A few more fish from Dudmaston and some more piccys for Boldbear.

[barbelblanker]

Well I was asked to get some pictures so don't throw stones at me :)

The lake is run by Kinver Freeliners , they have a website and a guide to the water if you want to really frustrate yourself (like I did while I waited to join:)).

The fish first, averaging around the five pound mark, one yesterday evening and two this evening.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I need to rake the shallower swims out as the bait was snagging up in weed . I could use a feeder but the number of lines bites would drive me nuts.

Anyway, three tench for you -

(heaviest 5LB 3oz).







Dudmaston Hall.



The boat house . The boat house lies on what was an older dam wall, the water past there is 20 foot plus deep. You can also see (on this bank and the last swim), the famous point swim. Nice deep water and close in. Most of the west bank is very shallow.



And another one taken in the sun and closer (from the point swim).



Walking down the path to the lake west side.



Various views from west bank of the swim. This bank is very shallow (I suspect also full off light weed). The opposite bank is a bit deeper and those reeds are packed with fry.




If you look really carefully you can see the top of a drennan drift beater being used incorrectly (lift method), but I like to use them that way. Purist float fishermen having fit no doubt, I just prefer them to quills unless it's really close up stuff.

Finally one from the east bank (these all came out rather dark). The tench make a bee line for those reeds but usually run straight to the middle of the lake first, bizarre as anywhere else they'd just make straight for the reeds. Of course you still have to steer them in from the middle of the lake unless you wade to the edge of the reeds.

I will take some more when I fish the lilly pad swim. It's a right old trek though as we are not allowed across the front lawn of the house (a small price to pay to be allowed to fish here though).

Cheers,

Pete.

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Excellent post BB, those pics are ace. Remember reading about the Kinver edge rock houses in a novel some years ago (is that where the freeliners took the name from?), amazing place. Well done, great report.

[northern eye]

This place looks absolutely beautiful - I have never fished an estate lake but this is exactly how I imagined it would be.

[BoldBear]

BB your lake looks absolutely stunning. I am very envious what a lovely place.

Your estate lake looks and sounds a lot larger than the estate lake that I fish which is only around 3 acres and the Manor house near our lake is smaller than the one shown in your pictures and is now a private school for young ladies.

Heres some pictures of our clubs estate lake.

Below: My clubs Estate Lake showing the two islands on the left taken in the spring before the lilly pads started to explode.
There are usually large beds of lillies spread around the lake once they come up, as it is the same depth all over (4 to 5ft deep).
There is an old bridge behind me which leads up a drive to the old Manor house
I dont have a shot of the lake on the other side of the islands

Below: The same lake looking up towards the bridge with the islands on the right this time.

Below: The smaller lake taken from the small waterfall where the inlet stream enters the lake.
There is a large bay on the left behind the tree in the picture with a man made cave where the clubs boats are kept.


The lake was originally dug out by napolionic prisoners of war, the bottom was lined with faggots and clay and the banks are lined with rocks, there are waterfalls at both ends where a small stream enters and exits and there is a man made cave where boats are kept.
It is also haunted some say, and some strange things seem to happen down there at night. The TV program 'Most Haunted' was filmed in two local pubs in the local village either side of the private entrance leading to the lake.

What is amazing is the fact that some of the locals are not even aware of the lake which is surrounded by trees and hidden from any road and is on private land.

Keith (BoldBear)

[dave fish]

wow what a great place bb id love to fish some where this beutiful wish i had something near me like that,boldbear that place is stunning it must be a privelidge everytime you fish it tight lines
regards dave

[BoldBear]

Hi dave,

Yes it is a privilege as BarbelBlanker will tell you. If you get the chance of getting on the waiting list of an estate lake club near you I would jump at it as fishing becomes a real pleasure, there may not be record sized fish in the lake but its just great to be able to fish in such lovely surrounds.
I was lucky to be awarded a life membership for services to the club over the last 30 years.

[barbelblanker]

I feel like a kid who has sneaked in to the place everytime I go there. The lake is big about ten acres. There are. Three other lakes in the grounds , we can fish two of them. I haven't even been to the others yet. Each to their own, i just feel there estate lakes offer fishing that is more crgabtree than commercial I totally agree wit& boldbear,if you love fishing "old" style (and moder
n too, I am angler not a dinosaur) and you can join an etate lake club then go for it.

[Bungz]

I'm on the waiting list for this.

Hopefully wont be more than a season or two as it looks amazing.

[dave fish]

Originally Posted by BoldBear

Hi dave,

Yes it is a privilege as BarbelBlanker will tell you. If you get the chance of getting on the waiting list of an estate lake club near you I would jump at it as fishing becomes a real pleasure, there may not be record sized fish in the lake but its just great to be able to fish in such lovely surrounds.
I was lucky to be awarded a life membership for services to the club over the last 30 years.

to be honest i just love fishing even if there arnt any big fish i go down to the local commercial sometimes and fish for silvers ive had a few strange looks off the carping gang i can tell ya might have to put it on my christmas list if i can find one as good as yours if the waiting list is not massive

[Maddison_Twatter]

Both stunning waters, jealous much ? ermm yeah