One of the oldest of the Society’s still waters and still bearing its original name was dug around 1842 to provide material for the Tonbridge to Redhill railway embankment, which runs alongside. This was the main London to Dover line for nearly 30 years before the tunnels each side of Sevenoaks were dug,  This four acre lake was back in the 1880’s, shared between the Angling society and Tonbridge skating club, as it froze firm enough to skate on almost every year up to the early 1900’s. The “pit” has an average depth of four feet, the bottom is generally silt and there is some weed and lilies which make the water look attractive. The water is very popular with carp anglers with a large number of doubles; twenty’s and a sprinkling of fish over 30lbs. It also has a good head of other fish, notably large bream and tench. 100 lb bags of bream have been known. Quality roach, rudd, perch and pike are also regular visitors to the landing net, although the larger tench and bream tend to be caught on boiles due to the quantity going into the water. All methods will catch and sprayed maggots will bring a host of silver fish into the swim. Ground bait feeder can produce large nets of bream. Pole fishing for silver fish and bream can become explosive if a carp or large tench picks up the hook bait.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

This is a members only water

 

Senior members only

 

Parking in Haysden country park car park

 

No over night parking in the car park, opening times are displayed at entrance

 

Old Ballast Pit,

 

At last after renting the Ballast Pit for over 100 years the Society now own this lake.  We have not carried out much in the way of maintenance or improvements for several years as it was known that British Rail intended putting the Pit up for sale. It seemed unwise for the Society to give the Pit added value, but now it is time to make this water the super fishery it can be. Helpers will naturally be needed so if you are willing to give a few hours of your time to help make the Ballast Pit the best fishing venue in Kent please contact Alex on 01732 832352

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonbridge & District Angling & Fish Preservation Society

 

PO Box 131

 

Tonbridge, Kent

 

TN11 8WB

 

 Society answer-phone  -  01732 359385

 

 

 

please contact Alex on 01732 832352