Ask anyone in the UK to name some venues where a big weight is likely and most people will mention Boddington Reservoir. To say this fishery has a good reputation is a massive understatement.
If you are planning a session at Boddington you should certainly take some strong gear. The carp average around the 7lb mark, and there are lots of much bigger carp lurking in the depths. The match record at the venue is over 600lbs; you dont need many fish to put together a big weight. The most popular way to fish is a hybrid or method feeder fished at distance, this will work all year round. It can be a bit of a waiting game, which may put some anglers off. You might fish for several hours without a sign, but then have a frantic fish-a-chuck period – if that happens you will wake up the next day with arm ache.
During the warmer months the carp are more active and can be caught closer in. The pellet waggler is probably the most exciting way to catch them. Bomb and pellet on the same line will catch those fish that are sitting lower in the water.
The “fished at distance” part is not an understatement. The fish can sit a long way out and you need to find them. Think along the lines of measuring sticks, distance rods, big spooled reels, shock leaders and 45g+ feeders. If those items aren’t in your normal armoury, you might need a trip to the tackle shop or borrow some bits from friends. From experience, turning up and watching the person on the next peg catching fish you can’t reach is a frustrating day.
In addition to the carp, there is a sizeable head of silver fish in the water. If you fancy something different, these should offer a good days sport. The roach and bream can be caught on the pole line. You will need a fairly heavy rig to present your bait in a stable manner. Depth wise, you might need rigs set up on a top 4, but it does shallow up on the beach area after the gate. The silvers could be a viable option in a match if the carp aren’t feeding.
The 65 acre water does offer a large number of pegs, however it might be best to do some research before your trip to double check that there will be spaces available. The venue is host to a lot of matches through the year. If you don’t get a peg, you could always head over to Drayton Reservoir!
