Newton Park
Trakker carper, Jake Taylor gives you all the info you'll need for a carp hauling trip to one of his favourite venues
One of my top venues for fishing in the winter, especially to get a bend in the rod is lake called Newton Park, run by Bathhampton Angling Association. Situated within the grounds of Bath Spa University, this is a great winter water as it
has a very big head of carp for the size of the lake. Some 300 plus carp reside in the lake, which is not very deep. Making this is a brilliant lake the whole year round, but one that really comes into its own through the winter.
The fish range from around 10lb up to a mighty 32lb fish, with the average size of fish being the mid-double mark. A lot of people tend to fish for a bite at a time with small bags of pellet – a good tactic for sure. Although, I have always put a bit of free bait out around my hookbaits - it seems to catch more fish, as well as bring in the bigger carp.
My favourite bait to use at Newton Park in the winter is Baitworks Monster Red boilies. I like to put out between 30-50 baits over each rod and a further ten baits over each rod, fed regularly to keep that sound going into the lake, as I’m sure a little thing like this makes a difference on a small runs water. The lake has a two-rod limit, which is a good thing as when you get it right you struggle to keep one rod in the water! Regularly receiving double takes.
I have three favourite pegs on the lake, one of which is halfway-up on the footpath and you can see on the map the areas I like to fish from this peg. The last peg where the stream runs into the lake and lastly the peg on the point are the other two. Where again you can see my hot spots marked on the map. They are my favourite pegs as that is where I have found to the most action to be enjoyed and have also marked on the map where the bigger fish seem to hang out etc.
Newton Park is a club water so you have to be a member to fish the lake, which then costs just £3 a day after the small £35 membership fee. You can walk the lake as it is on a public footpath before you buy the membership to see if it is what you are looking for. The lake does get very busy, but don’t let it put you off! As there is some great fishing to be had.
The vital information you need...
Biggest resident: 32lb
Average fish size: Mid-double
Rough fish stock: 300 plus fish
Going bait: Baitworks Monster Red
Rod limit: Two rods
Location: Newton Park, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BN
Website:bathampton.org
Prices: 12 month membership £35; day tickets there after £3 (not available on the bank)
Known winter areas/swims: See my three favourite swims marked on the map.
Jake's top tip: Don’t be afraid to keep flicking out a few boilies.