0 Looking for a premier Catfish and Carp fishing lake in Essex? Earls Colne Fishing is on the outskirts of Colchester at Earls Colne Reservoir. Located opposite The Essex Golf & Country Club this fantastic mature, 3-acre, 30 foot deep lake boasts some great specimens. With 24-hour security, CCTV and otter fencing we have 10 swims (including the 4 doubles) Earls Colne really is a premier lake in Essex.
Earls Colne Fishing is a Members Lake. In order to fish you will need to pay for your membership and complete the membership form. This is an annual membership fee. Please ensure that you complete your membership before booking your swim. You can add your membership on this website and pay at the same time you book a swim, however, please remember to complete the online form as well.
To give some history, the lake was previously a Carp day ticket fishing lake but had been shut down 20 years ago due to people leaving rubbish in swims, throwing line into the water, and even fish theft, so the landowners closed the lake and issued a no fishing policy. I was able to convince the landowner that we would manage the lake properly, protect the fish, and protect the environment from abuse.
We cleared trees, bushes and created the swims that have been improving year on year. After this, we became registered for Catfish and originally stocked 54 Catfish into the water (now 87). The largest introduced was at 62lb and was joined by numerous 40lb and 20lb as well. Over the initial years the lake remained closed except for some key fishermen and the fish have grown fantastically and those Cats have now been registered at above the magic 70lb mark. Our white catfish Tina, Arthur and Sparticus have been a successfull introduction and Tina has grown from 21lb to 33lb within 4 years. Sparticus at 42lb, may be the biggest white catfish in Essex and certainly puts up an amazing fight. In November 2022, we introduced Thor who is potentially the largest known Catfish in the UK and weighed over 140lb when put in. Thor brings us into a new era of catfishing being the largest and probably best known catfish around and makes Earls Colne the number 1 venue to catch your personal best and capture that once in a lifetime memory.
Carp have been improved with new fish stocked, pellet and DT bait-fed and have all shown weight gain, quicker than most fisheries in the area. With Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Large Koi, and Grass Carp the weights have risen to over 30lb+ plus a 40lb Mirror which has only been caught once.
Why pay us a visit?
All our hard work is paying off for the anglers who have visited since we opened. There is a big choice for fishermen and those looking for the fight of the Catfish or the run of a big Carp will be pleased to hear that a 30-foot deep basin, very little in the way of snags, and a private and protected environment, mean that many anglers will be banking personal bests!
Our work on the swims and clearing the area is something we pride ourselves on and we fully expect and kindly request that all visitors keep tidy and collect all rubbish to take away with them or use our industrial on site bin. This includes line, food wrappers, broken tackle, and any other rubbish. We do not want to risk the lake being forced into a closure again. Work with us on this and we will continue to improve a magical lake you’ll want to keep coming back to. We also give you the use of our barbecue area which is a new and well used addition in 2022.
We are fully aware that our day tickets may be more than other fisheries in the local area but all money goes back into improvements to the lake, purchase of new strains of fish, and we are focusing on quality anglers who are looking to catch, and fish care is our number 1 priority. Please remember however that this lake is a totally non profit making lake and all monies collected go back into improving the lake.
Book your swim today.
For a great experience day ticket fishing, whether looking for a Catfish lake in Essex or a Carp fishing lake in Essex, Earls Colne Fishing covers both bases. We also have other course specimens with Roach and Rudd around the 2lb mark and many other breeds including Tench and Perch, to keep you busy. Don’t wait, get in touch with us today on 07854 066501 and book a trip to a truly wonderful fishery in Essex.
