The specimen water covers around 9 acres, with depths to 14’ and has a natural stream bed running through it. Plenty of weed means plenty of natural food for the inhabitants, with the result that it can be a challenging arena for those who may be used to easier venues. Because the pool is stream fed and absorbs the runoff from the adjacent Pendle Hill, the lake bed contains copious amounts of food rich silt and nutrients, which means a fertile environment for the bank side plantings; surrounded by well established reed beds, overhanging trees, sedges and bushes, there is plenty of cover for both anglers and fish. There are more than 300 carp, including a lake record of 47lbs 6ozs with several 30’s, numerous 20’s and others doubles to back them up; the opportunity of a new personal best is there for the taking!

There are 25 fishing ‘stations’ of which 9 are easily able to accommodate 2 large bivvies so you can fish with a friend; both anglers have enough room to fish 3 rods each without coming into conflict with adjacent pegs. Each ‘station’ is constructed to a high standard, constrained with heavy logging to provide a stable base to fish from and topped with quality wood bark to remove the inconvenience of fishing in a muddy puddle. One thing I did notice is the fact that it is EASY to get bivvy pegs into the ground WITHOUT a mallet, so no chance of someone next door spooking the fish away! Behind every peg is a refuse bin which is emptied each morning, so nothing to attract rats or other critters! Access to each station is simple; vehicles have more or less full right of entry to allow anglers to drop off tackle at the peg and return the car or van to the car park. Less able anglers will be able to take advantage of several ‘stations’ which have a gentle slope down to the water.

Facilities onsite are excellent; hot showers are available for just a small £1 contribution towards hot water, so long stay visitors have no need to be uncomfortable during their stay. There are both male and female toilets (and disabled) all of which are clean, with a working flush, seat AND toilet roll which isn’t damp or greaseproof! Sinks are also provided with hand wash and plugs...... The shop/cafe is stocked with a reasonable amount of items which anglers may have forgotten; terminal tackle and a few larger items should ensure that you can fish whatever you have left behind, and the amount of available bait is astonishing in such a relatively small shop. The cafe serves hot, tasty food at chip shop prices and features an extensive menu of curries, chillies, pies and burgers. Not content with that, food orders can be taken and delivered (still piping hot!) to your bankside abode! £3.50 for pie, chips, peas and gravy, served at the peg is an ideal way to keep warm on winter sessions!

Ample car parking, cctv and a locked gate between the hours of 9pm and 7am mean that anglers can relax in a secure site and concentrate on their fishing without fear of intruders. The bailiff lives onsite and is available to deal with any issues as they arise. Tactics at Pendle View don’t have to be complicated; the advice given is to keep things simple, use a good quality boilie and minimal baiting. Floater fishing is also successful, but the water birds may get there first so keep your eyes peeled.

In summary, Pendle View is an exceptionally attractive, established venue with no silly rules and constructed with the angler in mind. Prices on the main lake are a very reasonable £24 for 24 hours, to avoid disappointment  it is recommended that you book and pay for your peg in advance by telephoning the office direct on 01254 822 208 all major credit cards are accepted. Rules of note include a barbless hook policy, no nuts of any kind, no lead core, and you must be in possession of an unhooking mat, but there is nothing unexpected or trivial; all rules are there to protect the fish and the angler! The fact that Pendle View has the current Lancashire carp record at 47lbs 6ozs with a fish known as ‘Butt Head’ has made this a popular complex for those who like to be challenged when angling for some very big fish; if that sounds like you, then check out the website and book your ticket!


Pendle View Fishery
A59 Bypass
Barrow
Clitheroe
Lancashire
BB79DH
01254 822208

http://www.pendleviewfishery.com/

Heading back towards the main specimen lake, Phill Broderick introduced himself and offered to show me around. We ambled across to the match canal area and Phill described the fishing to me as we explored through the woods. It doesn’t look like a canal at all, more a still river. No blandness of brick built commercial waterways here, plenty of bankside cover, overhanging trees, reedy beds, shallows, deeps and bays turn this into a retreat of quiet stillness. I’m told that match weights on this stretch often get towards 3 figures, but it seemed a travesty to call it a match water! Far too nice for that cut throat game! Stocked with ide, orfe, roach, carp all manner of others, it responds well to all styles of angling.

The Serpentine lake is an odd shaped little pool with a good head of ‘pastie’ carp and other species. Best tackled using a pole, it is possible to get tight to the main island and the many rushes and reed beds that feature in another gorgeous piece of landscaping. Phill and one of his team showed me how to go about catching the fin perfect carp using a pellet approach from a far margin swim. On light elastic, the fish put up a hell of a scrap to give immense fun trying to get them into open water. Again, this is a small compact water where the angler may well be alone to enjoy the natural surroundings. If you keep nice and quiet, rabbits, foxes and all kinds of birds will entertain you if you get chance to observe between furious arguments with hungry carp! Behind this pool are toilet facilities which are exceptionally clean and well maintained, with fresh water supplied to the overnight anglers for cooking and drinking. Not many places where that is available....even had loo roll!!! (Again, a rarity at most places!)

For carp anglers, the specimen lake is the main attraction. Covering about 5 acres with varying depths, the lake presents many challenges. Underwater features can be identified by using a marker float, but some are made more evident by the branches and roots visible above the water. Great ‘carpy’ bays, huge masses of lily pads, deep margins, open water and islands all make this a fantastic test for even the most experienced carper. ‘Screamer’ baits are offered for sale at Cleveley, and it makes sense to try them. Boilies, pellets, dips, glugs and groundbaits are all extensively used and trialled here, and some amazing multiple catches have been taken. Owner John Wilding purchased and stocked over 14000 fish when he bought the place a couple of years ago, including grass carp which now hit the bank at over 30lbs! There are some big common and mirror carp which also run into the low thirties, but even the average fish are coming in at over 20lbs. John is immensely proud of his grass carp stock which, without doubt, is amongst the finest in the North West. Boilie tactics seem to be the main form of attack here, but don’t neglect the opportunity to stalk individual monsters through the shallows or hiding under the pads. There are plenty of them, and a good pair of polarising glasses are a big advantage. Most pegs offer plenty of room for a two man bivvy to be set up without too much trouble; other areas such as the ‘point’ have room for up to three individual bivvies at the same time so there is always loads of room for anglers to fish comfortably. The venue is well away from any roads, traffic or any other source of noise, so the quiet is complete. It’s attractively landscaped throughout (although there was some work still being completed) and has the potential for further expansion. One of the more interesting points about the place is that although it offers overnight accommodation in purpose built chalets, there are four top quality log cabins just being completed. Each one has underfloor heating, plasma screens in each room and everything else that could possibly need. Designed and built to the highest specifications and nestling snugly on the bankside, these exclusive properties are being offered for sale. Further details are available from John Wilding at Cleveley Bridge, but if you fall in love with the place, then they are definitely worth considering.

I asked John Wilding why he purchased the place. He isn’t an angler so relies on manager Keith Holloway to help with running the fishery. He told me that he had been given ‘the nod’ by a friend that Cleveley was up for sale, so came down for a look; later that same day, the deal was concluded and he became the owner. John was honest enough to tell me that he bought it because he wanted his own bit of ‘...peace and tranquillity’. Looking around, I can tell you that he certainly has that, but he has a smashing fishery too; why not give it a try?

If you like great fishing in a superb setting, then Cleveley Bridge is just the place you need to visit. For more information check out the website at www.cleveleybridgefisheries.com or ring 01524 791637

Clint Walker

September 2009