FISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS

All anglers 12 years and over must have a valid Environment Agency rod license. Allowing each angler up to two rods.

Barbless hooks ONLY -  preferably a maximum size of 10

                                                                                      NO Bait restrictions.

Please, no Keep Nets

No fixed rigs

Fishing from allocated pegs only

Treat all fish with care

Minimum of 8lb line for Carp fishing

Do not leave your rods in the water unattended at any time

Do not carry fish back to the water. Use a net or sling

Unhooking nets must be used for specimen fish

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Boilies, particles, and ground bait are to be used in moderation

Float fishing preferred

THE OLD GRAVEL PITS

The old gravel pits were originally agricultural land, the original farm name was Chicory Farm and the field name was Holmes. Strangely the field name Holmes can mean water meadow!

The site was opened for sand and gravel extraction in 1968, the gravel was used mainly in the construction of the York Bypass, and the quarry was finally closed in 1986.

We bought the gravel pits in 1988 and we have kept most of the land as it was then, with some landscaping at the entrance and down the drives to the cabins. The site is a refuge for many water birds and animals. The vegetation, which has gradually colonized the water edges, has made the whole area attractive and varied. The site will appeal to the nature lover, bird watcher, fisherman and those just wanting to get away from it all.

The main fishing lake (Digby Lake) contains Rudd, Tench, Bream, Roach, Eel, and Ide, and we have now moved carp into this lake.

Gravel Pit Fishing Information.

Gravel pits are formed by sand and gravel extraction. The removal of material creates a highly irregular lakebed — gravel bars, islands, channels, deep holes, plateaus, and silt pockets all within relatively small areas. This varied bottom structure is exactly what carp use to their advantage: they can be held in one area of the lake while the rest appears completely devoid of fish.

The water is typically extremely clear in gravel pits, especially on mature pits with established plant and invertebrate communities. This means carp can see rigs, lines, and bait from a significant distance — stealth, finesse, and presentation quality matter far more than on coloured commercial waters.

Gravel pits reward anglers who invest time before fishing it. The most reliable fish-holding features on any gravel pit:

• Gravel bars: The most sought-after spots. Where the gravel was deposited by extraction machinery, shallow bars formed. Carp patrol these bars, feeding on snails, caddis larvae, and naturals. The end (or “nose”) of a gravel bar is typically the highest-productivity point
• Drop-offs: Where the lakebed drops sharply from a shallow shelf to deeper water. Carp patrol along the drop-off edge, particularly in warm weather when they’re moving between shallow and deep water daily
• Deep holes and channels: In cold weather, deep water provides thermal stability. Carp retreat to the deepest accessible water in winter. Channels between bars funnel fish movement
• Marginal snags and overhanging trees: Carp feel secure near physical cover. Overhanging willows and alder trees on the margins of a gravel pit will hold fish year-round, often in surprisingly shallow water