My Return To Netherwood Lakes

By "return," I should clarify. I've been lucky enough to visit Netherwood three or four times previously alongside Liam, where he managed to land some truly incredible carp and a handful of beautiful tench. Those trips proved invaluable, giving me a real insight into the venue, the character of each swim, the subtle features that make all the difference, and the kind of knowledge that only comes from time spent waterside. When it finally came to targeting those little Tincas myself, I wasn't starting from scratch. I was starting from a great place, and what a place it is.

Netherwood Lakes is one of those venues that feels almost hidden from the world. A tranquil, tucked-away gem that reveals itself slowly as you push through the treeline. The water stretches out before you, gin-clear in places and dark and mysterious in others, fringed by dense beds of lilies that sit perfectly still on calm mornings like a painting. Beneath the surface, lush weed carpets much of the lakebed, giving way to clean gravel bars that rise sharply before dropping into silty gullies. The kind of features that get a tench angler's heart racing. Reed-lined margins provide sanctuary for fish, and on the right morning, with mist still hanging low across the water and barely a ripple to disturb the surface, it's the sort of place that reminds you exactly why you fish.

Having not really targeted tench in quite some time, I couldn't think of a better place to rekindle that passion. There's something about tench fishing that gets under your skin. The slow, deliberate bite, the powerful, dogged fight, and those unmistakable deep green flanks breaking the surface. Netherwoods felt like the perfect stage to renew the acquaintance, and joining me for the session was my trusted wingman, Marko. Though I should be upfront about his priorities from the off. Tench? Not on his agenda. Marko had one thing on his mind, and one thing only: carp. Each to their own!

We made our way to the point peg, which turned out to be a cracking choice. It opened up a sweeping view across the lake and offered two distinct fishing angles, swims fanning out both centrally and to the left. Marko, naturally, claimed the left, and I settled into the centre. Two anglers, two missions, one beautiful morning ahead of us.

The tackle I'd put together was refreshingly simple, just the way I like it. An 11ft and a 12ft rod were paired up, one loaded with an open-ended feeder and the other with an inline, giving me the chance to compare the two on the day and see which the fish preferred. On the business end, Guru bait banded rigs in both 12-inch and 4-inch hooklengths rounded things off. Short and long, to cover all eventualities. That said, if a chunky tench happened to slide over the net, Marko certainly wouldn't have complained. But deep down, it was one of those big Netherwoods carp he was really dreaming of. The kind of fish that makes the whole trip. You know the sort, broad-shouldered, deep-bodied, and the kind of weight that makes your arms ache on the way to the mat. That was the prize he had his eye on.

Now, the bait. Most tench anglers would perhaps lean toward more natural offerings, worms, casters, maybe a pinch of maggots, and I completely understand why. But fishing is as much about confidence as anything else, and I went with what I know and trust. A two groundbait attack was the plan. The base of the mix was built around Nut 365 Expander Mix, a light, fluffy and intensely sweet blend of fruit and cream, paired 50/50 with one of my absolute go-to staples, Natural Black. That 50/50 combination is something I keep coming back to time and again, and for good reason. The contrast between the sweet, creamy Nut 365 and the dark, rich depth of the Natural Black creates something really special in the water. Visually attractive and devastatingly effective.

The little edge though? That came before I even started mixing. A measure of Almond Betalin added directly to the water beforehand ensures that intense flavour and attraction is locked into every drop of the mix from the very start. Leaching out into the swim and holding fish in the area long after each cast. It's a small tweak that's been catching me so many fish lately and one I won't be leaving behind anytime soon. To bulk things out and add a bit of natural texture and movement, some prepared Chinese Hemp from the jar was introduced alongside a handful of cheap sweetcorn picked up from the shop. Nothing fancy, but sometimes the simplest additions are the most effective. The swim was set, the trap was laid. Now there was only one thing left to do. Get a line in the water.

I opted to fish both rods side by side in the middle zone of my swim, the idea being to concentrate the bait into one localised area and really build up a feeding spot. To get things going quickly, I started with no rig at all, just the open-ended feeder, loaded and cast for speed and efficiency. Fifteen to twenty casts went in to lay down a solid bed of bait, then I stepped back and let it settle. Tackle sorted, tea in hand, I had a good natter with Marko about the plan of attack while the swim did its thing. Twenty minutes. That's all it needed.

I needn't have waited even that long.

Before I'd even had the chance to cast out the inline method rod, the open-ended feeder was away. The tip wrenched round and I was in. Whatever was on the other end wasn't giving up without a fight. A proper scrap ensued, the fish kiting toward a nearby lily bed before burying itself in the weed, and for a moment it was touch and go. But the tackle held firm, the pressure told, and a few nervous seconds later I was scooping up my first tench of the day. What an absolute creature. Olive green, barrel-shaped and powerful. A reminder of exactly why these fish have such a dedicated following.

And the bait that fooled it? One of our brand new Mini Almond & Betalin Washed Pink Wafters, presented on a Guru bait band rather than the hook, sitting perfectly in the water and absolutely irresistible on the day. If you haven't tried them yet, put them on your list. They are something special.

I recast almost immediately, and almost immediately the rod was away again. This time though, it was something altogether different. The run was blistering, the fight relentless, and when it finally slid over the net it was a stunning carp of just over 18lb, caught fittingly on the inline feeder rod. A proper fish by anyone's standards. As I slipped her back and straightened up, the sun had begun to push through the treeline, painting the water gold and chasing away the last of the morning mist. I looked out across the swim, felt the warmth on my face, and just knew. Today was going to be a good one.

I wasn't wrong.

By 8am I'd already ticked off the first tea, the first biscuits, the first tench and the first carp. The swim was fizzing, the confidence was sky high, and I was absolutely pumped. A few more casts to top up the bait and then I sat back, though not for long. The bites were thick and fast, and it quickly became clear that the open-ended feeder was the one doing all the damage. Six or seven tench in and the decision was made. Both rods switched over. I'll be honest, I thought it was going to be the other way round, but the fish had their say and I listened. That's fishing.

As the day rolled on there were a few slower spells, but genuinely, they were welcome. Time to recharge, take in the surroundings, top up the swim with three casts every fifteen minutes or so, and keep those tench trickling back in. It was methodical, it was enjoyable, and it worked. Before I knew it the sun had begun to drop in the sky, the temperature dipping with it, and I made the call to wrap things up.

The final tally? An incredible 25 tench and a carp, with a few more that had other ideas along the way. The biggest tench went just over 6lb, a stunning fish and a real highlight of the session. Every single one of them was caught with confidence in the bait, and two things in particular stood out above everything else. The Almond Betalin added to the mix water, which I'm convinced kept the fish rooted in the swim all day long, and the Mini Almond & Betalin Washed Pink Wafters presented on a Guru bait band. A bait that simply kept on delivering, cast after cast. If you're not already using them, you really should give them a try!

As for Marko, the carp he was dreaming of didn't show up this time. But if I know Marko, and I do, it'll happen on the next one. He'll be back.

Finally, a massive thank you to Russell for having us down. What a venue, what a day, and what a host. Netherwoods Lakes is a truly special place. One of those hidden gems that deserves every bit of praise it gets. Beautiful surroundings, fantastic fish, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to book straight back in before you've even packed the car. Which is exactly what I'll be doing.

If you fancy it, and trust me you should, give Russell a call or drop him a message and get yourself booked in. You won't regret it.