Has anyone fished here recently? How busy has it been?

In reply to Post #1
I've never fished there, I do know a number of people who do - and from what I've heard, it's an absolute nightmare.

Rammed 24/7, buckets behind buckets, that sort of thing.

I gave it a go for a night as I was working away in the area. There was one space in the corner of the c**ppy Bluebell lake on a Tuesday night. Bait boats everywhere on a tiny lake, tents the size of Centre Parks, flood lights in the swim and the first time I've ever seen an actual TV aerial on the the roof of a bivvy!

My idea of fishing hell, but obviously popular for some.

In reply to Post #3
When are you going back

Seriously I'd rather dodge dog s*#t and K drinking loons on my local parks than be amongst that.

I suppose you can tick it off the list now any way .

I agree it sounds like carp hell

In reply to Post #3
When did you go? That sort of behaviour is no longer allowed apparently (although I haven't been there for a long while)

In reply to Post #5
Was probably about 18 months ago now.

My first visit to bluebell was early October, and there was plenty of pegs available, I wouldn't say it was quiet but sort of what I expected. I went back early November and same again. I'm planning on going Wednesday for 5 nights but with it been a 2 an half hour drive I don't want to be wasting my time if I have no chance of a peg hence why Iv asked.

In reply to Post #7
You have to go with an open mind to what water you fish on the complex yes you will have your preferences.
Dont understand why people turn up at the gate at 8 and join a queue as most people wont be looking to leave till midday onwards.!! Fished Mallard last month and had a good hit but got where I wanted to be. Does seem to be a lot on a jolly and the constant smell of drugs was the only downer on my last visit

Members also stitch up the going pegs on Kingfisher between them but that can happen on any water...
So if you see a bivvy in a swim for 48hrs and no one materialises then don't think they've died or somethings wrong they've probably gone home for a few days.
It happened when I was there last Summer

I will be going down Wednesday afternoon as I realised last time I went it is the best time to turn up. I am open to fishing any lake apart from bluebell lake. As for stitching up the best pegs you get that on most lakes these days, but each to there own. It gives me more satisfaction if I catch from a part of the lake no one expected.

In reply to Post #10
Don't rule out sandmartin either

In reply to Post #11
Honestly that is the lake I fancy fishing on,

In reply to Post #1
Full of undesirables..... stoners... one leaves and you think thank god some fresh air and then another drops in... I will never go back there again...

This was my experience of Bluebells.

As the saying goes... it is what it is...

I put aside a weekend or two every year since the late 90s to visit bluebell. It was always busy but if you kept your eyes open and kept on your toes you'd get on fish on any of the waters. It was brilliant.
But like many/all day ticket waters since lockdown in 2020 the place is just silly now. I haven't been in 2 years and unless something significant changes I cannot see myself ever going again. Shame as some of those kippers are awesome.

In reply to Post #14
Obvious to me a lot of people worry too much about what's left and what's right of them. I have been to the complex many times and fish for stunning fish in stunning surroundings, never once have I been remotely concerned about anything, apart from the barbless rule.