Woodlands Lakes, Thirsk

Often hailed as Yorkshire's top commercial fishery, Woodlands Lakes boasts a number of varied lakes catering for match and pleasure anglers alike. The five main match lakes, Skylark, Partridge, Kestrel, Curlew and Wagtail, are all rectangular in shape and boast good heads of both carp and silver fish. In the warmer months, corn, luncheon meat and pellet fished both on the deck and shallow seem to work well here, but anglers are advised not to neglect the middle of the lake, where a small bomb fished with luncheon meat can also often produce. The smaller, old match and pleasure lakes are also solid with both silver fish and carp. Maggot and soft pellet fished short will often catch the silvers, while pole or bomb to one of the many islands fished with a bigger bait should tempt the carp into having a feed.

Tel: Craig or Jimmy Kent, Woodlands Tackle, 01845 526110.