D'Arcy Hildyard Lakes

MEMBERS ONLY

To fish on the lakes you must be a member of RADAS.  

Until further notice methods allowed are artificial fly and coarse fishing but not spinning or lure fishing with plastic, wood or metal lures. 

Coarse fishing is with natural baits only. 

This is a new venture. In the past the lakes have been stocked with rainbow trout. We do not know if there are fish in the lakes or what species exist. We need anglers to fish the lakes and give feedback. Therefore you MUST complete a catch return after every session. 

Here is the link to the catch return form:  https://shorturl.at/n4Wx4

The data collected will help us when we discuss stocking. 

Anyone fishing must have a ticket. 

Do not leave litter. Close gates behind you. Be polite and respectful at all times. Do not do anything to cause damage to the land, fences or livestock and comply with requests from the farmer / farm staff whilst on his land. 

Beware of cattle. 

No wading. 

NO NIGHT FISHING

*Please note D'Arcy Hildyard Lakes are on the other side of the river from Brompton Lakes. Do not go to Brompton Lakes, they are NOT ours. 

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Natural Baits

"Natural" baits for coarse fishing generally refer to baits that are either found naturally in the environment or are unprocessed food items. Here's a list of some common and effective natural baits:

Invertebrates:

• Maggots: The larvae of flies, a classic and highly effective bait for almost all coarse fish species. They come in various sizes and colours.
• Casters: Maggots that have pupated (turned into a chrysalis). They are also a very popular and effective bait, especially in winter.
• Pinkies: Smaller than standard maggots, often used for smaller fish or when bites are shy.
• Squats: Even smaller than pinkies, primarily used as a groundbait additive to hold fish in the swim.
• Worms:
  • Lobworms (or Canadian Nightcrawlers): Large garden worms, excellent for bigger fish like carp, perch, barbel, chub, tench, and eels. Can be used whole or chopped.
  • Dendrobaenas: Smaller than lobworms, good for a variety of coarse fish.
  • Brandlings: Small, reddish-brown worms found in compost heaps, known for their strong smell. Good for perch, grayling, roach, and rudd.
  • Redworms: Small worms found in manure, effective for bream and sometimes tench and carp.
• Bloodworm: The larvae of gnats, a deadly bait for canals and challenging fishing conditions. Often used as a hookbait or as a feed (joker).
• Wasp grubs: Excellent for chub, fished singly or in bunches.
• Snails: Good for chub, grayling, and roach.
• Freshwater mussels: Excellent for tench, and also taken by carp.
• Crayfish (tails): Good for chub and carp.
• Slugs: Particularly effective for chub.

Plant-based / Kitchen Baits:

• Bread: Extremely versatile and affordable. Can be used as:
  • Crust: Floated on the surface for carp.
  • Flake: Pinched onto the hook from the inside of a fresh loaf.
  • Paste: Soaked and kneaded into a paste.
  • Punch: Small discs punched from sliced bread, perfect for roach.
  • Liquidised: Used as a cloud bait or mixed with groundbait.
• Sweetcorn: A highly popular bait due to its colour, sweetness, and natural amino acids. Effective for carp, tench, and bream.
• Hemp: Cooked until the white kernel shows, deadly for roach. Also used as loose feed.
• Tares: Cooked until soft, used as hookbait for roach.
• Wheat: Similar to hemp and tares.
• Berries: Any berries that grow near the water and drop in are natural food sources, especially for chub.
• Potatoes: Can be cooked and cut into cubes.
• Chickpeas: Readily taken by many coarse species, including tench, chub, and roach.
• Peas: Similar to chickpeas.

Meat-based / Prepared (but often considered "natural" in the angling context):

• Luncheon Meat: A very popular and effective bait, especially for carp, tench, and chub. Can be flavoured and coloured.
• Prawns: Highly attractive to many species, including large perch, tench, and carp.
• Cheese: Can be used in chunks or grated and mixed into a paste. Effective in colder waters.
• Cockles: Good for tench, carp, chub, and barbel.
• Mackerel / Sardine (pieces): Often used for predatory coarse fish like pike and perch, or as an attractor for other species.

While some of these baits (like luncheon meat or bread) are processed by humans, they are often considered "natural" in the context of fishing as they don't involve synthetic attractants or complex manufacturing processes like some modern baits (e.g., highly engineered boilies or pellets). The key is that they are recognizable food sources that fish would encounter or be attracted to in their natural environment.