Stock Overview: Carp and Pike Challenges

The Quarry holds an impressive stock of approximately 120 carp, with weights ranging from a solid 20lb to a staggering 50lb+. This makes Quarry an exceptional venue for specimen carp fishing, with a genuine chance of landing a personal best. During the dedicated three-rod season from November to February, anglers can also target our resident pike, which reach weights of 25lb+ a thrilling challenge for any angler.

Advanced Tips & Tactics for Success

Patience and skill are key at The Quarry. Fishing here will require your full expertise, as the lake’s layout, depth variations, and natural habitat present unique challenges. Weed growth is prevalent year-round, so it’s crucial to ensure your bait presentation is precise. With the bottom made up of silt and weed positioning your hook bait correctly can make all the difference. Rather than looking for extensive clear areas, try targeting the edges of weed beds, where fish are often actively feeding on natural sources.

Stealth and Timing

Experienced anglers know that Quarry carp often reveal themselves at specific times of day, particularly around dawn and dusk. These peak hours can provide crucial hints about fish location, so maintaining a low profile and minimal disturbance can improve your chances. Fish activity can also change with temperature; on warm days, don’t underestimate the potential of fishing close in or even at the surface. Shallow areas near the bank can be especially productive for surface fishing, especially with floating baits.

Presentation is Key

With the lake’s weedy and silty profile, bait presentation is critical. Many anglers find success using adjustable rigs that hover above the silt and weed, ensuring that bait is visible. A few tactics to improve presentation include: Feel for Drops: When casting, use a marker rod to gauge the lakebed composition. A sharp drop can indicate harder ground, which is less silty, making it an ideal spot for a more direct presentation.

Recommended Baits: Maximising Attraction

Start with a bait you trust, as confidence plays a significant role, but be ready to adjust based on conditions and fish behavior. Quarry carp are accustomed to a range of baits, so experimenting can pay off. Some popular and proven options include:

• Boilies: Rich and attractively scented, these are consistently successful.
• Pellets & Pop-Ups: Pellets can attract fish from afar, and pop-ups are excellent for ensuring visibility above silt.
• Zig Baits: Particularly effective in spring and early summer when fish may be mid-water.
• Natural Baits: Worm and maggot are productive in colder weather, especially when fish are less active but still feeding.

Experiment with baiting strategies to match the conditions and time of year. For example, in colder months, fewer but higher-quality boilies can be more effective, while in warmer seasons, smaller but more frequent baiting can help keep the fish interested.

Rig Techniques: Tailoring Your Approach by Season

The right rig can make all the difference, especially in a lake as technically challenging as The Quarry. Choose your rig based on season and water conditions to maximize efficiency.

• Chod Rig: Ideal for weedy conditions, allowing bait to sit slightly above any submerged vegetation.
• Ronnie Rig: Offers excellent flexibility and presentation above silt, making it a versatile choice for mixed terrain.
• Stiff Hinge Rig: Effective for big, wary fish, especially over silt and light weed. This rig works well with buoyant baits, presenting them at an angle that fish find harder to resist.
• PVA Bags & Solid Bags: Provide the benefit of a concentrated bait pile, especially useful for drawing carp in and keeping bait highly visible.
• Surface Rigs with Bolt Controllers: For warm weather fishing, bolt controllers add stability to surface rigs, allowing you to cover more water with accurate casting and enticing larger fish toward the surface.

Each rig has its advantages, so having a mix prepared and adaptable to the specific conditions you encounter can significantly improve your chances.

Fine-Tuning Tactics by Season

• Winter: Focus on deeper areas, using small, high-attraction baits to tempt less active fish. Pike fishing is also productive in these colder months, with a range of deadbait presentations yielding results.
• Spring: As fish start to move and feed more, Zig rigs or mid-water baits can be especially productive.
• Summer: Surface rigs and close-in tactics are excellent choices, as carp are more active and frequently patrol the shallows.
• Autumn: Increase your bait quantity as fish prepare for winter, focusing on high-nutrition boilies and pellets.

By combining strategic location selection, keen observation, and precise rig and bait presentation, anglers can maximize their success at The Quarry, taking advantage of one of Staffordshire’s finest specimen fisheries.

Tackle Shop

Our on-site tackle shop makes browsing your next bit of kit and picking up bait as simple and convienient as possible.

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