Naseby Reservoir
Naseby Reservoir at Naseby in Northamptonshire is gaining a growing reputation as a specimen carp, catfish, bream, tench and pike fishery
Key facts about Naseby Reservoir
Despite covering some 93 acres, offering 80 pegs and having been around since the late 1700s, Naseby Reservoir has only recently been gaining a growing reputation as a specimen water – although it is known to hold some big carp, catfish, bream, tench, pike and even trout. Just a short drive from Junction 1 of the A14, the reservoir was run as a private fishery for many years before being closed to angling. In 2003, however, it was decided to open the water as a day-ticket fishery.
Fish stocks at Naseby Reservoir
To boost fish stocks some 12,500 mirror carp about 1lb in weight were introduced. These fish are now regularly coming out well into double figures with 20lb-plus fish being regularly caught and even 30lb specimens now showing more frequently. Needless to say this means fishing Naseby can provide exciting sport for both pleasure and match anglers alike. Situated just a mile from the site of the famous battlefield which changed the course of the English Civil War in 1645, Naseby Reservoir is used to top up the nearby Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal. As a result, the water area can drop dramatically in summer to as little as 20 acres – and it is then that the angling really hots up as the fish are concentrated in a much smaller area.
Records on Naseby
Indeed, it was in the summer of 2005 when water levels were low that the current match record was set by local angler Steve Porter from Knighton, near Leicester, who fished off the dam wall and took a 248lb bag of carp and roach. Despite this impressive track record, few matches are currently held.
For much of the year some of the bank is unfishable because it is soft mud. In summer, however, this dries out and with reduced water levels a much greater portion of the reservoir becomes accessible. Fishing is available all year round from the dam wall and for much of the year a gravel spit runs out from near the car park entrance giving anglers the option of fishing a channel between it and the dam, out into open water or into the arm to the left as you face the reservoir from the entrance.
Fish in fantastic condition
Naseby is not only an attractive reservoir but has the added attraction that the fish are usually in pristine condition. Although the average stamp of the carp is now in the mid teens, mirrors and commons to over 30lbs are now being caught. Add in roach to 2lbs 8oz, bream to 10lbs 2oz, tench to 9lbs 8oz, trout to 8lbs, and perch to 1lb 8oz and you have some quality fish to go for.
Huge Catfish and Pike
And that’s not to mention the pike which have been taken to 33lbs and catfish which grow so big that the reservoir is a regular weekend haunt for members of the Catfish Conservation Society. Whilst cats to 60lbs have been caught, members believe much bigger fish haunt the depths as several anglers have been broken whilst using tackle more suited to sea fishing than that developed for inland waterways.
For those interested in the bigger fish, night fishing is available to members but must be booked in advance with the bailiff on 07904 493417. Anglers should note, however, that there are no concessionary rates for night fishing.
Naseby Reservoir
Naseby is known for its huge catfish, as well as prolific roach catches.
Accessing Naseby Reservoir
For most of the year fishing at Naseby is confined mainly to the deeper water by the dam wall and off the gravel spit which runs out from the near left hand bank across to the former yacht club. At times this can be completely submerged whilst in late spring and summer when water levels fall this can be greatly extended and give access to the open water further out in the reservoir.
At the same time, when water levels drop, fishing from the banks up the left hand arm is more accessible as is fishing from the right hand bank past the yacht club building to the first willow tree about a third of the way along this side of the reservoir.
At the car park end of the dam wall is a 10 to 12 feet deep channel which runs a couple of rod lengths out to about three quarters of the way along the wall. Depths drop as you approach the vicinity of the outlet sluice which has a maximum depth of 20 feet out from the middle of the dam wall.
Although the top end of the left hand arm is shallower at about four feet, the channel gets deeper to a maximum of about 12 feet where it joins the main body of the reservoir.
Top end of the reservoir
Although unfishable for most of the year because the banks are soft and muddy, the water at the top end of the reservoir furthest away from the dam wall is shallow at about only three feet. This part of the reservoir and the left hand arm are the first areas to dry out as water levels fall.
Pleasure anglers generally stick to the pegs nearest the car park, either on the dam wall or along the spit, fishing about four feet deep a rod length our on the pole or waggler or in deeper water with the swimfeeder for the roach, carp, tench or bream.
Fantastic roach water
Naseby is renowned amongst its regulars as a prolific roach water with 100lb pleasure bags not uncommon. These are generally made up of fish with an average size of 12oz, although bigger fish can be had. Most popular baits for the roach are maggots, casters and sweetcorn.
Fishing on Naseby
As a general rule anglers are advised to build up a swim with plenty of free offerings and if fishing at distance to pack a pva bag with 1mm black and green pellets and samples of hook bait. Pole anglers often use soft hooker pellets on a Size 16 and combine this with a mix of sloppy groundbait or small pellets.
Those targeting the tench and bream are increasingly tending towards fishing modern carping techniques. Indeed, the reservoir’s biggest bream – which came out at 12lbs 2oz – was taken on a 6mm strawberry boilie whilst the biggest tench, which was just 8ozs under double figures, was also taken by an angler fishing for carp. Although the bream run into double figures, they are not as widespread as other species.
The other main pleasure species apart from the smaller carp are the perch which run to about 1lb 8oz and are most commonly taken on waggler-fished worm or maggot.
Catching the larger fish
Naseby also has a lot to offer the specimen hunter or those after bigger fish. In addition to the big bream and tench, the reservoir is home to catfish known to run to over 60lbs as well as pike to 33lbs and carp to over just under 30lbs. However, regulars are convinced there are much bigger carp in the water having been broken by big fish or having reportedly seen ‘massive dark shapes’.
Anglers going after the carp generally use modern carping techniques, using baits of large halibut pellets, a variety of boilies, sweetcorn or maggot rings. The Method Feeder is popular fished about 40 yards out into open water from the gravel spit with hook sizes as small as 14s and even 18s in matches being regularly used.
When it comes to serious angling for the really big ones, however, you have to go for the catfish. The biggest to come out so far weighed spot on 60lbs – although it was taken by an angler after the carp. Having played out a carp of about 6lbs, he was getting ready to net it when the big cat loomed out of the darkness and took the fish he was landing whole.
Important notice about catching Catfish
Anyone who catches a catfish is asked to telephone the Canal and River Trust 24-hour emergency line 0800 4799947 and to hold onto the fish until it can be collected and transferred to a licenced venue.
Going for the Catfish
Anglers going for the cats generally fish carping or straightforward ledgering techniques with a wide variety of baits being successful. More conventional anglers opt for a string or long hair-rig of three or four 26mm halibut pellets with big hooks and strong line.
The more adventurous, however, are not afraid to try more exotic baits including dead sardines and other sea fish, large chunks of liver and even dead rats and mice! Pike fishing normally proves most successful off the dam wall with ledgered dead bait such as roach or sea fish.
Prices
Open 24hrs a Day, all year round. Match bookings are now being taken for 2022 and 2023. Naseby has a Facebook page which can be found by searching ‘Naseby Reservoir Official Page’ where details of the rules, pricing and catch reports can be seen.
Tickets |
Adults | OAP/Under 16/Disabled | Day Tickets |
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6.00 One rod, 10.00 two rods
5.00 One rod, 10.00 two rods
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| Day Tickets | 6.00 One rod, 10.00 two rods | 5.00 One rod, 10.00 two rods | Night Fishing |
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20.00 (Two rods max)
20.00 (Two rods max)
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| Night Fishing | 20.00 (Two rods max) | 20.00 (Two rods max) |
How to get there
You may also be interested in
If you like the look of Naseby Reservoir then you may also like other local reservoirs and other fishing lakes in Northamptonshire including, Bluebell Lakes, Boddington Reservoir, Drayton Reservoir, Clattercote Reservoir and Stockton Reservoir.
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