The Approach Fisheries

Polite notice to all members, all vehicles must be returned to the car park after ‘dropping’ your gear at the chosen peg. It appears a few are failing to do this. Anyone without a winter permit but wanting to book a session must do so only via either the lake phone or Facebook message no other way will be treated as a booking. Members failing to abide by the above will be asked to leave, Thanks Sam.

This is the app to download for all winter ticket holders.

Winter Syndicate up and Running.
As of today, it's all systems go for those of you that have a winter ticket. Gate codes have been changed, you should receive a text with the new codes later on today. The cameras are working a treat, if you want to download the app (recommended) before you arrive on site it's called CamHi, once you arrive for the first time the bailiff will log you in to the live feed. If you want to see how busy it is the meantime the lake phone is back up and running and on site 07508987545. Still plenty of winter tickets available, any members that are interested can contact us via message on here or the phone number above.

Winter Syndicate
After the response we've had to the previous post asking people to register their interest in winter tickets, we've decided to do things slightly differently this year. From the 1st of November to the 1st of March the online booking system will no longer be in operation. We will be issuing 50 winter tickets at a price of £200 each that will entitle the holders to come and go as they please. There will be a live video stream avaliable to them so they can asses... how busy the place is before they decide to fish. Day tickets will still be available during this period but there will be no advanced bookings, it will simply be a case of phoning up on the day in question to asses whether there is room and then paying cash on arrival. Any members wishing to purchase a winter ticket should text me their name and e-mail address to 07940749959, I will send them an invoice for £200 through our paypal account, first 50 people to respond will get the tickets.
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Winter Tickets
Few pictures of fish that have been out in the last week or so to wet your appetites before I offer you all the chance of a winter ticket. Price will be £200 and will entitle you to as much fishing as you can handle between the 31st of October and the 1st of March. Applicants should give me a call on 07940749959 to register their interest.

New Fifty!!!!
Apologies for the lack of catch reports this month, been a busy boy. One or two captures that couldn't go unmentioned though, not least of which was the new addition to the A-team, banked by Wayne Brides at 51lb9oz in peg 13 (top picture). I'd be very interested to see any more recent pictures of the fish in question if anyone can oblige, the only one we've got to press is Alan Smith's capture back in 2015 at a weight of just 34lb believe it or not. As you'd ex...pect at this time of year, there's been quite a few forties grace the bank: Ricky McGee (Central Bottom) made his first session here one to remember by landing one at 48lb in peg 18. Lee Walton marked his return to the place by catching one in peg 11, which also produced the goods for man or the moment Scott Dowse (bottom right) who followed up his recent capture of the 'Big Leather' in style. An all too rare night-time bite produced the goods for the aptly named and ever consistent John Moon in peg 3 whilst peg 18 did this business again and reminded Jamie Sokell (bottom left) exactly what he'd been missing.
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This Week’s Results
5 x 40’s. 9 x 20’s and 12 doubles.
As is usually the case in September, a few more of the big girls seem to be making an appearance again. ... Luke Adams had a twenty and a double from peg 20, Michael Atherstone landed three doubles in peg 2, Ryan Grogan (pictured) had one at 40lb and ounces from peg 3, Paul Owens (pictured) had it right off in peg 8 landing 2 forties, four twenties and seven doubles, Lee Burden had one at 45lb and two twenties from peg 2, Spaniel Paul landed a couple of twenties in peg 11 and Dowsey (pictured) had the big leather at 45 lb from peg 18.
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This Week’s Results.
1 x 40. 3 x 30’s. 6 x 20’s and 5 doubles
I’m afraid I’ve not had time to chase people for catch reports this week, but I’ll post the results I know of. It’s been a lot slower than usual anyway by all accounts so I don’t think I’m missing too many.... Derek Wood had one at 35lb in peg 18, Billy Leaming had a twenty and a double from peg 3, Paul Owens had a couple of doubles in peg 20, Sam Airey did a thirty and a couple of twenties in peg 15, Mark Jackson landed a Thirty from peg 16 and Ruben had a five fish haul in peg 11 topped by the pictured fish at 41lb.
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This week’s results
1 x 50. 1 x 40. 4 x 30’s. 13 x 20’s and 21 doubles.
Kieren Van Velzen had another thirty at 37lb from peg 15, Callum Brady followed him in and had one himself at 33lb along with a double, John Whitby had a twenty and a thirty out of peg 3, Paul Greene had a double in 11, Lee Smith had a twenty and a double in peg 19, Mark Hardcastle did a double in peg 1 as did Lee Humpleby in peg 14, Tom Shearman had a thirty at 34lb along with six twenties from... Peg 15, Ben Samari did a twenty and a double in peg 8, Kevin McConnell had a double in peg1, Pete Wilson had it right off in peg 2 landing three scale at 52lb4oz, a 34lb leather and a couple of twenties as well, Geoff Hogg had a double in peg 11, David Burrows landed a couple of twenties in peg 18, William Martindale had 5 doubles in peg 21, Steve Young had a nice dark one at 44lb from peg 9, Sam Airey had couple of doubles in peg 3 and Scott Mansley ended up with 6.
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This week’s results.
2 x 40’s 3 x 30’s 14 x 20’s 17 x doubles and 5 singles
As promised, now that temperatures seem to be back to normal, I’m going to start putting catch reports up again. Slightly different format from here on in. I’ll start with a brief synopsis of what’s been out during the previous seven days followed by the names and peg numbers that did the business and the best of the pictures.
... Alex Ridehalge a twenty and a stocky from peg 18, Lee Smith three twenties and a couple of doubles from peg 19, Alan Smith had one at 44lb8oz and a couple of doubles from peg 7, Dowsey (shop) had a twenty and a double from peg 3, Shane Claydon had 3 doubles from peg 8, Jake (shop) had a twenty from peg 16, Jason Basset had a twenty in peg 13, Kevin McConnell had 3 stockies and a double from peg 9, Tom Baker had a twenty from peg 3, Oliver Mather had a twenty from peg 8, Kyle raper had the ‘big common’ at 44lb along with a thirty, a couple of twenties and a couple of doubles from peg 11, Zander Pendle had a stocky from peg 12, Richard brown had a twenty from peg 5, Kieran vanVelzen had a 39 and a couple of doubles from peg 15 and Stu Bingham had a 38, a couple of twenties and a couple of doubles from peg 19
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Catch reports
Sorry for the lack of Facebook posts over the last few months. I like to see catch reports on here just as much as the next man, thing is, every time I put anything up the lake gets a lot busier and I get inundated with new membership requests. Now in a normal year that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but this certainly hasn’t been a normal year. We’ve gone from a restocking (250 fish) to a flood, to very late spawning and have endured some of the most extreme h...eat and low oxygen levels that I have ever seen. I know we closed the lake for a week after they spawned but in hindsight I’ll probably shut it for a bit longer next year, anyway the crux of the matter is that from a fishery management perspective it’s been necessary to keep the place quiet up until this point, hence the lack of Facebook posts. Obviously there’s been plenty of fish out, particularly over the last week or so as the weather cooled down a bit. I’m not going to post old catch reports but I think It’s fair to say that the website could do with updating so I’ll put the best of this years fish pictures up on there, and just to spice it up a bit, I’ll give a free 24 hours fishing to anybody who sends a picture that I use.
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Still too many pictures flooding in to do individual catch reports. Here’s Reece Lisle 38lb from peg 15, Jepppy Flick 49lb from peg 21 and Colin Murphy 49lb from peg 21. The fish are all well up in weight so there could be a few surprises in store over the next month or so. Pictures of Black Spot at 50lb+ to follow.

*** Plenty more Fish ***
First weekend open and it was certainly productive. I’m still awaiting pictures of the two 49’s that we’re caught from peg 21, but rest assured there will be a catch report on those to follow. The three fish pictured below were all caught this weekend, Robbie Hackers with a well earned 45lb mirror and Wayne Brides with a 37, not sure how big Scott Kelly’s fish was but there’s certainly only one ‘looker’ in that particular shot lol.

*** Rule Breaking ***
I had to send two anglers home and ban them from the fishery this morning. Refunding over £600 worth of future bookings wasn’t pleasant but don’t for one minute think that spending money with me gives you the right to break the rules, they’re there for a reason.

*** Plenty of Fish ***
Over 50 fish out in the last week. Far too many to compile full catch reports for but I’ll wet your appetites with pictures of the better ones. The water level has dropped dramatically and we won’t have any problem accommodating everyone that’s booked on this weekend. (Just make sure you bring your waders)... Cant be long before one of the really big girls make an appearance, question is, just how big will they be?
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Lake Reopening
Well the last few days of sunshine seem to have been just what the doctor ordered. The water level has dropped dramatically, so much so that I’m going to open it back up for fishing from tomorrow onwards. I’ll be limiting the numbers allowed on initially, and anyone wanting to fish next week needs to be aware that the water level is still high. There won’t be any vehicular access, all cars just be parked in the car park external to the otter fence, so make sure you bring a barrow. It’s probably worth mentioning the need for waders and the lack of room to accommodate big Bivvys in some swims as well. Any other questions, just give me a ring.

Lake Finished Flooding
Right, good news this time. The River has stopped coming in, the water level of the lake itself has gone down 6’ in the last hour and the pumps are up and running again. At no point has the water level in the lake risen above the top of the otter fence, happy days. So long as we don’t get much more in the way of rain within the next couple of days, I would predict we have at least some of the pegs open within the month.

*** Lake Flooded ***
Not good news I’m afraid, for those of you that aren’t already aware, the river broke its banks again this morning. It’s certainly not the worst one we’ve seen, and it doesn’t look like the water level will be over and above the otter fence this time. Obviously the lake is now closed until its fishable again, we’ll keep you updated on the likely timescale as soon as the water stops coming in and we’ve got the pumps up and running again. I’ll go through th...e booking system and refund the money back into wallets again as soon as I’ve had some sleep, been up all night waiting for it to breach. Thought I’d post this video to illustrate the point that we don’t lose fish to the river when it does flood, contrary to public opinion, I will categorically state that the willows fish that are in there already did not get there under their own devices lol.
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*** Overnighters ***
Well it's been an eventful opening weekend with plenty of fish caught despite the adverse weather conditions. I'll post some catch reports once the weekend's run it's course but here's a picture of Andy Beach and a 32lb mirror to wet your appetites. Being as there are only two anglers booked on today, i thought i'd take this opportunity to offer members the chance of a quick overnighter. I'm afraid you won't be able to book them in advance but if there is still availability from 12 noon onward on any given day then simply give me a ring and i'll book you on for that night. Fishing will be from 7pm until 7am, with access to the site from 5pm at a cost of £15.

great lake stunning fish and great lads . also top shop at good prices and some of the beat deals about im in there more or less every week buying something and they are allways willimg to come up with a good deal when buying a few things top lads in there too

excellent run fishery with top lads and top ballifs keep up good work

Well run fishery with great friendly members, an awesome fish stock, not an easy water but the rewards are amazing.

Tough going with the weed but will definitely be back as it's worth the challenge for the chance of catching anything Upto 60lb,also great bunch of lads that I met lakeside

Top venue love the place and stunning fish at big weights got into the big fish at the weekend giving me 3 new pb's awesome lake and anglers that I've meet can't see me fishing anywhere else now. It's a credit to the people the run the place and the anglers that fish it

They don't come much better than this. no stupid rules, only good ones and a great bio-secure policy and equipment,. very well run venue with excellent swims and fantastic stock of fish. love it.

Lovely lake to fish, great setting and good company. Tom the bailiff has excellent knowledge of the lake and is always there to help

Great lake, great fish and a cracking set of lads, a top quality fishery!!

Fished willows a few times now and it's a very well run venue . good set of lads and has some big fish in there .

Excellent. Wonderful place. Will be having a few sessions here to see if I can get a fish of a life time.

Different gravy all together. After one session I'm dying to go back. Great lake, superb pegs since Tom and the lads did them... And the fish... Well... ����

Been a few times now and is better each visit it's improved over the past few years

Awsome place and a really friendly and helpful bunch not met anyone there that wont talk or offer advice. Good sensible rules safe and secure. Really well managed.

Awesome lake, cracking stock of big fish and very friendly bunch of guys that fish it, managed a 43lb pb last year, the land of the lumps !!!

Amazing venue! Smashed my pb first time at the lake, bring on many of more sessions on the water!

A very enjoyed first visit first two nights - love the set up there- Tom very helpful on arrival - didn't catch but that really didn't matter - clearly a very special venue ���

1st timer this weekend - brilliant water and location, weed an interesting and demanding factor. Great bunch of lads and a big thank you to Knobber, Scott and Gary" for all your kind advice and time. Fell in love with the place and will be back! Thanks.

nice lake im going back could do with a quad bike and a trailer its a fucking long walk round the lake but well worth the trip thanks

great lake stunning fish and great lads . also top shop at good prices and some of the beat deals about im in there more or less every week buying something and they are allways willimg to come up with a good deal when buying a few things top lads in there too

excellent run fishery with top lads and top ballifs keep up good work

Well run fishery with great friendly members, an awesome fish stock, not an easy water but the rewards are amazing.

Tough going with the weed but will definitely be back as it's worth the challenge for the chance of catching anything Upto 60lb,also great bunch of lads that I met lakeside

Top venue love the place and stunning fish at big weights got into the big fish at the weekend giving me 3 new pb's awesome lake and anglers that I've meet can't see me fishing anywhere else now. It's a credit to the people the run the place and the anglers that fish it

They don't come much better than this. no stupid rules, only good ones and a great bio-secure policy and equipment,. very well run venue with excellent swims and fantastic stock of fish. love it.

Lovely lake to fish, great setting and good company. Tom the bailiff has excellent knowledge of the lake and is always there to help

Great lake, great fish and a cracking set of lads, a top quality fishery!!

Fished willows a few times now and it's a very well run venue . good set of lads and has some big fish in there .

Excellent. Wonderful place. Will be having a few sessions here to see if I can get a fish of a life time.

Different gravy all together. After one session I'm dying to go back. Great lake, superb pegs since Tom and the lads did them... And the fish... Well... ����

Been a few times now and is better each visit it's improved over the past few years

Awsome place and a really friendly and helpful bunch not met anyone there that wont talk or offer advice. Good sensible rules safe and secure. Really well managed.

Awesome lake, cracking stock of big fish and very friendly bunch of guys that fish it, managed a 43lb pb last year, the land of the lumps !!!

Amazing venue! Smashed my pb first time at the lake, bring on many of more sessions on the water!

A very enjoyed first visit first two nights - love the set up there- Tom very helpful on arrival - didn't catch but that really didn't matter - clearly a very special venue ���

1st timer this weekend - brilliant water and location, weed an interesting and demanding factor. Great bunch of lads and a big thank you to Knobber, Scott and Gary" for all your kind advice and time. Fell in love with the place and will be back! Thanks.

nice lake im going back could do with a quad bike and a trailer its a fucking long walk round the lake but well worth the trip thanks