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Venue review; Millbrook Fishery
Mill Lane
Wetley Rocks
Staffordshire
ST9 0BN
01782 550522
info@millbrookfisheries.co.uk
www.millbrookfisheries.co.uk
If you could design a perfect carp fishery which would fulfil the wish of every carp angler, then Millbrook may well be the place. I’ve often considered just what I would want at MY perfect (post lottery win!) imaginary carp venue, and I think Millbrook has it covered! I went to sit owners Craig and Lee to find out more before it opens for business on Friday 11th May.....
Situated on the edge of the picturesque Staffordshire Moorlands, Millbrook is comprised of a single 4.5 acre fishing pool, associated stock/breeding pools, a toilet/amenity block and extensive carp ark; it doesn’t stop there though, everywhere you turn, there is a small touch which adds to the aesthetics of the place to make it into a truly lovely site.
Surrounded by substantial fencing and well signed, it offers safety and protection for the visiting angler; no worries about thefts of tackle or from vehicles, and, in addition to onsite staff, 24 hour cctv also ensures a worry free visit, so fishing with complete peace of mind is a great start. Entering the gates, anglers are confronted with a huge gravelled carp ark with loads of room to remove tackle from vehicles without bumping the car parked next door, and as it is hard standing, there is no need to dump your kit into a muddy puddle whilst you get the barrow out.
There is no muddy track to get to the lakeside either; the pathways are all beautifully laid out and finished with lovely flagstones which offer superb access for the less able angler. No sharp turns, just sweeping curves which lead down to the lake and every peg is levelled to perfection and provides plenty of room for anglers. Little touches such as matching capstones on each pillar and locally sourced stone for the walls ensures that Millbrook really blends in with the surrounding area.
Each of the twelve pegs are thoughtfully laid out and well covered in bark chips to provide excellent drainage and prevent tackle becoming soaked in mud. Each is faced with a huge wooden sleeper and edged with stone to inhibit any movement of soil or chips and keep everything tidy; looks great too! Behind the peg is a low wall which is gently curved to offer integrity to the bankside behind and is inlaid with a carved stone number to identify each station. There is more than enough room for a two man bivvy, and would certainly fit a much bigger continental style bivvy if required.
Once sited on the peg, what does Millbrook have to offer? With 4.5 acres to keep twelve anglers happy, there is loads of water in front of each peg, although there are boundaries marked with white tipped posts to prevent any confusion. Depths average around 4-5 feet with a small amount of silt on the lake bed, and there are abundant plantings both at the water’s edge and of extensive lily beds which offer shade and cover for the carp within. Willow trees and a variety of other deciduous/evergreens will offer colour all year round if you take an interest in your surroundings. Two large islands present a ‘far bank’ feature for each angler to cast to, and once again, each is extensively planted with well established reeds and other cover.
Within Millbrook, there are carp to 35lbs+ which were introduced in late 2011 and left to settle and grow; already fish stocked at lower weights have started to pile on the weight as a result of careful management and having room to feed without undue pressure for food stocks. There are just over eighty fish, with at least ten over 30lbs+ and forty fish well over the 20lbs+ barrier, so it really is the place to look for a new personal best! The stock are being ‘beefed up’ on CC Moores baits, so it may pay to offer something similar when you fish........just a thought!
Facilities at Millbrook are outstanding; a dedicated toilet/shower block gives access to male, female and disabled amenities, a shower and booking office/shop, so there is no need to go home cold and wet in the event of a sudden deluge. Craig intends to stock the shop with only quality baits to maintain the health of the carp and offer the visitor the opportunity to use baits the fish are used to accepting as a recognised food source.
The rules at Millbrook are reasonable and designed to protect the fish, the lake and the surroundings whilst ensuring that every angler enjoys the visit. All anglers are allowed to use only two rods, no under anglers under 16 are allowed, no bait boats (there is no need!) and then much of the rest is common sense; the rules worthy of note include using the weigh slings, nets and (huge!) unhooking mats provided by the fishery to care for the catch properly. There are also bait rules in place to guard against unused or uneaten bait fermenting on the lake bed and a few other regulations; however if you are a sensible angler with a sensible outlook, then there are no rules which will affect your enjoyment!
So there you have it. It’s the fishery that many anglers dream of, now a reality and available on a day ticket costing just £20. Currently Millbrook is open for four days per week (Friday-Monday), from 0630 when anglers will be asked to draw a peg number to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to bag a lump. Definitely a fishery for the future, I’ll see you on the bank!
Mill Lane
Wetley Rocks
Staffordshire
ST9 0BN
01782 550522
info@millbrookfisheries.co.uk
www.millbrookfisheries.co.uk
If you could design a perfect carp fishery which would fulfil the wish of every carp angler, then Millbrook may well be the place. I’ve often considered just what I would want at MY perfect (post lottery win!) imaginary carp venue, and I think Millbrook has it covered! I went to sit owners Craig and Lee to find out more before it opens for business on Friday 11th May.....
Situated on the edge of the picturesque Staffordshire Moorlands, Millbrook is comprised of a single 4.5 acre fishing pool, associated stock/breeding pools, a toilet/amenity block and extensive carp ark; it doesn’t stop there though, everywhere you turn, there is a small touch which adds to the aesthetics of the place to make it into a truly lovely site.
Surrounded by substantial fencing and well signed, it offers safety and protection for the visiting angler; no worries about thefts of tackle or from vehicles, and, in addition to onsite staff, 24 hour cctv also ensures a worry free visit, so fishing with complete peace of mind is a great start. Entering the gates, anglers are confronted with a huge gravelled carp ark with loads of room to remove tackle from vehicles without bumping the car parked next door, and as it is hard standing, there is no need to dump your kit into a muddy puddle whilst you get the barrow out.
There is no muddy track to get to the lakeside either; the pathways are all beautifully laid out and finished with lovely flagstones which offer superb access for the less able angler. No sharp turns, just sweeping curves which lead down to the lake and every peg is levelled to perfection and provides plenty of room for anglers. Little touches such as matching capstones on each pillar and locally sourced stone for the walls ensures that Millbrook really blends in with the surrounding area.
Each of the twelve pegs are thoughtfully laid out and well covered in bark chips to provide excellent drainage and prevent tackle becoming soaked in mud. Each is faced with a huge wooden sleeper and edged with stone to inhibit any movement of soil or chips and keep everything tidy; looks great too! Behind the peg is a low wall which is gently curved to offer integrity to the bankside behind and is inlaid with a carved stone number to identify each station. There is more than enough room for a two man bivvy, and would certainly fit a much bigger continental style bivvy if required.
Once sited on the peg, what does Millbrook have to offer? With 4.5 acres to keep twelve anglers happy, there is loads of water in front of each peg, although there are boundaries marked with white tipped posts to prevent any confusion. Depths average around 4-5 feet with a small amount of silt on the lake bed, and there are abundant plantings both at the water’s edge and of extensive lily beds which offer shade and cover for the carp within. Willow trees and a variety of other deciduous/evergreens will offer colour all year round if you take an interest in your surroundings. Two large islands present a ‘far bank’ feature for each angler to cast to, and once again, each is extensively planted with well established reeds and other cover.
Within Millbrook, there are carp to 35lbs+ which were introduced in late 2011 and left to settle and grow; already fish stocked at lower weights have started to pile on the weight as a result of careful management and having room to feed without undue pressure for food stocks. There are just over eighty fish, with at least ten over 30lbs+ and forty fish well over the 20lbs+ barrier, so it really is the place to look for a new personal best! The stock are being ‘beefed up’ on CC Moores baits, so it may pay to offer something similar when you fish........just a thought!
Facilities at Millbrook are outstanding; a dedicated toilet/shower block gives access to male, female and disabled amenities, a shower and booking office/shop, so there is no need to go home cold and wet in the event of a sudden deluge. Craig intends to stock the shop with only quality baits to maintain the health of the carp and offer the visitor the opportunity to use baits the fish are used to accepting as a recognised food source.
The rules at Millbrook are reasonable and designed to protect the fish, the lake and the surroundings whilst ensuring that every angler enjoys the visit. All anglers are allowed to use only two rods, no under anglers under 16 are allowed, no bait boats (there is no need!) and then much of the rest is common sense; the rules worthy of note include using the weigh slings, nets and (huge!) unhooking mats provided by the fishery to care for the catch properly. There are also bait rules in place to guard against unused or uneaten bait fermenting on the lake bed and a few other regulations; however if you are a sensible angler with a sensible outlook, then there are no rules which will affect your enjoyment!
So there you have it. It’s the fishery that many anglers dream of, now a reality and available on a day ticket costing just £20. Currently Millbrook is open for four days per week (Friday-Monday), from 0630 when anglers will be asked to draw a peg number to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to bag a lump. Definitely a fishery for the future, I’ll see you on the bank!
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