double-figure mirror and common carp, 50 over 20lb and 2 around the magical 30lb mark” [Archive, 24 March 2002].

A news story from the same period gave a slightly different count: around 450 doubles averaging 16–18 lb, 50 to 60 twenties averaging 23–25 lb, and four fish around 30 lb [Archive, 28 January 2002]. Both come from the fishery itself; the archive shows both rather than choosing one.

For corporate “Big Fish” days the fishery quoted carp averaging 18 lb and reaching 30 lb, fished mainly from the bank in spring and summer [Archive, 12 December 2001].

In mid May 2001 Steven Grant landed a 30 lb 8 oz mirror from peg 42 on the Long Bank, fishing about ten feet from the lilies. It was reported as the biggest carp from the lake for 30 years; the lake record of 33 lb dated from the early 1970s [Archive, 28 January 2002].

His rig, as reported: a soft carp nugget on a 15 lb hair, a 2 oz in-line lead fished as a bolt rig, a size 6 hook and 15 lb line. Two days later he added a 28 lb 8 oz fish [Archive, 28 January 2002]. The original news page is restored at its old address.

“No matter whether one is casting to the island or float fishing against the extensive lily beds along the Long Bank using hook paste made from Bury Hill’s own Ewos Pellets, there is always plenty of action to be found.” Boilies were allowed only from 1 October to 31 March, and winter produced multiple catches of specimen carp from bank and boat [Archive, 24 March 2002].

The swims named here are marked on the illustrated swim map.

Bonds Lake was stocked for numbers: in 2002 its carp averaged 3–5 lb “although fish to 12lb are taken regularly” [Archive, 24 March 2002]. The former operator later gave an average of 8–12 lb [Operator site, 26 October 2026]. See Bonds Lake.

Temple Lake, built in 2002, became the specimen water, with more than a dozen carp over 30 lb and fish over 40 lb [Operator site, 26 October 2026]. See Temple Lake.

Later catches surface in the fishery’s own reports: a 22 lb common for Lee Bacon in the week ending 18 February 2007 [Archive, 24 February 2007], and carp to 37 lb mentioned in a February 2009 newsletter [Archive, 13 April 2009].