so far this winter january to february have fished this small one acre lake 5 times blanked the first time (iced up most of lake) in four other sessions i had a total of 9 fish (which for this time of year is superb) one dodgy looking common/ghostie 8lbs two 5lbs mirror and two commons over 10lbs (one 10lbs the other 12lbs) also broke up on 2 good sized carp. the temps was around the 5 C mark, Normally you would not have caught me anywhere near a lake in these temps but i decided to have a go and well pleased with the results.
i worked out only after one session where the fish lurk in the winter (bait luncheon meat ) I gather prawns work well for carp . But the fish tend to dive under the tree roots and a heavy line is needed there.(14lbs) a 10lbs camo line is a little too light for this. The section (double peg) close the the carpark is the deepest . Biggest fish around the 20lb + mark. so not not huge by carping standards. but there are a good head of them. Have to try mores lane next (brentwood) next to bentley fishery. Would appreciate any information regarding these two lakes

is this a record ?
5 fish caught on ledger five different species
cruscian common mirror bream and yes goldfish (large one).
also means 4 species off carp ( i am shure goldfish is a carp?)
It was strange day very quite generally had lots of takes but could not land anything then decided to change from double sweetcorn on size 8 hook to threble sweetcorn on size 10(short).
Found that if one sweetcorn was left the fish was not interested at all.
But due to the fact i was fishing under tree roots and large holes (due to bomb being dropped in ww2 and a car found in the lake years back).
the depth is deep and dangerous i have to use 14lb line .
In one session yesterday i lost 4 weights and one good carp.
All three elm park and hornchurch lakes are fishing well at the moment. Mores lane lakes are very high at the moment but should be ok in a couple of months once the weather changes to more dryer weather. The club must be congratulated in have 3 lovely lakes that are not over fished and still gives the members a challenge (esp at dodddinghurst place.(unlike some clubs i could mention) with some unusual species too as well to make things interesting. (ok not strictly uk species) but who cares. My thanks to the officials of Elm park and hornchurch.