Thorney Lakes, Somerset
An in-depth guide to the best stillwaters, rivers, and canals that you can fish for the price of a day ticket
Russell Hilton visits a tranquil rural venue with an estate lake feel that provides a dream package of features and mixed stocks
SOME people will tell you that perfection simply doesn’t exist in any walk of life. The image that you paint in your mind is often too far-fetched, with the actual reality never quite as ideal as the dream scenario.
But, close your eyes and picture what your perfect fishery might look like. There’s a solid chance that it will be feature-filled, with attractive margins and lily pads blossoming throughout.
It would also have a shape that fits the eye, with no shortage of enticing bays and arms that looked packed with fishy surprises. Hopefully, there would be an element of mystery as to what you might hook next too, with a wide range of species lurking beneath its surface. The banks would be well-kept while still maintaining a natural aura and, last but not least, there would be just a short walk from the car to your chosen hotspot.
Plenty of fisheries tick a decent proportion of these boxes, but very few can claim a full house.
There’s a solid argument, however, that the stunning Thorney Lakes comes pretty close to providing the whole ‘dream package’.
Located close to the Somerset town of Langport, the venue is found within the ample grounds of a caravan and camping park, with a long and winding lane separating the accommodation zone from the fishery.
It has all the hallmarks of a traditional estate lake, with dense woodland boxing you into your own little slice of paradise.
Local angler Russell Hilton is an ardent canal and river enthusiast, spending very little time on lakes. But, having heard nothing but good things about Thorney, he was willing to make an exception.
“I decided to take my young son for a day on the bank and, having read some really positive reviews about the venue, I headed for Thorney,” said Russell.
“It didn’t take me long at all to realise why everyone was raving about the place, with everything from the setting right through to the variety of the fishing proving a real hit.”
Balancing act
Well-manicured lawns create a path for you to barrow your kit around the lake, with parking available behind a good proportion of the swims when the ground it dry.
Glance over the
