Hartley Lands Fishery

Day ticket fishing at Hartley Lands Farm Fishery

• Four Ponds and four match lakes now available for Match Bookings.
• Maximum capacity is now 147 Pegs.

Hartley Lands Farm Fishery is an excellent picturesque fishery situated on a working organic fruit farm. All of the waters are close to the carparks. We are able to cater for disabled anglers.

There are detailed descriptions of the waters and what bait to use on this page. Please click on the individual lakes and ponds listed to the left to see.

The Owners

Hartley lands farm fisheries is owned by Paul and Sara Ward

Paul has been a keen angler since the age of 5, a former member of the Preston Innovations Delcac match team, fishing several Angling Times league finals for them on the river Trent. He fished his first league final for a team called Saints (who will ever remember them!) at the age of 15 on the river Shannon, the team won the match, no thanks to Pauls' two eels!

Paul is happy to provide tuition by arrangement if required.

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Fishery Reports

Updated January 2010

Reservoir -

plenty of good quality carp being caught on ledgered hair rig corn or 10/12mm pellet
Fish being caught at distance, particularly in the pegs where flat water with the end off of the anglers back
Some carp also being taken still on the big waggler, again hair-rigged pellet or corn
Plenty of skimmers and roach falling to pole tactics with either maggot or caster, occasional carp also being taken on this line
Key to catching at the moment is to feed little and not too often

Nicks Lake, Pear Tree Lake and Bramley Lake -

Pole or pellet on the long pole in the deepest water producing some outstanding weights, a recent match was won by an angler with 130+ bag who fed just one ball of groundbait and 10 grains of corn all day on Nicks lake!
Groundbait feeder is working off the islands, with either double maggot or hair rigged corn, loads of skimmers roach and perch can be taken on maggot baits from most pegs
On NIcks, pegs 29 and 28 have been consistently producing on the pole as have pegs 8 & 9

Finches, Henniker, Samson and Woodside Ponds -

2 baits really scoring on these waters, the humble maggot and simple worm, carp roach , tench and perch all being caught on these baits, again take it very easy on quantities

for further information , contact Paul on 07710 538505

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Hartley Lands Farm Fishery Lake Records & Match Results

Lake Records (5 Hour Matches)

Match Results

3/10/09

Pear tree Lake
Bardag
M Brown 102.15
I Cope 81.07
D Simms 63.15

Nicks Lake
Three Kings
S Copus 103.10
M Woods 102.13
A Kemor 83.05

27/9/09

Nicks Lake
Fineline Angling
R Ritsen 135.01
P Davis 115.09
A Hartigen 102.08

20/9/09

Reservoir
Brasenose
M Jempson 92.0
T Williamson 72.02
A Corby 70.12

Nicks Lake
DAPS
A DAvis 133.00
T Docker 114.08
T Rayner 110.00

Pear Tree Lake
Duke of Glouster
J Simms 90.00
L Costar 820.0
C Taylor 66.10

Bramley Lake
Becmain Angling
M Shipton 74.08
D Harrold 67.00
R Harrold 52.12

3/10/09

Pear tree Lake
Bardag
M Brown 102.15
I Cope 81.07
D Simms 63.15

Nicks Lake
Three Kings
S Copus 103.10
M Woods 102.13
A Kemor 83.05

27/9/09

Nicks Lake
Fineline Angling
R Ritsen 135.01
P Davis 115.09
A Hartigen 102.08

20/9/09

Reservoir
Brasenose
M Jempson 92.0
T Williamson 72.02
A Corby 70.12

Nicks Lake
DAPS
A DAvis 133.00
T Docker 114.08
T Rayner 110.00

Pear Tree Lake
Duke of Glouster
J Simms 90.00
L Costar 820.0
C Taylor 66.10

Bramley Lake
Becmain Angling
M Shipton 74.08
D Harrold 67.00
R Harrold 52.12

The Nick Puncher Memorial Charity Fishing Match 2009

This was held on Saturday 11th July 2009, at Hartley Lands Farm Fishery, Cranbrook, Kent.
Every year the event attracts more entries, and depsite the economic gloom , we had a record attendance of 116 anglers. This has become one of the largest fishing matches held in the South East of England every year. This year was our eigth and is held in the memory of Maidstone Tackle Shop owner Nick Puncher.
As well as the entry fees for the competiton, over £600 was raised in the raffle that was kindly supported by fishing tackle manufacturers and local shops and businesses.
People travelled from all over England to take part, including the Angling Times Columnist, Radio and TV presenter Keith Arthur , who kindly presented the prizes.
The match was won with a fantastic weight of 171lb 7oz of carp , taken coincidently from Nicks lake by Midlands Angler Roman Skuru. There were another 8 weights over 100lb in the competiton
The match has raised , including donations from local schools and businesses and the kind contributon of those taking part, £2665, which is a trremendous £1065 more than last year. This will be split equally between MacMillan Cancer Support and The Hospice in the Weald.

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Fishery Rules

• All anglers must have correct equipment, this includes barbless hooks, landing nets, disgourgers
• No keepnets except in matches
• Landing nets and match keepnets must be dry before fishing
• Barbless hooks only. No micro barb
• Fish over 4 oz must be landed with a net
• No tins or cans allowed on the bank - please take litter home
• All cars must park in marked areas and are left at owners risk
• Please use toilets provided
• No dogs allowed on fishery
• Bait requirements - maximum 4 pints of bait plus 2 Kg of ground bait
• No Boilies
• No trout pellet or trout paste
• No Juniors under 16 will be allowed to fish unless accompanied by an adult
• No Night fishing

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Match Booking

Any of the waters may be booked for a match, there is a minimum booking of 5 pegs.

There are 147 pegs available.

On all waters you will require two keep nets, one for silver fish and one for carp. We do not provide keep nets, anglers must bring their own nets. These nets must be completely dry before use on the fishery, as will your landing net.

• We will weigh the catches whenever possible.
• Anglers must NOT tip the fish down the net, but pull the net through.
• A deposit may be required from match organisers.
• No litter whatsoever must be left on the venue, if there is any at your peg that is not yours, hand it to the bailiff

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Charges

Matches

• To book the whole Reservoir £150
• Nick's Lake £180
• Bramley Lake £130
• Pear Tree Lake £120
• Smaller matches may be charged at £7 per peg, at the Bailiff's discretion
• Please book well in advance to avoid disappointment

Day Fishing

• Adult 1 rod £10, 2 rods £12
• Concessions Pensioners & Juniors 1 rod £7, 2 rods £9

We do not not sell reduced half day or evening tickets

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The Farm Reservoir

As the name implies this is a reservoir to store water to irrigate the fruit trees on the farm. There is a car park next to the Reservoir which has 31 pegs.

The depth at 11m is 3.5m, max. depth 4m. There are two marginal ledges, one of 1m depth the other is 2m deep. There is reed fringing to most pegs

The Reservoir contains a large head of carp up to 28lb with lots of smaller match size specimens. There are roach up to 3lb, 2lb fish are taken regularly and there are bream to 6lb. In addition there are perch to 5lb, tench to 3lb, a few chub, goldfish, rudd and golden orfe.

This is a very prolific water, however your fishing methods need to adapt very closely to the water temperatures. In the summer use big baits - soft pellet, sweet corn, luncheon meat, bread & dog biscuit.As the water cools down greatly reduce feed, hook size & terminal tackle.

Huge pleasure catches can be caught in the winter months, fishing single maggot to 0.12 diameter hook link on a groundbait feeder filled with fishmeal groundbait and a few pellets and maggots. Roach fishing is excellent off the bottom, bigger fish will come to the caster on either waggler or pole.

It is possible to catch carp in the winter on a long pole with single soft pellet or small grains of corn. Anything will catch fish in the warmer months.

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Finches Pond

This pond is next to the Reservoir and shares its parking. There are 11 pegs. It is nearly always sheltered from the wind and rain by the wooded cover all round the pond. The depth varies from 1.2m at peg 31 end to 2.1m in the middle at peg 21. There are lots of marginal shelves and two small tree covered islands.

Finches contains carp up to 28lb, a good number of "high doubles",roach up to 1.5lb, skimmer bream, perch up to 4lb and chub to 4.5lb (mostly caught off pegs 21-3). Finches also contains Eric the Eel, when last caught he was 7lb, a few tench and rudd. In the summer evenings you will find most success with ledgered meat, worm or corn, floating crust and dog biscuit. To catch the roach or skimmers use a pole and caster. For the carp use a pole with strong elastic and larger baits fished either tight across or in the margins, in the summer months use a minimum 0.14mm hook.

This idyllic pond fishes well all year round.

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Henniker Pond

Hennicker is very sheltered from the weather like Finches. It is a small pond with 8 pegs and about 50m from the car park. It is mostly 2.1m deep with marginal shelves about a metre deep on both banks. The far bank can be reached by pole from seven of the eight pegs. There are reed fringes to most near side margins.

Hennicker contains carp up to 19lb and lots of ghosties and commons ranging from 0.5lb upwards with the majority of the fish in the 2-5lb bracket. There are also a few tench and perch. In the warmer months the best methods are sweetcorn or luncheon meat by pole or waggler in the margins, floating crust or dog biscuits on the far side or pole fished tight over (up in the water) with maggot or pellet baits.

In the winter months use small baits, either maggot or pellet, as very light feeding will always produce fish. The match record for this pond was caught fishing up in the water with maggot after a hard frost!

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Samson Pond

Samson pond is so close to the car park you can fish out of your car window! It is quite sheltered and has seven pegs.

It varies in depth from 2m in the middle sloping up to 1m in the margins and is reed fringed all round. Samson pond contains carp to double figures although most are 1-3lb, lots of tench between 12oz to 3.5lb, a good number of roach, skimmers, perch to 4lb and gudgeon.

Using a pole and waggler in the margins and further out will produce fish all year round. To select the bigger specimens use a ledgered bait positioned on the far bank shelf or next to the reeds. In the winter use maggot, small pellet or small worm. In the summer pellet, worm, sweetcorn and bread all catch well. On warm summer evenings floating bait such as crust and dog biscuit work well.

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Woodside Pond

With five pegs this is the smallest pond and only 100m from the carpark. It is very quiet and produces good bags of fish all year round.

It is 2m deep in the middle shelving to 0.5m in both margins. 5 pegs are all reed fringed and the farside can be reached by pole from all pegs.

Woodside contains carp to double figures, tench to 2.5lb some big crucians and some ghost/koi crosses. All year round this is best fished with waggler and pole using pellet, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and worm. In the winter months tiny hook sizes with small pieces of meat will always produce fish. Maggot does not work in the winter but does in the summer.

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Nick's Lake

This lake is dedicated to the memory of Nick Puncher, the owner of Nick's Tackle in Maidstone and a good friend.

This lake has 37 pegs, 6 are suitable for disabled people. There is parking adjacent and purpose built platforms. The maximum depth is 2.1m, there are lots of interesting shelves and marginal variations on both nearside and island sides. It is very sheltered and extensively planted with young trees and marginal plants.

Nick's lake is stuffed with small common and ghost carp between 8oz and 22lb and a very large head of roach, perch, bream and tench. This lake provides loads of bites and is a great match venue. The best method is pole, pellet and feeder to the islands.

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Bramley Lake

Bramley is 20m from the car parks, it has 22 pegs. The maximum depth is 2.1m with lots of interesting shelves and marginal variations on both nearside and island sides. It is extensively planted with young trees and marginal plants, absolutely stuffed with small common and ghost carp, between 8oz and 12lb, and some good roach. Also contains a good head of silverfish,skimmers and tench. There are loads of bites and it is a great match venue. The best methods are to use pole, pellet and feeder to the island.

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Pear Tree Lake

Pear Tree Lake has 26 pegs, there is parking next to the lake. The maximum depth is 2.1m with lots of interesting shelves and marginal variations on both nearside and island sides. It is sheltered and extensively planted with young trees and marginal plants. It has been absolutely stuffed with small common and ghost carp, between 8oz and 10lb and some good roach. There are loads of bites and it is proving to be a great match venue. The best method is pole, pellet and feeder to the island.

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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The project to develop Nicks Lake, Bramley Lake and Pear Tree Lake is supported under the England Rural Development Programme by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

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Credits and Links

Other Fisheries in Kent - Chilham Mill Angling Club
This page listed in - Complete Angler on Line
and in - The Ident-I-Card™ Company
and in:




_{This page written by David Campfield}

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