Hi,

Me and my partner are looking to go camping - I've been told that we're allowed to camp near a lake!

Can anyone suggest a venue that's camping/holiday first and fishing second?

I'd like to camp beside the lake but with the fishing more as a secondary perk - we'd want to get a normal tent and would want to have a drink and play some music in the evening etc.
I guess I'm kind of looking for the equivalent of these 'lodge by the lake' venues but want somewhere I can put up a tent instead.

Would hate to turn up to a normal/more serious venue and be one of those anglers that I hate myself making noise and disturbing the peace!

I'm based in Essex and fine with traveling 2-3 hours to get somewhere.
Did consider the River Chelmer which we visited for the first time this weekend for a walk. We talked about getting or renting an inflatable kayak so that could be fun...
Thought we could find somewhere along the stretch away from others etc. but the only problem is that A) I've never fished any river before and B) it seems I'd need to buy an annual membership to fish it (only want a weekend...).

Any suggestions?

In reply to Post #4
That's an interesting 'like' you've got there...

In reply to Post #40
Have to agree, I unfollowed pretty much everyone who solely posts capture shots.
When I catch a nice fish and want a photo it's exciting... constantly looking at what someone else has caught... not so much...

I quite like Dave Lane on insta, posts are quite varied...

In reply to Post #1
Likes -

1. Being out in nature.
2. Having something to focus on/a distraction from every-day life.
3. Sound of the buzzer!

Dislikes -
1. Having to carry everything to and from the swim.
2. Lakes full of people squashed in next to each other.
3. Those sessions where nothing goes right!

In reply to Post #1
Can't tell you why it's better as I haven't had the other two but I have the Advanta one and pretty happy with it!

What do you all do with the rubbish you accrue during a session?

I've only done a couple of nights on my lake which has no on-site waste disposal - the first time I left the bin bag outside as I figured I didn't want to attract anything into the bivvy but within a few hours of darkness something had nibbled a sizeable hole in the bag and I was lucky I didn't all end up in the lake!

The second time I put the back back in my coolbox but seems a little unhygienic putting that with my fresh/yet to be eaten food and drink...

Figured I could zip it in my tackle bag; are the usual fishing bag materials animal proof?
Wouldn't want to attract something in the bivvy because it can smell food through the bag nor do I want a hole nibbled in the bag...

My final thought was put it in the bucket with my bait but that would probably get a bit messy once it's all glugged...

In reply to Post #7
Yeah, must admit I did consider the danger of yobby kids while fishing the Gorge... Didn't consider airguns but not at all surprised at the suggestion...

Think if I did manage to get a ticket for it it would be just for going for a few hours during the day/evening.

In reply to Post #5
I hope it does change hands at some point, would love to fish it.

I appreciate why people keep lakes quiet and ultimately if someone owns a lake they can do whatever they want with it; but it always seems a little wrong to me to have so much secrecy and barriers up against visiting a place of what is essentially just nature. Especially when the only reason you or I can't go there is because we don't know someone... just doesn't seem fair... but I guess it is...

In reply to Post #4
Liking the look of that! Might have to take a visit...

In reply to Post #2
Just saw the other thread - bit of a coincidence for someone else to post about it at the same time considering how 'unknown' it is!

Hate the whole 'need to know someone' aspect of this... what if you don't know someone????

Thanks, might give them a go - saw a couple of people bivvied up there a few months ago but from what I can gather online there's no carp... maybe there is now.

Wouldn't mind fishing for a few silvers for a couple of hours after work to be fair...

Other Arena Essex Thread:
http://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=429396