Sherwood Forest Fishery, Notts
Tom Noton heads to a picturesque commercial where each water is capable of producing a memorable day’s sport
THE average size of a commercial fishery has grown drastically in recent years, with plenty of venues now home to five or more pools.
Often designed in a variety of shapes and styles, they aim is to provide a plethora of enticing options for their customers.
Having more than a small handful of waters onsite certainly keeps staff on their toes, with the essential jobs stacking up as a complex grows.
Initial intentions will almost certainly be to keep each lake in top tip condition and on an equal footing, but more often than not, some of them almost become an afterthought.
The ‘elite’ lakes remain impeccable, with better fish stocks and well-maintained swims, while those that have fallen by the wayside attract less anglers and gain a negative reputation.
Not all of the big commercials work in this manner though, with Sherwood Forest Fishery a shining example of how a five-lake complex should operate.
Five lakes are on offer at the stunning Nottinghamshire complex, and the enthusiastic new owners that took over the reins less than two years ago are determined to make sure that each and every swim has genuine potential to provide a blockbuster day of action.
Take your pick
The lakes have been constructed in a long line, with the towering forest backdrop visible from all of them. Maintaining the aesthetic beauty is clearly high up the agenda, with very few other commercials able to compete with the natural charm that greets its array of visitors.
Weave your way down the track – which has been significantly improved since the change of hands – and the first lake you’ll come to is Cavendish. Single banked and home to a mix of carp and silverfish, all of the crumbling platforms have been ripped out and replaced with new ones that provide space and stability.
Maunside is next up, and this is the ideal place for a newcomer, with the snake lake style water full of smaller fish that are guaranteed to provide bites from start to finish.
