Post by Carpy on Feb 6, 2005 19:33:59 GMT
Astwood Fishery
Astwood Lane
Stoke Prior
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B60 4BB
Although we had known of the existence of Astwood Fishery for several years, it was only when owner Frank Kean erected brown tourist signs showing the way that we were able to find it - and we weren't disappointed!
A short drive from Junction 5 of the M5 motorway leads you through the Worcestershire countryside to the fishery entrance and on to a choice of two car parks. A few yards further on the fishery opens up with lush and tended green banks giving way to Smokie Joe's, one of Astwood's three waters and a favourite with pleasure anglers.
Also near the entrance is June's mobile snack bar which is open every day from April to October and on Wednesdays and Sundays in winter. Don't go anywhere until you've ordered one of her hot bacon and egg sandwiches - accompanied by a hot tea or coffee it will set you up for the day and is second to none! In addition to hot and cold snacks, confectionery, all-day breakfasts and
s, June also offers flask refills. Next to the snack bar is Frank's 'office' - the caravan where you buy your day-ticket and pick up useful advice on where's fishing well and what baits to use.
Astwood is a great all-round fishery where the emphasis is on enjoying angling in relaxed and unspoilt surroundings. Indeed, to give anglers plenty of space, none of the pegs are less than nine or 10 metres apart. But that shouldn't be surprising when you consider that Astwood Fishery was developed by Frank as something of an anglers retreat.
He bought the site of the current fishery in 1990 and by the end of 1991 had completed work on Smokie Joe's and Bluebell lakes. In 1999 he started work on Buddleia which opened to anglers in March 2000.
Although there are few rules, seed baits, boilies, groundbait and chum mixer are not allowed. Instead, feeder and hook pellets are available from the office and keepnets can be used from the end of October until March although fish over 4lbs should be returned to the water straight away.
Astwood holds regular its own Open Matches throughout the year and is available for club matches at £5.00 per peg. The Opens are held every Sunday and Wednesday with the draw for both events taking place at 9.00am with fishing from 10.00am until 3.00. The fee for the Sunday matches is £12 all-in including entry to the Bonus Peg whilst entry for the Wednesday Open is £9.00. Again this includes entry for the Bonus peg.
Smokie Joe's
The pool nearest to the entrance, Smokey Joe's is named after a former bailiff who used to love his ciggies. At an acre in size, it offers 20 well-spaced pegs - which means there is plenty of room for anglers.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
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The pool nearest to the entrance, Smokey Joe's is named after a former bailiff who used to love his ciggies. At an acre in size, it offers 20 well-spaced pegs - which means there is plenty of room for anglers.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
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The pool nearest to the entrance, Smokey Joe's is named after a former bailiff who used to love his ciggies. At an acre in size, it offers 20 well-spaced pegs - which means there is plenty of room for anglers.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
As with the other Astwood Fishery waters, Smokey Joe's holds a nice mix of fish which include Mirror Carp to just over 24lbs, Commons to 15lbs and Ghost Carp to 12lbs.
With roach to 2lbs, rudd to half-a-pound, perch to 3lbs, skimmer bream and tench to 1lb, ide to 3lbs and a few chub to 1lb, this is a nice mixed fish water where you can go for decent nets of silver fish with a decent chance of picking up some of the better carp along the way
Although the deeper water is most productive in winter when a slider float or feeder are useful additions to the tackle box and catches of 30lbs to 40lbs are not uncommon, there are no particular hot spots in summer.
Then, fishing in the margins, to the island or fairly close in where the banks shelve at about 45 degrees to the bottom are usually best. However, wherever you fish, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, Astwood's own hook pellets, sinking bread flake, maggots and worms are all good baits.
Bluebell Pool
Anglers looking for the bigger fish at Astwood are probably best advised to head for Bluebell Pool, indeed, the attractiveness of this water and its head of Mirror Carp - which run to 30lbs - are starting to attract the interest of a small number of specimen carp anglers.
Similar in size to Smokey Joe's at about an acre, Bluebell Pool has 24 pegs and an island at the far end which usually attracts the 'early birds' as the carp are often to be found cruising round the island and in the margins. The match record here was set in 2003 at an impressive 143lbs - again by Peter Bailey - with the runner-up in the same match, Paul Savings, coming in with 132lbs. Needless to say, Paul thought he had the match in the bag - until it came to the weigh in!
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[http://lpaweb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/blu.jpg/img]
The commons and ghosties can also give good sport, although at up to 16lbs and 14lbs respectively, they do not run as large as the mirror carp which were introduced when the fishery was first developed.
For the silver fish angler there are bream to between 4lbs and 5lbs, roach to 1lb, rudd between 14oz and 1lb, plenty of hybrid crucians to about 14oz and which can be quite prolific when they are on the feed.
In addition there are some Common Carp hybrids which generally range in size from 2lbs 8oz to 4lbs 8oz. These fish, which have spawned naturally in the pool, look like Common Carp but have no barbels.
An added attraction is that there are known to be a good head of large bream to over 8lbs but for some reason these have not shown over the last couple of years.
One reason for this may be that the pool was orginally 12 feet deep throughout much of its length with a deeper hole of about 15 feet. However, over the past few seasons a large amount of silt has built up on the bottom and this is known to contain large amounts of bloodworm which may have become the larger breams' predominant food source.
The result of the silting is that much of Bluebell Pool now runs between five-and-a-half feet deep around the island and about 10 feet deep everywhere. Shallower water can also be found around the sides of the pool which, like Smokey Joe's, shelve at an angle of about 45 degrees to the bottom.
Those going after the carp - a great many of which are over 20lbs - are advised to use more traditional baits and techniques with good old fashioned float fishing on the bottom in the margins being as successful as anything.
Interestingly enough, big fish don't tend to be caught using big baits and although anglers can use up to two rods equally good results are achieved using just one. Packing a selection of feeder pellets and hook samples in a pva bag should help to keep feed concentrated in a small area.
By and large, the techniques and baits which work well on Smokey Joe's do well on Bluebell with a 12 to 14s elastic and a 12 or 14s hook to a minimum 4lb line being recommended.
Again, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, maggots and, especially in winter, worm are all goo baits although floating baits are discouraged.
Astwood Lane
Stoke Prior
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B60 4BB
Although we had known of the existence of Astwood Fishery for several years, it was only when owner Frank Kean erected brown tourist signs showing the way that we were able to find it - and we weren't disappointed!
A short drive from Junction 5 of the M5 motorway leads you through the Worcestershire countryside to the fishery entrance and on to a choice of two car parks. A few yards further on the fishery opens up with lush and tended green banks giving way to Smokie Joe's, one of Astwood's three waters and a favourite with pleasure anglers.
Also near the entrance is June's mobile snack bar which is open every day from April to October and on Wednesdays and Sundays in winter. Don't go anywhere until you've ordered one of her hot bacon and egg sandwiches - accompanied by a hot tea or coffee it will set you up for the day and is second to none! In addition to hot and cold snacks, confectionery, all-day breakfasts and
s, June also offers flask refills. Next to the snack bar is Frank's 'office' - the caravan where you buy your day-ticket and pick up useful advice on where's fishing well and what baits to use.Astwood is a great all-round fishery where the emphasis is on enjoying angling in relaxed and unspoilt surroundings. Indeed, to give anglers plenty of space, none of the pegs are less than nine or 10 metres apart. But that shouldn't be surprising when you consider that Astwood Fishery was developed by Frank as something of an anglers retreat.
He bought the site of the current fishery in 1990 and by the end of 1991 had completed work on Smokie Joe's and Bluebell lakes. In 1999 he started work on Buddleia which opened to anglers in March 2000.
Although there are few rules, seed baits, boilies, groundbait and chum mixer are not allowed. Instead, feeder and hook pellets are available from the office and keepnets can be used from the end of October until March although fish over 4lbs should be returned to the water straight away.
Astwood holds regular its own Open Matches throughout the year and is available for club matches at £5.00 per peg. The Opens are held every Sunday and Wednesday with the draw for both events taking place at 9.00am with fishing from 10.00am until 3.00. The fee for the Sunday matches is £12 all-in including entry to the Bonus Peg whilst entry for the Wednesday Open is £9.00. Again this includes entry for the Bonus peg.
Smokie Joe's
The pool nearest to the entrance, Smokey Joe's is named after a former bailiff who used to love his ciggies. At an acre in size, it offers 20 well-spaced pegs - which means there is plenty of room for anglers.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
Deepest at the end nearest the caravan and snack bar where 12 feet of water can be found, Smokey Joe's gradually shallows to about seven feet deep at the far end, although it has a three-feet deep ledge which runs down the left hand side of the pool as you look at it from the entrance. This ledge runs out about seven feet from the bank and can provide great fishing in summer once the water has warmed up.
As with the other Astwood Fishery waters, Smokey Joe's holds a nice mix of fish which include Mirror Carp to just over 24lbs, Commons to 15lbs and Ghost Carp to 12lbs.
With roach to 2lbs, rudd to half-a-pound, perch to 3lbs, skimmer bream and tench to 1lb, ide to 3lbs and a few chub to 1lb, this is a nice mixed fish water where you can go for decent nets of silver fish with a decent chance of picking up some of the better carp along the way
Although the deeper water is most productive in winter when a slider float or feeder are useful additions to the tackle box and catches of 30lbs to 40lbs are not uncommon, there are no particular hot spots in summer.
Then, fishing in the margins, to the island or fairly close in where the banks shelve at about 45 degrees to the bottom are usually best. However, wherever you fish, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, Astwood's own hook pellets, sinking bread flake, maggots and worms are all good baits.
Bluebell Pool
Anglers looking for the bigger fish at Astwood are probably best advised to head for Bluebell Pool, indeed, the attractiveness of this water and its head of Mirror Carp - which run to 30lbs - are starting to attract the interest of a small number of specimen carp anglers.
Similar in size to Smokey Joe's at about an acre, Bluebell Pool has 24 pegs and an island at the far end which usually attracts the 'early birds' as the carp are often to be found cruising round the island and in the margins. The match record here was set in 2003 at an impressive 143lbs - again by Peter Bailey - with the runner-up in the same match, Paul Savings, coming in with 132lbs. Needless to say, Paul thought he had the match in the bag - until it came to the weigh in!
The commons and ghosties can also give good sport, although at up to 16lbs and 14lbs respectively, they do not run as large as the mirror carp which were introduced when the fishery was first developed.
For the silver fish angler there are bream to between 4lbs and 5lbs, roach to 1lb, rudd between 14oz and 1lb, plenty of hybrid crucians to about 14oz and which can be quite prolific when they are on the feed.
In addition there are some Common Carp hybrids which generally range in size from 2lbs 8oz to 4lbs 8oz. These fish, which have spawned naturally in the pool, look like Common Carp but have no barbels.
An added attraction is that there are known to be a good head of large bream to over 8lbs but for some reason these have not shown over the last couple of years.
One reason for this may be that the pool was orginally 12 feet deep throughout much of its length with a deeper hole of about 15 feet. However, over the past few seasons a large amount of silt has built up on the bottom and this is known to contain large amounts of bloodworm which may have become the larger breams' predominant food source.
The result of the silting is that much of Bluebell Pool now runs between five-and-a-half feet deep around the island and about 10 feet deep everywhere. Shallower water can also be found around the sides of the pool which, like Smokey Joe's, shelve at an angle of about 45 degrees to the bottom.
Those going after the carp - a great many of which are over 20lbs - are advised to use more traditional baits and techniques with good old fashioned float fishing on the bottom in the margins being as successful as anything.
Interestingly enough, big fish don't tend to be caught using big baits and although anglers can use up to two rods equally good results are achieved using just one. Packing a selection of feeder pellets and hook samples in a pva bag should help to keep feed concentrated in a small area.
By and large, the techniques and baits which work well on Smokey Joe's do well on Bluebell with a 12 to 14s elastic and a 12 or 14s hook to a minimum 4lb line being recommended.
Again, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, maggots and, especially in winter, worm are all goo baits although floating baits are discouraged.
Fished Smokie Joe's the last time i visited, had a good net of roach to 1lb 
sorted.
on site cafe. 
