Venue Spotlight – Furzebray Carp Lakes

Furzebray Carp Lakes

Furzebray is a brand new lake, though to look at it, you wouldn’t guess. I’ve only fished it once, but it’s a lake that I think I’ll be visiting again – if not for the size of fish, for the looks of them!

They are all “proper” scaley carp, rather than the Simmon’s strain that all seem so common these days, but are packing weight on – the current lake record at just over 18lbs was stocked 10 months ago at 13lb. The owner of the lake, Tony, is an experienced carp angler who knows exactly where he wants to go with it, and good luck to him!

Directions

Furzebray Lakes is located at South Molton, North Devon, which is about 30 minutes from the M5 motorway via the A361 North Devon Link Road.

Once in South Molton square, take the B3226 travel South West. Then take the second left opposite Horse Pond Meadow Ind Est, signpost Kingsnympton & Georgenympton, travel 500yds, the lakes are on right by the last bungalow. Go down the lane and follow the signs for Lakes.

Google Map Link

The Lake

The lake is approximately 3 acres, and has 10 swims. They have all been planned so that as far as I can see, there cant be any arguments over who’s water is who’s. The swims are all level, and nearly all of them are – wait for it! – grass! I just hope it stays that way as combined with the fact that some of the swims have been left small and surrounded by trees adds to the “experience”.

The two swims I cast a lead around in were both stacked full of features – gravel, silt, clay, weed, plateau’s – they are all in there. The fish seem to like getting into the shallow areas too – indeed I didn’t fish one good looking swim as there wasn’t much in the way of depth variation, yet there were fish crashing fairly consistently through the evening.

There is also a smaller “pleasure” lake available – Pads Pool.

The Stock

There’s approximately 150 carp in the lake, with a few more selected “target” fish to come. The strain of the carp is a pleasant change from the normal scale-less footballs…..

The Cost

Specimen Lake

• Day ticket 6am – 10pm £ 11.00
• Under 16 & concessions £ 8.00
• 24hr ticket £ 18.00 Under 16 & concessions £ 14.00
• Weekend bookings, whole lake £ 275.00 Friday to Sunday 48 hr, max 9 anglers. Week booking whole lake £ 600.00 max 9 anglers. 
• Non fishing guest £ 2.00 for 24h & no charge for day only. 

Pads Pool

• Day tickets dawn till dusk £ 8.00

NB: ALL FISHING MUST BE PRE-BOOKED 01769 572653

The Fishing
Difficult for me to say much as it’s a brand new lake – the fish have already spawned this year, so good fishing should be available through the year. Keep it simple, and feed a fair amount of pellet as they will be used to it. The normal corn/meat baits and simple rigs should be fine, though with boilies being regularly fed by Tony, they will come more to the fore – indeed I caught my fish on boilies.

Furzebray looks as if it could be one to watch – it has everything needed for a decent carp water, and it’s definitely worth a try if you are down here. I know I’m going to be going back……
PS – sorry for the lack of pictures of the fish, the batteries ran out in my camera so the ones caught during the night went back without being photo’d and luckily I had one just as it got light, though I had to use my phone perched on a bankstick and the self timer!