Churn Pool Fishery, Cotswold Water Park

What Churn Pool say!

The lake is around 4.5 acres in size and is stocked with beautiful carp to in excess of 40lb.  True to our Cotswold roots, many of the carp are beautiful looking heavily scaled mirrors.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our fish and their surroundings. The venue is managed to be somewhere that can be enjoyed by all.

Originally dug for gravel in the late 1970s, Churn Pool has now matured into an intimate water tucked away behind closed gates.

The banks are well maintained, but in areas the natural fauna is left to grow to make excellent stalking spots, a carp anglers dream.  There are many swims around the lake, cut back into the vegetation and you are welcome to fish all around the venue.

Around the lake there are lots of features including overhanging trees, reed lined bays, shallow gravel margins, pads and water inlets.

Beneath the surface is just as interesting with a myriad of gravel bars, plateaux,  troughs, silty gullies and other interesting features. Each and every swim has a multitude of varying features in front.

The on-site facilities are plentiful.

Included in the price is the Anglers Outhouse, a small building with kitchen facilities, fridge freezer, bait freezer, running water and proper toilet facilities.

There is a BBQ, chimnea, a walled social area next to the lake and several picnic tables by the waters edge.

We also have a two bedroomed lodge, available to hire for a small extra fee if required.

The lodge has a double bedroom, twin bedroom, lounge with dvd player, shower, kitchen, toilet and large decking area.

The lake is as secure as we can make it and benefits from lockable entrance gates and perimeter fencing to ensure privacy. The only entrance is through front gates covered by CCTV and security lighting.

Some anglers may make it look easy, but the fishing at Churn Pool is best described as quite challenging.  Churn Pool gives anglers an opportunity to catch some fantastic carp, with some of the fish over 30 years old.

There is a good head of fish, with very high proportion of 20lb+ fish, numerous 30lb+ , there have been 3 different fish over 40lb,  the lake record is currently 42lb.

At times the fishing can be very tricky, but the rewards are there for those who are prepared to work for their fish. Several groups have had over 30 fish in a weekend and double figure numbers of captures is a common occurrence.

As is often the case with small waters, the fishing can be moody, often responding fast to changing weather and atmospheric conditions. Anglers who adopt a stealthy approach tend to do well, although every method can have its day.

The fish can be caught all over the lake, everywhere from the deep margins to open water.

In the height of summer, there is some weed present, but not enough to cause any problems. Most of the bottom is fairly firm, with lots of gravel present. There are a lot of zebra mussels, mostly under any submerged branches and steep bar sides. The carp seem to love them, but they are very sharp and can cause cut offs if not careful. 15lb+ line is recommended for its abrasion resistant properties.

What is the lake like and how should I fish it?

Churn Pool is stunning. There is a wonderful atmosphere the moment the electric gates open and you drive in. It is only small, a few acres in size I’d guess but it just feels…right. As you drive in, the lodge is on your left hand side, a lodge that you can sleep in and rent if you wish for just £25 a night, and trust me it is worth it. You can fish your rods right outside the lodge and have the luxury of chilling inside or simply sleeping on the balcony, all very comfortable.

The lake itself is what I would describe as a dog bone sort of shape. Two wide ends and a narrow section in the middle. Depending on the time of year and the weather, the fish really could be at either end but as a general rule, the end furthest from the lodge is deeper and tends to do more as it gets colder with the latter better in the warmer months. That said, either can produce on the day.

What is the best swim?

For me, the most consistent producer is the swim right outside the lodge. The seems to do fish all-year round. I haven’t done much time down the other end so couldn’t comment too much. In the lodge swim there are a couple of overhanging trees on the far bank which consistently do fish. There is a dense set of snags with plenty of depth underneath that the fish constantly migrate too. What’s more you can walk around to said tree and bait up by hand.

That isn’t your only option, though. There is also a fair sized bay to the left of the swim with an inlet from the stream running in, which can produce fish. If there has been a downpour, sometimes you will notice coloured water around the stream. If you notice this, then a bait close by will often be taken as the carp feed in the turbid, murky water.

In terms of casting distance, you are looking at around 100yrd to the far-bank trees so make sure your tackle is up to the job. I wouldn’t go much less than 15lb line because you will often need to apply firm pressure to stop them from getting in the snags.

Never neglect the zigs either, these will often score at Churn Pool when all else is failing.

What rigs should I use?

As I always say, keep it simple. You want a rig that won’t tangle, a rig that boasts a sharp hook and one that can reset itself. When I fish Churn over to the far bank snags, I fish a helicopter presentation incorporating a drop off lead via a Heli Safe. This is complete with a 4oz tournament casting lead. I use a big lead because it flies truer and I can be more precise in the trajectory of my lead.

I utilise lead core as my leader, I like how heavy lead core is, it sits flush to the bottom out of the carps way and also prevents the hook link from tangling around it.

In terms of rigs, I have always used a hinged stiff rig. This is due to the fact that sometimes it can take three or four casts to get things right. A hinge doesn’t require PVA or anything so you can keep casting until you’re on the money without having to keep tying up fresh PVA bags etc, which take time and can also be hassle.

Take a look at the videos below for more information and how to fish the magical Churn.

You’ll need these for your trip!

Verdict

I love every second that I spend at Churn Pool. The peace and tranquility mixed with amazing looking carp that go to over 40lb makes it a truly special place.