‘B’ Lake, Marsh Trail Lakes, Beccles, Suffolk

There are certain ‘hotspots’ on the lake that produce fish consistently, if they are there, but as with. most places they don’t always play ball so sometimes they aren’t in the notorious pegs and can move around a hell of a lot.

I would say fairly regular baiting, a few boilies catapulted around the area every couple hours or so would draw them in to most pegs but a roving approach works best for the carp if they are not held up in one area.

Bait advice

Bait wise, stick to anything that is white. It’s as simple as that for me.

I can never winkle a bite on any other hookbait, except for a bit of black foam on a zig once. But me, my mates and other anglers who have done well here have all succeeded using white hookbaits.

This is always doused in Wonderberry goo, another firm favourite of the fish at Marsh Trail,

I’ve had some Mainline 15mm peaches and cream wafters soaking in Wonderberry goo for over a year now, which I suppose not many people use, and now they literally sink because they’ve soaked so much liquid.

You could add cork for extra buoyancy, but for me, I have done really well on just one of these hookbaits on the hair.

I tend to stick to wafter/bottom bait rigs for most of my fishing here, even though some areas of the lake are silty.

But I try my best to avoid these areas as fishing on the firmer spots in and around the silt has produced more fish for me.

Rig choice

I always use a size 4 or 6 Krank, that sharp offset point is just so aggressive and with the barbless rule you really want a good hook hold, which I always get with the Kranks.

Rig wise, either a combi rig (with a Krank) and a stiff fluorocarbon to kick the rig away from the lead in flight, or just a simple knotless knot to a Krank with Dark Matter coated braid, with about 1cm of exposed braid down from the eye, to give the rig more movement.

However, a few of my mates and other anglers have done really well on rigs like the chod and the Ronnie.

It really is personal preference when it comes to rigs. If you’ve got a sharp hook on then there will be no dramas.

A real edge here, as mentioned above is the Krank hook.

The almost circular bend and that super sharp offset point, only a knotless knot is needed and you can just see how aggressively it sits.

Also, like I said, when just used a knotless knot to a Krank on a bit of coated braid, the short stripped section below the eye is key.

It just gives the hook-end of the rig that bit more free movement, which is sometimes needed for a better hook-hold, and I’ve certainly found that to be the case for me at Marsh Trail lake.

3 Top Tips

I would say definitely keep mobile, to stay on the fish and big hits can be achieved.

Also, try and fish on the firmer areas in and around the silt, as I genuinely think the fish do prefer feeding on these areas.

And finally, I hate to say it again but you really can’t go wrong with white hookbaits here.

What to do when you arrive

Look for signs of fish before you get there, whether that be fish jumping, fizzing, stirring up the bottom, cruising on the surface etc.

But, sometimes this is not possible due to how busy the lake can get, so in this case, if you have just got to go in the last swim available.

Look at the different options you have in your swim: are there firmer spots in front, margins etc. and start by targeting these areas. But if it isn’t happening, and seeing fish elsewhere get in another swim when someone leaves, but you gotta be quick!

Swim choices

The most prolific area of the lake for me personally is known as the ‘tree line’.

It’s a long row of trees at one end of the lake, with a couple ‘gap’ spots in amongst them, which, if you get the cast right in there, you’ve always got a good chance. You can use a baiting pole to be mega accurate, but I prefer to cast at a different angle.

The bottom is lovely and clear all up and down these trees, and the fish find it sanctuary under them, and this is where quite a few of the fish go through to in spawning season.

So yes, the ‘tree line’ is a great feature, also as I said before the firmer areas in open water are fairly prolific, and the odd patches of gravel can be found, particularly in a swim known as the ‘sleeper peg’.

The shallower end of the lake can produce more fish during the warmer months also.

Common mistakes at Marsh Trail

I would say is a mistake I see people make is using bow string tight lines to their spots.

Most of the fishing is fairly close in also, due to the size of the lake, so I find using a slack line straight to the spot is key.

You have to think, these fish get fished for all the of the time all year, they know anglers.

They don’t want to be caught! For me, these fish can be very easily spooked by a tight line, and can easily do the off.

But rig wise, just use what you are confident in, and make sure your hook is sharp enough on your thumb nail.

Summer tactics

In summer, these fish love a mixer. Surface fishing can be prolific here.

Oiled up mixers gets them Pac-Maning in the summer.

I also tend to stick with bird seed based boilies all year around to be honest, as I’ve had great results on Mainline’s Banoffee in winter and summer.

As the lake is only roughly 5-6ft deep, you can get any with fishing on the bottom in the summer in my opinion. But the shallower side of the lake can be more prolific.

Winter tactics

It doesn’t differ much at all for me to be honest.

The only thing that differs is the quantity of bait I put in. In the warmer months, I always top up the swim with bait fairly regularly, but in winter, it’s all about fishing for a bite at a bite.

High attract white hookbaits work well in both winter and summer also.

Other anglers

Other anglers can sometimes be an issue as on any busy day ticket. There is a decent community feel, there is a Facebook page up showing all of the most recent captures sent in and the comments are usually always supportive and congratulating.

There are a few older anglers who have their kept secrets between them of how to fish the lake, but to be honest, I just ignore all of that, fish for yourself, and have a good time.

4 items you need to take

1. A size 4 or 6 Krank B hook
2. Dark Matter coated braid
3. Boilie funnel web pva mesh
4. Wonderberry goo.