The best place to go fishing near me

REDMIRE POOL, HEREFORDSHIRE

The altar at which most carp anglers would love to worship.

This tiny farm pool shaped the history of carp fishing for decades most notably in the 1950’s when it produced British best carp for angling heroes Dick Walker and Chris Yates.

The popularity of this venue, which no longer contains any monsters, means getting a session depends on a Glastonbury-style phone booking system on a single day each year (usually January).

01989 770703, www.redmirepool.biz

RIVER TRENT, NOTTINGHAM EMBANKMENT, NOTTS

River fishing's most famous match venue

This historic match fishing venue has held numerous big matches over the years including a European Championships. Some of the sport’s biggest names have placed their seat boxes on these hallowed concrete steps. Bar the cost of parking your car nearby you can fish the stretch for free. It holds virtually every river species going.

Matchman Supplies: 0115 914 0210

RIVER AVON, THE ROYALTY FISHERY, CHRISTCHURCH, DORSET

The UK's most iconic river fishery

Arguably Britain’s most iconic river fishery, the Royalty is renowned not only for the famous anglers who have graced its banks but the fact that it regularly produces some stunning fish including barbel, chub, pike and game fish. Classic chalkstream fishing awaits those who visit but take a good pair of polaroids in order to enjoy the sight of fish moving over the gravel beds.

01202 485169, www.southernfisheries.com

SYWELL RESERVOIR, SYWELL, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

John Wilson's tench mecca

Once known as the tench fishing mecca, this 67-acre, council run water is steeped in angling history. Although it has never laid claim to a record for the species it was the go to venue for big tench to double-figures. Even John Wilson visited its sloping banks for one of his much-loved Go Fishing TV shows. Today there are still big tench to be had and the fishing is on the up thanks to efforts being made by the Tenchfishers group.

0300 126 5935, www.northamptonshireparks.co.uk

MARSH FARM FISHERY, MILFORD, SURREY

Crucian carp superwater

If you want to catch a crucian carp of a lifetime this is the venue to visit. Available to fish on a day-ticket, the fishery has three pools which hold crucians to 3lb plus and at least two of the pools are also prolific for tench. Summer fishing at its best.

Apollo Angling: 01483 428885, www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk

RIVER WYE , SYMONDS YAT, HEREFORDSHIRE

The most beautiful river venue in the UK?

We’ve chosen this place just for its sheer beauty. Surrounded by steep, forest clad, limestone cliffs, this stunning stretch of river will leave you breathless. The fishing isnt bad too with big barbel, chub, grayling, roach and pike in abundance.

Angling Dreams: 07976 908985, www.anglingdreams.co.uk

MAKINS FISHERY, WOLVEY, WARWICKSHIRE

Created by match fishing legend Billy Makin in the 1980’s this is one of the first commercial fisheries to emerge onto the UK angling scene. Still available to day-ticket anglers the huge complex has three phases with dozens of pools.

01455 220877, www.makinsfishery.co.uk

Steve Ringer carefully watching his tip at the wonderful Makins Fishery

CAERPHILLY CASTLE, SOUTH WALES

Battle with huge carp in a fortress

Who wouldn’t want to fish for big carp overlooked by the stunning views of a Norman castle? That’s whats on offer at Caerphilly which is a lake formed out of the moat from the original castle. You can literally position your baits against the castle’s medieval foundations but who knows how the carp got in there.

029 2088 5409

RIVER TRENT, COLLINGHAM WEIR, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

The most prolific barbel venue ever?

You'll need a bionic arm to fish this famous weirpool as the barbel fishing is often out of this world. Anglers often go there and catch as many as 40 fish in a single session including lots of PB breaking doubles.

Collingham AA, 01636 892573, www.collinghamaa.co.uk

BLENHEIM PALACE, WOODSTOCK, OXFORDSHIRE

Fish like royalty at the home of Winston Churchill- OHHHH YES.

The birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, this historic, Baroque style palace also boasts one of the most scenic estate lakes you could ever visit. Fishing aboard a punt for the resident tench, bream and big perch will make you feel out of this world.

01993 810520, www.blenheimpalace.com

CHEW RESERVOIR, SOMERSET

Target a pike of your dreams

Now the pike fishing mecca of Britain, there is nowhere else in Britain better to break your personal best pike than on this huge 1200 acre water. Monster fish to over 40lb show regularly, mainly during the cooler months and anglers catch them on a variety of methods including the fly!

01275 332339, www.bristolwaterfisheries.co.uk

ADAMS MILL, RIVER GREAT OUSE, NEWPORT PAGNELL, BUCKS

Tread the banks ofthe home of the biggest UK caught barbel

At first sight you wouldn’t believe this tiny, narrow section of the Ouse once held so many monster barbel including the current British record at a mammoth 21lb 1oz. In its heyday in the early to late 1990’s people would actually queue to get on this stretch. Today you can fish it by joining Milton Keynes AA for a respectable £43 a year

www.mkaa.co.uk

HORSESHOE LAKE, LECHLADE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Fish a true carp fishing great

Originally made famous for its Leney strain of big carp, Horseshoe has for years been one of carp anglings most sought after venues. Its history and traditional values are what attracts hundreds of anglers to the 62-acre water each year. There’s also a huge head of big tench and the pool is also popular with members of the Tenchfishers.

01367 253959, www.thecarpsociety.com

RIVER WELLAND, CROWLAND, LINCS

Bag-up on Ivan Marks' favourite venue

The stretch of river, between Four-Mile Bar down to Crowland, was once a favourite haunt of the best match angler that ever lived – Ivan Marks. In fact Ivan loved it so much the angling community chipped in to have a memorial stone for the Leicester hero installed on its banks after he died in 2004. Today you can fish for the section’s resident perch, bream, roach and pike on a day-ticket.

Deeping St James AC: 07808 429239, www.deepingstjamesanglingclub.co.uk

Go carp-crunching at this match superwater

First stocked with small carp in the early 1990’s this venue soon became one of the most prolific carp-crunching match waters in the whole of the UK. Even today, very few venues match up to the quality of its sport and the carp are as big as ever. What other venue can you consistently expect to catch 20lb carp on the pole? Nuff said.

07889 532563, www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Fancy a great weekend away, getting your hands on the latest tackle and accessories in fishing as well as hearing from some of the biggest names in angling. Then you may want to think about getting some tickets to The Big One Show. Save money on tickets and purchase in advance below.