Clay Pool
The Mixed Coarse Fishery
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Clay Pool: The Mixed Coarse Fishery
The Clay Pool is a thriving, man-made, reed-fringed body of water of approximately 1.2 acres. Situated on the south-west side of the site, it offers a diverse and exciting mixed coarse fishing experience for pleasure anglers.
Stay & Fish in Serenity
Consider staying in our comfortable lakeside accommodation for exclusive fishing access to our lakes four days a week. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the tranquility and excellent fishing Star Carr Lakes offers.
Booking Clay Pool
You must be a member of one of our syndicates to fish the clay pool.
Syndicate members must Pre-book to use the Clay Pool. The lake is open Wednesday to Sunday (7am to 9:30pm Mon-Fri and 7am to 8.30pm Sunday.) Send a text message to Steve on 07494 706627 to book. Booking guarantees you a place at the pool. Pegs are allocated on arrival.
- Accommodation Guests: Accommodation Guests: Guests staying in our accommodation also need to pre-book Clay Pool if you wish to fish on Wednesday to Sunday. This is done via text message. Text Steve on 07494 706627.
Secure Your Peg!
Book Your Clay Pool Session via text message…
The Clay Pool
The Water
The Clay Pool has been significantly developed. When we acquired the site in 2016, it was a smaller pond. Extensive work effectively doubled its size to 1.2 acres, creating a central wildlife island. Old timber platforms were replaced with solid clay pegs, ensuring stable footing for anglers. We now have 15 well-spaced pegs, designed so anglers are not facing each other and can fish to the far bank.
Depths average about 4 feet two rod lengths out, dropping to 7 feet in the middle, and up to 6 feet in newly excavated areas. This ensures ample depth even in harsh winters. Since remodelling, the lake’s margins have matured beautifully with reeds, rushes, and irises, giving it a natural, established look.
The Residents
Originally, The Clay Pool had a high density of smaller fish. Through careful management and relocation, we’ve developed it into a true mixed coarse fishery. You can expect Common, Mirror, and Ghost Carp up to 5lb, Tench up to 4lb, Bream up to 4lb, Crucians up to 1.5lb, Ide up to 2.5lb, Perch up to 2.5lb, and Roach and Rudd over 1lb. Occasionally, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, and even Barbel are caught. This water also serves as a Tench nursery to help grow fish for transfer to our other gravel pits.
The Breeding Area
The narrow section of this lake is sealed off and is not for angling. This area is being used to breed Bream and Tench to ensure our lakes stay stocked into the future.
What to Expect
In warmer months, when Tench and Carp are actively feeding, mixed species bags of 100lb+ are achievable, with 40+ Tench possible in a single session. The Clay Pool is great for pleasure anglers using a pole or float near the margins, or a feeder across to the far bank.
Silver fishing (Roach, Rudd, Ide, Skimmers) is excellent all year round. Even in winter (November to March), anglers can catch 25-40lb bags, with average silver fish around 8-12 oz and bonus bigger fish including carp and occasional winter tench.
Key Baits & Tactics
- Near Margins: For Carp and Tench close in, use larger baits like meat, mussel, or big pellets on a short pole with robust tackle to handle lively fish.
- Silver Fish: Quality summer roach and rudd can be caught on a short pole using pellets, maggots, casters, or punched bread.
- Feeder Fishing: A small method feeder cast tight to the far margin or into the middle will attract Tench, Carp, and Bream.
- Float Fishing: A waggler setup works well. Try a hair-rigged prawn to tempt the large Perch patrolling the margins in summer.
Help us
Please help us by photographing and weighing each catch and sharing that information with us at the end of the day. That helps us manage our fish stocks and maintain fish health.