Kiveton Waters, South Yorks
Matt Godfrey visits a three-lake complex that is determined to become a major player in the competitive commercial fishery market
YORKSHIRE is a hotbed for commercial fisheries, with intense competition among rival venues to attract regular anglers.
Those that have bustling banksides often also have several factors in common, with top class fishing, good access and great facilities chief among their the selling points.
Once visitors experience this trio of attractive qualities, an unswerving loyalty soon follows.
Some fisheries accept they are well down the
popularity rankings, but others fight back and try to hold their own against the big players.
Sheffield’s Kiveton Waters has suffered a drop in footfall in recent years, but the plans hatched by the new management are a clear display of their bold intent going forwards.
The three-lake complex is owned by the Canal & Rivers Trust, but the organisation is now linking up with a highly-regarded outfit that is on a mission to rejuvenate flagging fisheries.
MATT’S TACKLE
Pole Guru Aventus Zero 900
Elastic White Daiwa Hydrolastic
Mainline 0.15mm Guru N-Gauge
Float 0.4g Guru Bobbie
Shotting Bulk set 14in from the hook with a small dropper above hooklength knot
Hooklength 6ins of 0.13mm Guru N-Gauge
Hook Size 14 Guru SLWG
Embryo Angling is the brainchild of Korda boss Danny Fairbrass, and has a proven track record of turning abandoned lakes into sought-after fisheries where enormous carp are present and competition for swims is high.
The Family Fishing arm of the organisation specialises in providing opportunities for those that prefer a shorter wait between bites, with float and feeder enthusiasts being the core customers.
Despite having it under their wing for just a couple of months, plenty of work has already taken place to provide Kiveton with an instant boost.
Angling star Matt Godfrey spent many an hour there in his early years and recently returned to sample the sport that’s now on offer.
“I used to love fishing at Kiveton when I was a junior, because it was close to home and the perfect place to get plenty of bites,” explained Matt.
“Other commitments led me elsewhere and I haven’t been for a long while, but there is little doubt that the plans in place are going to make the venue more popular than ever before.”
Bold ambitions
Fish stockings have been high up the agenda, with thousands of stunningly-marked small carp in the 1lb-3lb bracket purchased.
Agood proportion of those have gone into Eves, with the remaining fish introduced into Acorn (previously Ly
