Sandmartin, Bluebell Lakes

Check out some of the amazing fishing Sandmartin offers in this film below by Youtube blogger – Carpking 71.

Admittedly, Sandmartin doesn’t hold the volume of stock as the other waters, neither does it have the biggest fish in the complex with the lake record being a low 40 common.

However, what it does deliver in return is a crystal clear, extremely rich, feature filled water with every swim presenting something different.

It’s not an easy water by any stretch of the imagination and you need to carefully consider your tactics and approach them with caution. But providing you comply with a few fundamental rules that Sandmartin seems to dictate, you always stand a chance of encountering one of the many jewels that reside in this character filled, yet forgotten lake.

Most swims around Sandmartin provide your very own, personal section of water and you can often find your own little bit of paradise.

What’s The Bottom Like?

With gin clear water, deep margins, large weed beds, pronounced gravel bars and choddy but presentable areas across the whole lake, you are never short of options.

Consequently, early in the Spring, single bright hook baits can work extremely well and can be roved around the pond without worrying about presentation. Fruity pop-ups such as a yellow or a pink cast to showing fish will always stand a good chance presented on a chod, hinged stiff rig or Ronnie presentation.

Zig-rigs at this time of year can be productive too, you will often notice bubblers and shapes just under the surface and so a zig-rig can be a great method. Just a sliver or black or yellow foam is enough.

As it gets warmer, the fish do start to turn to bait and so it is time to switch onto the boilies. Any good quality bait will work, although I know they love a fishmeal – Pacific Tuna being one that has worked well for me in the past. Both spreading baits via a throwing stick or catty work well, it just depends on the distance you fish. Like I said, the fish get caught on a range of tactics so experimenting can help.

Depths are fairly consistent, it drops down quite quickly to 12ft to 13ft of water, and if you search for it, depths of 16ft can be found in places.

Try Solid Bags

Due to the relatively clear nature of the bottom, solid PVA bags in the middle area works very well. The fish will often show in the deeps and so a solid bag can score. It is just enough of a mouthful to entice a bite. My mix is kept nice and simple, comprising the CC Moore Bloodworm Bag Mix, plus matching liquid. Due to the rich, silty nature, the bloodworm helps to mimic the natural food in the lake. I also experiment a bit with the hook baits, again to match the offerings.

Other Species

Across all the lakes at Bluebell, it is probably one of the most prolific for specimen species, not that I’ve seen anyone target anything other than carp.

Sandmartin contains a huge head of Tench, weighing an average of 6 to 7lb, which spend most of the day in the warmer months patrolling the margins. Biggest I’ve seen out is just over 9lb but I’m sure there is a double or two floating around. If you are targeting the Tench then you need to keep close, and keep quiet.

I’ve had Bream out to 12lb+ and countless doubles, but the average weight is more like 8 to 9lb. Bream can be caught all over but predominately towards the middle.

There are some huge Roach, Rudd and Perch. I’ve caught Roach to over 1.5lb, seen Perch to nearly 3lb on the bank, and caught Pike to over 20lb when they’ve taken my boilie – but I doubt I’ve touched the sides of the true specimens that reside in Sandmartin.

Carp can, and do, get caught all over the lake due to its various and widespread features.

They absolutely love a floater when the rays are on their backs and they constantly patrol the margins. But, they do get caught in the middle, and everywhere in-between.

Location is less of a concern on Sandmartin, and so are weather conditions. Unlike Swan on the Bluebell complex for example, where you have to catch it just right on a low pressure. Sandmartin seems to produce day and night, high or low pressure.  It’s a law to its own, and you always stand a chance providing you keep your wits and fish with minimal disturbance.

You’ll need these for your trip to Sandmartin!

Verdict

A real box of chocolates and a lake that I always love fishing.