Hinderclay Lakes near Diss is run by the Platt family and has established a good reputation over the last few years for providing good quality fishing, with clubs from all over the country travelling to fish the four lakes in the complex.

The Lakes lie in the upper Little Ouse valley and have been dug to provide peat for the horticultural industry, there are four fishable lakes at the present time with about ninety five well spaced, comfortable pegs to choose from, there is also another lake in the process and will provide more pegs for the future. With the good quality soil on the floodplain the lakes have matured rapidly with masses of reeds and bulrushes lining the banks of all the lakes.

Location

Here's a link to multimap.com, Hinderclay Lakes are highlighted with a red circle, you can use the navigation tools on the left of the map to zoom in and out.

Spring Lake.

The Spring Lake is the biggest lake in the complex with thirty spacious pegs to choose from. Plenty of Bulrushes and Norfolk reeds line the banks providing cover for the fish and from the strong winds, which rip through the valley, some of the locals call it windy-clay. Depths range from 50cm to a maximum of 2.25m (7ft) with the deeper water from pegs 5 just past the island to peg 20 right up the far end. Peg one right next to the car park is pictured right with its masses of Norfolk reed, and the nice solid, flat peg in the foreground. The peg numbering on this lake runs anti-clockwise away from the main car park. This lake has a large head of quality Crucian carp which have a taste for sweetcorn fished in the margins near some cover, get these feeding and 50lb plus pegs are easily possible, with some specimens over the two pound mark. Big bags of Roach can be caught all year round with waggler or pole fished caster being the best method. There are also some very big carp with individual fish weighing up to nearly 30lb.

Reed pool.

Reed pool is a smaller lake holding twenty nine pegs, the pegs are all well made solid and flat. As its name suggests the pool has dense reeds, bulrushes and sedges lining the margins of nearly every peg, beds of lilies feature in some swims. Pegs 1 through to 8 are the deepest with a maximum depth of 2.25m (7ft) with the far side (12-21) being only 90cm (3ft) max. The Reed pool is completely stuffed with fish, partly due to the naturally good spawning areas created by the reeds. The fish have grown on well in the food rich water, with big mixed bags of Tench, Bream, Crucian Carp, Roach and carp possible on a variety of methods and baits.

New Lake.

The newest fishing lake on the complex at the moment, but theres another lake being built. There are twenty pegs on the lake surrounding a small island in the center. Depths vary with pegs one to six being the deepest pegs, here the bottom shelves off very quickly to a maximimum 2m (6ft) deep, behind the island the depth is much less and can be as shallow as 30cm (1ft) close to the island. The lake has been heavily stocked with big carp which average over 5lb, with plenty of specimens well into double figures. Match catches are regularly in excess of 100lb and pleasure catches topping 200lb.

Willow Pool.

The Willow Pool is the smallest lake on the complex with only fourteen fishable pegs. There is also a small island, which is within reach of the long pole from pegs eleven and twelve. The lake is heavily stocked with a variety of species providing good sport in any conditions; get the Carp and Tench feeding and 100lb plus catches are possible. Depths range from just 60cm to a maximum of 2m. The picture was taken from peg nine (The deep end), with peg one (shallow end) being in the far left corner.

Information.
Match bookings and enquires tel: 01379 890110
Day tickets cost £4.50 for one rod, £6 for two rods. Juniors and O.A.P £3.50.
Bed and Breakfast is available locally from Strenneth at Fersfield tel: 01379 688182.

Rules.

1. All Litter must be removed from pegs and taken home.
2. Rods are not to be left unattended at any time.
3. Maximum of two rods to be used at any time.
4. Boilies, Nuts, live baits, pet food biscuits are banned. Hemp and Sweetcorn are allowed only in moderation.
5. No removing or transferring any fish.
6. All nets, carp slings and mats must be dipped.
7. Barbless Hooks only over size 18.
8. Use recognised pegs only.
9. No Dogs, fires, swimming, radios or disruptive behaviour.
10. Groundbait only in moderation.
11. All Boats of any description are banned including lilos.
12. All Children under sixteen must be accomanied by an adult.
13. No Night Fishing.
14. No fish over 2lb to be keep in nets.
15. Enjoy your days Fishing.