Don't know what got me thinking about this. Probably bordem to be honest or me age.

There are a few venues out there that I used to hear about all the time reading the weeklies and the like growing up. That you just don't hear about anymore. Whether that's because there not doing fish anymore. You can't fish them now. Or there doing fish and being kept on the hush hush.

Sonning Eye... home to the Eye.. is it still in there, swimming around the Thames. Or no more? Can you still even fish it? Has anything come out of there anywhere near the size of the Eye?

Dorchester Lagoon... Orchid lake in Oxfordshire bigger neighbour. Home to big commons on a national scale at the time. Can you still fish? Is it still doing fish?

Queensford lagoon & TC pit. Not Carp related. But at one time throwing up record sized Bream. Was there ever any Carp in them. Are they still fished

Tring Resis. Again once home to record sized Tench.

Name escapes me. The water the Carp Society got hold of up near Jodrell bank. Home to Leney strain Carp. Of a huge size at that time for a water in that neck of the woods.

These are just a few that come to mind. Are there any you gents can think of that have disappeared of the radar for one reason or another.

In reply to Post #1
Wraysbury. Day ticket.
Wellington CP Fish kill
Roach Pit. Fish kill
Dinton. Under the radar.
Yateley CP. Old age, day ticket.
Ashmead. Day ticket.

In reply to Post #2
Not sure where your info came from, but Wraysbury is not a day ticket, Dinton is very much on the circuit radar and the Car Park is doing bigger fish than it did in its heyday (also not a day ticket).

In reply to Post #3
Also Wellington lost fish but still has a head of large fish and is an expensive ticket

In reply to Post #1
Farmwood pool. I had the pleasure of fishing it before most .

In reply to Post #5
That's the one Farmwood. What ever happened to it?

In reply to Post #3
When I say day ticket i meant they are run differently.

Dinton, yes if you know. Today's anglers won't know most of the waters in this thread let alone the fish they once held.

CP, had its day big fish or not.

In reply to Post #1
Sonning - still on the Reading Ticket. No further sign of the Eye but has done big fish since. Currently a bit of controversary there as regards flooding and fish movement.
Roach Pit - part of CWA since 2013 - Most originals dead but stockies have grown well.
Farmwood - I gather now run by John Seal as an invite only private syndicate.

In reply to Post #1
The eye came out a few weeks ago from sonning.

In reply to Post #9
Really?
Wow if that's true that's an amazing achievement as it hasn't been out since the expansion of sonning I believe,I hope I'm wrong though and I know of a water in the midlands that's done a 43 few years ago still in there been out few weeks ago apparently at 46 and very hard to fish and very very dodgy regarding the locals too

In reply to Post #9
You sure? Seen the pics? It's done at least 3 different fish over 49 on the past 3 years, none are the Eye.

In reply to Post #6
Farmwood as mentioned quite rightly is or was a private syndicate. I have lost touch since moving further North.

In reply to Post #1
There are a few old school venues I can think of
Summerleaze
Taplow
Erehwon
Frampton

To name a few

In reply to Post #9
I personally struggle to believe The Eye has shown up after all these years.
That fish was a biggun in 1990. By 2000 it was mid-50. After DL's capture it was never seen again despite some of the countries best anglers spending a looooong time looking for it.
Of course some are good at keeping secrets and anything is possible but I think someone has their wires crossed in this case.

In reply to Post #14
Farmwood was being run by the Seal family.
I joined and barely fished it when Carp Society had it.

In reply to Post #15
After a phone call last night yes its still a very private syndicate has been restocked and doing lovely fish . I did forget that Martin edwards (united) son owns it . Some very special fish inhabited that lake . Paul selman believed in the 90s that it contained two fish that would have smashed the record named shoulders and colossus both seen and photographed swimming about but never caught.

In reply to Post #7
Dinton is all over social media. you'd have to be blind and deaf to no realise it..

you wouldn't fancy the CP then nowadays? 40 carp to 52lb in recent years. I'm happy having a go even if it has 'had its day"

In reply to Post #16
I fished a water with John's son, Ben, a few years ago. Lovely chap. I bent his ear a lot over his years as a Hutchie tester in the nineties and on Farmwood. It sounded an incredible place.

In reply to Post #18
I believe its Ben that is running it now . It was extremely exciting as no one knew what was in it. I got the chance years before the carp society took control and only a few had the chance to fish . In my opinion (which does,nt count for much )Along with redesmere it was probably the north wests most important carp water .

In reply to Post #17
"you wouldn't fancy the CP then nowadays? 40 carp to 52lb in recent years. I'm happy having a go even if it has 'had its day"

Not now, did back in the 90's. The above doesn't match my current water by a long way.

You getting excited about 40 carp to 52lb in the famous CP tells me you may not appreciate the history behind it. I guess you like a runs water. Low stock and famous fish was what it was all about, weight didn't come into it for most back in the day .


"Dinton is all over social media. you'd have to be blind and deaf to no realise it.."

With two friends on it social media doesn't come into it.

In reply to Post #20
I heard an interview with Robin Dix about the Car Park recently. He has returned to fishing there and seems pretty happy with the current set up. As he caught Heather etc back in the day I'd probably value his opinion, he knows a bit about the history.

In reply to Post #20
cool mate, you do you.

I can only fish it for what it is today, was on the complex back when it had some originals left so fully appreciate what it was all about, and carp history in general. But of course you know exactly what makes me tick, you must have put new batteries in your crystal ball!

it is still an admirable stock for a historic venue, that was all I was stating. it still produces good fish to this day.

but lets be honest, Dinton is everywhere though.

In reply to Post #9
That made me chuckle....that fish has long gone. Quite a few others have been dropped into the other pit over the causeway.

Chucking a few more into the mix:

Chertsey
Ellis
Theale big lake
Mill Lane

In reply to Post #21
Great

In reply to Post #21
It's on his doorstep though, literally. Would he fish it if it was any distance away?

In reply to Post #25
I don't know, you'd have to ask him. Plenty of alternatives in that area though, isn't there..

Tbf almost every water mentioned in this thread is still going strong. Guys are just better at keeping quiet and/or respecting publicity bans nowadays.

In reply to Post #27
That's probably because you are hard pushed to get into a decent swim on many waters. Once word gets out, its all downhill.

In reply to Post #28
Would the baston fen waters not be worthy of a mention?

In reply to Post #23
Is Theale Big lake Theale Lagoon and managed by Big Pit Angling? If so it is fished but has publicity bans in place with no named anglers allowed on there (so I've been told)

In reply to Post #30
Yes... That is the Lagoon.
There are known/sponsored anglers on there, but it is very difficult to bypass the waiting list by offering large amounts of cash, as certain individuals have discovered

In reply to Post #31
I've spoken to a few who want to get on there. Wish I had the time to have taken the ticket when offered, very little chance of getting on there now. Some nice fish from what I've seen

In reply to Post #32
You have a rather nice ticket though, Rich!

In reply to Post #29
Embryo (Korda) have them now. Invite only.

Abit off topic but there's a complex of lakes near me on day ticket one of which only holds a fish that I'm sure goes 50 the right time of year, there's very little about it online or on forums, hardly see anyone fishing. Has less than 20 fish I believe. Very hard water apparently

In reply to Post #34
thats incorrect, embryo have there own lakes up the road from the old baston complex

In reply to Post #36
The ones over the road?

In reply to Post #14
Regarding the Eye, another thread on here, possibly no longer available, mentioned the fact that there were strong rumor's that the fish was caught at the start of the season and moved to a nearby water where it subsequently perished. That would have been over 20 years ago now that it was supposedly moved ...

In reply to Post #37
roughly half a mile up the road, they are the only lakes around there that are fenced

Colne valley waters.

Rodney Meadows.
Orlitts
Colnbrook
Mayfield

All under the one banner at one time, all doing big fish.. boyer leisure, wasn't it? Never hear anything about them these days.. Are they still fisheries?

In reply to Post #39
Gotcha

In reply to Post #40
Rodney syndicate
Orlitts club water
Coln and Mayfields syndicates

In reply to Post #16
It's in my eyes the holy grail of Northern carp waters. Virtually impossible to get on and still contains some absolutely ridiculous fish but you will never hear anything about the venue or the fish. You don't get many waters like that especially up this end, has that mystique about.the place

In reply to Post #43
It is indeed and long may it continue to be so, by the sounds of it.

Re Paul Selman, or it might have been Bill Cottam, though I'm sure it was Paul, they did a stint on Lymm Dam and declared it not to have much over doubles, I think this was only a couple of years before I fished it for 2 starting in 1989. I was walking back after packing up and 2 lads were weighing a 27.5lb Mirror so much for that!

I always expected good fish from LD but it's proximity to the road made it perfect for relocating fish. The commons in there were like a cross between a wildy and a river, good god they could move, I've never had any fish other than a Grassy move like those fish.

In reply to Post #44
What's in there these days? -I pass Lymm Dam daily and only ever seen the odd double cruising the surface

In reply to Post #45
That sounds like a real shame if so. I used to walk the dog round there even when not fishing, on hot summer days you could see good fish on the Church side from the 'cliffs' for want of a better word.
I haven't been there for at least 5 years, Bay Moulton took it on after I believe LAC refused to pay towards any platforms (may be wrong, whispers and all that). I saw the 1st few pegs being built near the reeds church dip side.

It had some great Pike in it too, though I feared for them. The old bailiff that came round warned us they were being poached for food, signs went up asking folk to report signs of static lines with lures/blades on. A week or so after I did a stint the Mrs godfather weighed a 28lber iirc for a lad who caught it as he had no scales.

In reply to Post #46
Fished it a few times as a lad and heard there was big carp in there but never seen anything
And I have walked it quite alot.

Fun fact-ian browns house backs onto it... Right hand bank as you look at the dam from the road

In reply to Post #47
Some very nice houses on that drive

In reply to Post #47
Near the Waterfall?

In reply to Post #49
I'm not aware of the waterfall. If you look on Google maps there's a private road that some of the houses back onto the dam, it's one of them.

Sooty and sweep used to live a stone throw away too

In reply to Post #49
Baycliffe the road is called

In reply to Post #50
It was a weak Stone Roses gag.

In reply to Post #52
Ohhhh now I feel like a tit 😂
I'm more of a heavy rock fan

In reply to Post #43
There are a handfull all no publicity and all virtually as you say impossible to get on .

In reply to Post #45
Still some good fish in there seen a pic or a scraper 30 common and apparently there's a mid 30 ghost common, also afew mid to upper 20 commons.

In reply to Post #55
That's good to hear. I had a look at the Bay Moulton site last night, the common pictured looks very much of the shape I remember catching at high doubles, just filled out a bit, nice strain of fish that! £54 per year to fish just Lymm Dam, bargain!

Your not alone Phil, the Stone Roses would have gone over my head too, I was thinking it might be the inflow at the back where the bridge goes over

In reply to Post #56
Not just me then 😂

Yer I had a look at there site and belive it was stocked a few years back so might be one to watch in a few years

In reply to Post #56
The club have been putting lots of work into the lake, rebuilding pegs and stocking new fish when necessary. Definitely one to watch.

In reply to Post #23

cwa?

In reply to Post #58
They have indeed, doing a great job. I was out of the loop but my friend who's sadly now passed away used to help with their accounts and he kept me informed as he knew how much I like the Dam.

Another water I don't here much about, naturally not publicity ban. Sale Water park, a lot of the older big Carp passed on but some good new ones coming through.

In reply to Post #59
Some lovely waters on that ticket. Alan Cooperman owns them.

In reply to Post #59
I was on Moulsham the first year it opened, in fact was the last ticket I had before knocking it all on the head, would love to see what it was like now

Great Linford Lakes near Newport Pagnell. Tickets at one time were sold on a debencher scheme which gave you many lifetimes of fishing. Run by the late Len gurd Quite a few lakes onside. Two that spring to mind. Apologise if there wrong.

Blackhorse?
Arboretum?
Redhouse.

Is the scheme still going? Can you still fish them?

Taplow
Summerleaze
Elstow
Withy Pool
Kingfisher lake (Norfolk)

In reply to Post #64
Withy Is closed doors invite only
Elstow has been filled in

In reply to Post #65
I thought it was just Elstow 1 that had been backfilled?

Another one to add to the list:

Woburn Abbey

Is that on the grounds of the Safari park?

In reply to Post #66
Yes it's only one of the Elstow pits that's gone.

Woburn is definitely still a fishery. I know a lad on there. Lovely looking place. Now fenced. You can still be kept up all night by the sounds of lion shagging.

In reply to Post #67
What's the fish stock like in Woburn Abbey?

It's a very expensive ticket isn't it?

In reply to Post #68
I'm not 100% sure on the stock. He's a good angler and I think he's caught most of his target fish in about three years. So I'm guessing there's not that much to go at. From memory I think it's about £1000 a year, so definitely not a cheap ticket either.

In reply to Post #70
Interesting place by the sounds of it

Especially if you can see and hear the animals

I think the only time I've seen it mentioned in the press is an old carpology piece by James Armstrong and an even older article in Carp Addict

In reply to Post #68
woburn was about £1200 when I fished it you only get 9mths fishing as they have shooting on it from Nov also you need crb check from the police and interview with the duke of bedford and you need to ring every time you fish and when you leave hope that helps