Ballast Pit
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
L the first owner to lay claim to making some serious stocking. Commons and Mirrors were stocked in vast numbers around the 5lb mark in approx.1980. Although varied stock already excisted at the time, the new influx of stock caused a boom in catch rates. (although maily 5lb' ers were caught!)
Previously to Melvyn, "John" the builder had owned all the properties around the lake (at this time known as Hunter's Moon lake)
During his ownership he befrinded "Kevin Maddox" who had stocked the lake with twenty cats, all about 3lb in weight. Whilst the cats are never really fished for, numerous anglers over the years have laid claim to the "screaming run" that they could never control, and lost the fish without ever getting to see anything. With some night-time monster splashes, some have said a cat in the region of 60lb must now hide somewhere in the depths!
John recalls a good varied array of stock from his time, from the roach, rudd & perch, to the small school of bream (currently around the 6lb mark) the introduction of a couple of pike occurred.
The pike are currently well feed up on the shoals of roach & rudd, with catches of a one time 35lb, and in recent years a 24lb.
In the past 12 months we have seen a 15lb come out on a pineapple boilie, reeled in for recasting. A few sessions of late have found a boom of 4-5lb jacks, a clump of 6lbers, and also a good head of 8lbers.
John recalls commons in abundance, maily in the 12lb region (the early 80's). Some of these fine looking golden, bronze beauties have been caught of late as 24-28lb, but a good few have sadly passed thier expeced age and departed us to that great lake we all hope to be fishing behind the pearly gates!
Welcome to Holyfield Carp Lakes website. You may choose from 3 lakes (Top Lake, Bottom Lake & match Lake) Holyfield Fishery provides toilets, a cafe and 24 hour CCTV monitoring of the car park. For details of the three lakes see below.
Holyfield Bottom Lake is a specimen carp lake, with carp ranging from around 8lb up to 35.5lb. Including Tench up to 6.5lb, the lake itself is just under four acres with a silty bottom, the lake is well stocked with average sized Carp at around 20lb. Membership for this lake is available or day tickets can be purchased on the bank.
22lb Bottom Lake
RECORD CATCH - TOP LAKE
33lb 4oz
Holyfield Top Lake restricted to memebers only at weekends and is for over 18's only. The present lake record is 33lb 4oz, with an average size of 15lb. There is also a good stock of Tench up to 4lb, the lake features two islands with mature trees surrounding. The bottom of the lake is clay with some weed and Lilly pads, during the summer months, many of the fish are caught at the surface. Top and bottom lakes are both open 7 days a week.
Holyfield Match Lake recently opened in 2003, is around one acre in size. Consisting of 12 swims, the lake is very well stocked with a range of fish including Roach, Rudd, Bream, Perch, carp and Tench. This lake is open to beginners or experienced fishermen. Children are welcome but must be supervised by an adult.
The lake is open seven days a week for day tickets or can be booked for private matches. Holyfield Fishery provides toilets, a cafe and 24 hour CCTV monitoring of the car parking area. We also often have some small home bred Carp and Tench available in our fish house.
