Hartley Lands Farm Fishery

View of the farm from the road 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 June 2010

Reservoir-

huge bags being taken on shallow fished pellet, recent match weights have exceeded 220lbs, in a recent Friday Match 3 x 20lb specimens were banked , weighed and returned, the biggest being 21lb 3oz, taken by Bill Pratchet.

The early mornings and late afternoons, the fish are patrolling in the margins, local angler, Alex Cook took 10 double figure fish on luncheon meat, over sweetcorn and pellet feed, the biggest being 17lb 15oz, the smallest being 12lb 3oz, all landed on light tackle.

Skimmers have grown considerably in this water, and recently London Angler Nick Palmer in a recent club match weighed in 120lb of which 70lb were skimmers and bream to 3 lb taken at 20m on a groundbait feeder with crumb and fishmeal, with double red maggot on the hook

Nicks Lake-

to target the bigger fish here, again its the margins, or very shallow fished bait and heavy feeding. In a recent Charity match was won from this lake by Sussex Angler Roland Mulligan who took 171lb 7oz of carp to 10lb , fishing red mussell on the pole at 4m over corn feed. Lots of skimmers and roach can be taken , on a recent pleasure session, Hastings Angler, Tony Martin took what he estimated to be 30-40lb of roach and skimmers to 1.5lb.

Local Junior, Steven Graves, took his personal best fish from peg 29, a beautiful ghost carp of 12lb 10oz on sweetcorn fished in the margins.

Pear Tree Lake -

a new match record was set recently , this was taken on pellet waggler from the roadside bank, plenty of silvers to be caught on casters and worms, including some cracking Perch to 4lb. Essex Angler Johnny Brown, on holiday in Kent , took a 3lb 2oz specimen fishing lobworm in the margins on peg 23, he also had numerous carp to just under double figures

Bramley Lake -

ton bags are now need to win any match on this pool, in a recent charity event the weight was won by angler Kevin Driver, with a weight of 135lb 3oz, the majority of this was taken on the pellet waggler , with the weight being topped up in the last hour with the method feeder.

Again plenty of silvers are available in this pool for those anglers who wish to target them

Finches Pond, Woodside Pond, Henniker Pond and Samson Pond -

all of these waters have been producing good fish and a great mix of species, Chatham Angler, Vince Gearing, had a super day on Henniker catching 15 tench , 2 x 2lb+ perch and numerous carp, the four ponds are normally kept free at weekends for day ticket anglers

For further info contact Paul 07710 538505 / 01580 720319

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Hartley Lands Farm Fishery Lake Records & Match Results

Lake Records (5 Hour Matches)

Reservoir	317lb
Nicks Lake	204lb 13oz
Pear Tree Lake	173lb 02oz
Bramley Lake	149lb 03oz
Finches Pond	175lb 04oz
Henniker Pond	103lb 12oz
Woodside Pond	58lb 02oz
Samson Pond	73lb 12 oz

Match Results

Pear Tree Lake – The Wednesday Club
N Gilbert 168.00
E Costin 108.00
T Golding 78.00

Pear tree lake – Basildon Autos
G Long 108.08
P Darling 106.04
P Rowe 102.00

Reservoir – Medways Trotters
D Lockwood 100.00
J Watt 62.04
S Peters 56.00

Reservoir – The Wednesday Club
N Gilbert 173.00
C Arrowsmith 88.08
D Lockwood 83.00

Nicks lake - Wandle Club
M Woods 98
J Wilding 79.04
J Hitchen 72.15

Nicks lake - Downham tackle
D Hull 167.10
A Sitki 128.00
G Williams 114.14

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 and landing mats
Anglers must bring the appropriate number of DRY nets to the venue, we request a minimum of 3 in the summer months
Maximum weight of carp in one keepnet = 80lb
NO carp and silver fish to be mixed
Bait recommendations- in order to maintain good water quality.
8 pints of bait plus Hookers. No loose feeding of hookers
2 Kg of ground bait
1 Kg of worm
No bait to be thrown into the lakes after fishing
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
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.

	Number of Pegs
Farm Reservoir	31
Nicks Lake	37
Pear Tree Lake	26
Bramley Lake	22
Finches Pond	11
Henniker Pond	8
Samson Pond	7
Woodside Pond	5

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. The Reservoir 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.

Nicks Lake

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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.

Bramley Lake

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Pear Tree Lake

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.

Pear Tree Lake

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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

European Union Flag DEFRA Logo 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.