Rookley Country Park
Southern carp catcher, Adam Clewer gives you all the advice you'll need for a successful session at one of his favourite venues
Situated on the picturesque Isle of Wight, Rookley Country Park is quite unique, and boasts an impressive stock of carp. Rookley is in fact a Holiday Park, set in rolling countryside and offering a host of accommodation and entertainment to would-be holidaymakers. The complex houses two fishing lakes, the smaller is a great beginners water, with a generous stock of single and double-figure carp. Tackle can be hired on-site, and Tim Oatley, who runs the fishing, offers tuition and excellent advice.
The Specimen Lake is the water that lures me to the Island. For a water of its size (two-acres), it offers the carp angler a number of features to target in pursuit of the 130 or so carp that swim in its waters. Those numbers sound impressive on their own, and with 100 plus of those fish weighing in excess of twenty-pounds and twenty over the magical thirty-pound mark it really is a special water.
However, it’s not what I would consider an ‘easy’ runs water. As with many open access waters, fish well and you will often succeed - assume that it will be easy and you may end up eating humble pie. In the winter small Hi-Viz hookbaits score well, with Mainline Cell proving reliable bait all year round.
As with many waters of this size, stealth can make a big difference in catching the carp. Fluorocarbon main line, flying backleads and normal backleads are always in my tackle bag when I’m fishing Rookley. During the warmer months the fish can be quite active, and a stalking approach, or at the very least one rod fishing in close can work well.
During the colder months I’ve enjoyed success fishing with the small Pineapple Dumbell pop-ups from Mainline, sometimes fished over a light scattering of 10mm Cell boilies. Simple rigs work effectively; hooklinks of coated braid with a few inches removed near the hook often doing the trick.
Living in Southampton, there have been times when I’ve caught the ferry on a day-only basis, had a great day’s fishing and still made it home for tea. My most memorable day was one such trip, which resulted in a 32lb mirror!
Although the lake is well stocked, my experience suggests that big beds of bait can put the fish on edge. Feeding the swim with regular baiting appears to hold the fish for longer, which in turn can result it prolonged success. Tim runs the fishery superbly and at £10 for 3 rods per day and £24 for 24hrs, Rookley is very reasonably priced. Booking is advised but not essential.
The vital information you need...
Biggest resident: 40lb-plus
Average fish size: Mid-twenty
Rough fish stock: 130 fish
Going bait: Mainline Cell, Carp Company Fruity Nectar in the colder months and Carp Company Ice Red in the warmer months
Takeaways: There are various takeaways - ask at the fishery for menus
Local tackle shop: Tim's Tackle is onsite, 01983 721675
Rod limit: Three rods
Location: Rookley, Isle of Wight, PO38 3LU
Contact: 01983 721675
Website: rookleyfishery.co.uk
Prices: £12 per day, £24 for 24hrs
Facilities: Toilets, onsite tackle shop and angling tuition
Known winter areas/swims: Most areas will produce through winter
Adam's top tip: 10mm Cell boilies scattered loosely (I used a match anglers catapult) fished over the harder areas. Also, never overlook the margins!