Janson Fishery, Notts
Dan Webb visits a venue where prolific carp action is on the cards even at what is a notoriously tough stage of the season
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MOODY, unpredictable and lethargic – three adjectives that can be used to sum up the behaviour of the carp living in most commercial fisheries during the late winter months.
Although they’re a species that will compete very aggressively for any available food during high summer, they tend to sulk the cold season away, and making them the primary target of your session right now can be quite a gamble.
With the water still chilly, the fish can ball up in shoals, meaning most venues only have one or two swims with the potential to produce a few bites.
There are always exceptions to any rule, however, and Tomo’s Pool at Nottinghamshire’s Janson Fishery is certainly one of them.
The original water on the complex that was dug approximately 30 years ago, it’s home to a large head of carp that run from a few ounces to low doubles. And, unlike at the overwhelming majority of commercial pools, each of the 18 swims can produce the goods, with action possible from start to finish if you play your cards right.
Spoilt for choice
The design of Tomo’s is what makes that possible, with the lake boasting a wide array of features that give the stocks reason to buck the trend and not congregate in big numbers.
Acentral island can be reached from almost every swim, with overhanging trees and brambles providing protection from the harsh winter elements.
The combination of marginal cover and an average depth of 3ft-4ft also prove enticing to the fish, with the corner pegs looking particularly ‘fishy’.
The unmissable sunken tree at the back of the lake is also a magnet for the carp and can be targeted from two or three swims.
Most of the time my colleagues and I here at IYCF appreciate how fortunate we are to have the jobs that we do, but there are times when creating content can pose real problems, particularly in winter. So, when tackle expert Dan Webb, from our sister title AnglingTimes, told me that he had a brand new Drennan Acolyte Commercial Feeder rod to put through its paces, it was obvious that a fishery where he could winkle out a few roach and skimmers wouldn’t be much use. To be able to fully assess the rod’s merits, he needed a venue where he could test its power against hard-fighting carp, and I figured that Tomo’s Pool was just the place!
First impressions
Having driven from his Northamptonshir
