Hayfield Lakes, South Yorks
Paul Wright heads to a commercial fishery complex with a rich pedigree where solid cold-water sport is guaranteed and solitary ‘flier pegs’ never rule the roost
WINTER fishing on commercials can be a little bit ‘boom or bust’ at times.
On many venues, the fish stocks can pack together tightly in certain areas as they seek warmth and shelter from the cold, and swims offering extra depth or some form of cover often attract the lion’s share, with a range of species taking advantage. Find yourself pitched up on one of these pegs and you’ll probably be in for memorable day’s sport, but the reverse scenario is also true, and those anglers forced to slot in elsewhere often struggle for bites in what can essentially be lifeless areas.
It’s an all too familiar story at countless fisheries across the land, but not all of them. That’s because there are a small handful that have been built in a manner that prevents this from happening most of the time. These waters offer plenty of attractive areas that serve as winter ‘hibernation spots’ for the fish, helping to split the bulk of the stock and spread them further afield.
The result is that many more of the pegs can produce great cold-weather bags, with far fewer proving to be barren.
Doncaster’s Hayfield Lakes is the perfect example of such a complex. Home to Dannie’s Island and Adam’s Lakes, it’s proven on numerous occasions this winter alone just how willing the fish are to spread out.
In a recent match the winner weighed in over 200lb, but it was the back-up weights that were even more of an eye-opener! Half of the entrants recorded over 50lb of carp and silverfish, taken from various swims dotted all around the lakes.
Paul Wright was the man who came out on top that day, and it was far from a fluke, with the Dynamite Baits-backed star having enjoyed plenty of hectic winter sessions at Hayfield in the past.
“It’s a very deep fishery with no shortage of open water to target and that encourages the fish to spread out more than they would on most other venues,” explained Paul.
“Carp, carassio and skimmers are the dominant species, and I like to adopt an approach that makes sure I will get bites from all of them during the cold weather conditions.”
Top class set-up
Hayfield Lakes first shot to national prominence a couple of decades ago when it hosted the prestigious Fish O’Mania final in the mid-1990s.
Since then, the complex h
