Creedy in winter
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CREEDY LAKES, NORTH DEVON
I get the odd email asking about day ticket waters around North Devon that anglers can fish whilst on their holidays, so I'm going to do an occasional trip to some of the better known ones to give people an idea of what they're like. I'll try to be totally honest about them in terms of size of lake, size of fish, etc. If anyone wants me to visit a lake that they were thinking of fishing, let me know.
First up will be the fairly famous Creedy Lakes. If 20lb commons are your thing then it's worth a visit!
Directions
From Barnstaple, just follow the A377 to Crediton (approx 30 miles). On arrival drive through the high street, down the hill, and just as you're leaving the town, there is a turn on the left for the A3072. Take this turn and head out of the town. Just after you leave the houses and drop down hill, there is a turn on the left. Take this road for about 150 yards. Turn right, and after approx 300 yards there is a sharp right hand bend. Follow the road around, and the entrance to the lakes is 500yds or so on the left.
The Lake
Fishing is allowed from 5.30am till 11.00pm, and you're allowed on from 5am. Ticket is by a self-service kiosk in the car park. There is a small grassed area where you can bivvy up if you fancy doing a couple of days. The whole lake could be accessed by wheelchair in the summer.
Creedy's rules
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The lake is a mature tree lined lake, roughly three acres, and triangular in shape with two small islands. It averages around 3-4ft in depth, but there is a deeper area around the boathouse. The lake is spring fed (look for them ) and also fed from a small lake above the dam. The lakebed is a mix of firm gravely patches and softer clay areas. The swims are all gravelled, and with the heavy clay soil of the area they bake rock hard in summer. I use single sticks, but a pod is definitely easier in the summer months.
The small lake is stocked with lots of small carp and tench and is ideal for younger anglers (or older ones wanting a fish!). The stock of the small lake has just been boosted by the netting of small fish from the main lake.
The Stock
No idea of actual numbers…. but there are loads in there! If I catch five fish I would expect at least one of them to be a twenty. Most fish are around low to mid doubles, and commons dominate the catches (well, for me at least!). The fish aren't shy about showing themselves, so location is normally dead easy. Most of the bigger fish are around mid 20's, though they have topped 30 in the past. I think its more a case of too many fish in there, and not enough bait going in, so the netting is probably a good thing.
Dave with one of Creedy's double-figure commons he took in winter
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The Cost
2 Rods Day - £6.00
2 Rods Evening - £3.00
3 Rods Day - £9.00 (5.30am-11pm)
3 Rods Evening - £5.00 (5pm-11pm)
The Fishing
Creedy is definitely in the runs water class, but it can be tricky at times. The fish are fairly heavily pressured through the summer and have seen it all. But so long as you're sensible, things will happen.
My favourite swims
Car Park Swim - First swim you come to (obviously!) and you have to give way to disabled anglers if asked. The fish at times really stack up in this swim, and it seems to throw up a lot of the bigger fish. Fishing tight to the little island or in the channel around it, or casting to the weedbeds, nothing much more than an underarm flick or little lob is needed. The fish will always show where they are feeding due to the clay bottom - big red clouds everywhere! Just cast a bag to them.
Far swim right hand bank - one on the top of most people's list during the summer (and most of the year). Fishing to one of the shallower areas, and you also have the dam supplying some extra oxygen when it's hot. Again, the fish will show you where to put your baits. The swim behind this one is also a cracking swim, but you are a bit cut off if there's someone in the other one that knows what they're doing.
Fifth swim along the far bank - great snag tree to the left of the swim, and there are a couple of the springs out in front of you. The next three swims are all fairly good on their day - don't ignore the margins!
Top Finger - the lake narrows down into a finger and finally into a stream/outlet, and the stalking can be brilliant along here. Its surprising sometimes how many fish get in there, but again, can get cut off from the main lake. Overlooked though.
Creedy in summer
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Don't worry if you can't get in to one of these, all the swims will produce.
Methods
Everything works on here. A lot seem to fish with stringers and bait fairly lightly, but if you want a big hit it's worth sticking a lot of bait in and sitting on it. Particles (apart from sweetcorn) are banned, so a mixture of pellets is a great feed item with a liberal sprinkling of boilies. Pop-ups or bottom baits with PVA bags score well, as do sticks and The Method. Anything really!
Don't overlook corn, and they definitely show a preference for red maggots when there are a lot of bloodworms about - cast them straight into the weed. If you have a baitboat, then try and get into one of the swims on the right hand or road bank that has access to the main island - fish guaranteed! Floater fishing is a worthwhile (though sometimes frustrating) method, I've found zigs work better than fishing on the surface.
So, to sum up, a cracking little water with an excellent chance of a few decent fish. Does get really busy at the weekends, so try and go mid-week - though even then it's sometimes packed during the school holidays. Definitely worth the effort to get there early, and better if you can stay late. I quite often take the risk and just do the evening when its really hot, nice to turn up and find the fish turning on as it cools down from that long, hot summer's day.
Mmmmmmmmmm summer!
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