Center Parcs Sherwood

I've been visiting this family holiday parc since the second year of it being opened, some 19 years ago. There are other parcs in England at Elveden (Thetford), Winfell (Cubria) and Longleat (near the lions!). So here is your plan. Book a holiday at www.centerparcs.co.uk promising the kids unlimited swimming, play grounds etc (they are FREE), the wife a day at the aqua sauna. Then you go fishing.

If you want large fish there are carp to 26lb 4oz, (banked a few weeks ago), and thousands of golden rudd. When I say thousands of them I might mean millions! 30 in an hour is an ok hours fishing if you fish it properly. They recommend sweetcorn or luncheon meat from the on-site supermarket but if you want to catch loads in a short period of time take maggots or casters, fished on the drop till you find at what depth the rudd are feeding at. I've heard of rudd up to 2lb but I've not seen them.

There are lots of carp here as well, these can been seen at the Pancake House before having your meal! Take a loaf of bread and marvel as 20lb+ mirror and common carp feed at your feet. But watch out for the swans and geese taking the bread from your childrens hands.

My last few hours fishing here was crazy as I netted 35 carp to 14lb, only a couple were doubles, but they all fought like Billy`O` as many had never been banked before! They spawn a couple of times a year when the conditions are correct.






Back to my short session. The bait I used was sweetcorn fished with the method. My method mix is made up of pellets from various companies all mixed in together and mixed up with p.v.a binder and groundbait. All this is then mixed up with lake water, normally done the week before I go, and left to stand a day. This I then freeze and take out of the freezer a day before needed.

The lake itself has not many features but what you can see. The margins and islands are the main ones. But also look out for bubbling fish. The fish here don’t show themselves too often but they do like a good fizz-up! As you would expect this mainly happens early in the morning and late in the day.

Tickets cost £6.50 for a day, £10 for the weekend (Friday to Monday), £13 for the mid-week (Monday to Friday), the week will cost you £22.

Please get your tickets before you fish from the Boathouse situated near the Pancake House and the beach. Be sure to fish the fishing area only.

Have a nice holiday.

David Williams