Thinking of booking a couple days off work to go off fishing in a couple weeks and this is top of my list to try.

Main reason is its one place me and my Dad always wanted to go but unfortunately he passed away in January so really want to do this.

2nd reason my eldest son is really getting interested in fishing now and wants to come with me to try his hand at carping for the 1st time.

Any tips would be gratefully welcomed. i'll be getting my carp society membership tomorrow for me and my son.

grumps and sean have fished there, and 1 or others so i think when they read this you will get tips galore.

never fished the place myself but i want to, now im back working again i might get round to actually doing it

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Although I have yet to catch a fish at Horseshoe, I can only recommend it as a stunning venue.

Be equipped for swans if you are in Summer Bay, as water levels are low, and the blighters can eat your bait off the bottom

Winter Bay is also possible, but very weedy and a greater hike with the kit.

Having said all that, I would still recommend it it and will be going myself (and hopefully son too).

btw, grumpy is your man to ask specifics of as is his local water

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Would like to be.....gone fishin', instead of just a'wishin'.....

Well bit the bullet and got my Carp Society membership sorted for me and my son, Booked 2 days off work 15th and 16th this month and treated myself to a new bedchair so my son can have my old one.

Not sure how the membership works with the carp society as i bought it online so presume they send details through the post so hope it reaches me in time.

Gonna respool the reels this weekend and go through the old tackle box to see what i need.

thattil,
Rest assured in money/membership matters they are efficient - they will post all the relevant gubbins to you.
Do bear in mind that you cannot reserve a peg/swim in advance, just have to see what's available on the day. But it's a big venue so plenty of pegs etc, but sensibly you have chosen thu-fri as opposed to weekend, as it hots up then in competition for pegs. But it would be a real downer to travel from Willenhall all that way to find that it is full.
Do phone and book in advance though - best time seems to be 8:15 to 9am as they are having brekky in the office

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Would like to be.....gone fishin', instead of just a'wishin'.....

Thats good to hear regarding the membership stuff

i will phone them on the thursday morning before i set off according to multimap its around a 2 hour drive from here so definately dont want a wasted journey and plus would like a double peg so i'm close to my son as he's new to the carp game

Would love some tips on what bait to take with me guys if possible?

Horseshoe, what a venue, awesome, fishing for some of the best fish in the country.

Once you've fished there, thattill, I guarantee you'll want to fish there again, even if you blank. Horseshoe is a very well run water and are strict on the rules, especially the rule about leaving rods unattended, i.e. visiting the swim next door. The baillifs will check your rigs and hooks. They won't tolerate unruly behaviour either, which means fishing with peace of mind and not concerned about idiots messing about or anyone trying to run off with your gear. The facilities are good, clean toilets and showers. All in all it's a 1st class venue.

Bait, well the fish like good quality bait and they love hemp. When the fish are feeding, and they go round in shoals, you can spod on top of them and they don't spook, in fact when the spod hits the water they seem to know that food is on it's way. A good spod mix will keep the fish in your swim.

Summer bay, at this time of year, will be very popular but be aware that that area of the lake is fairly shallow so you will almost certainly have a problem with Swans and the bird life. Having said that there are deeper spots where the Swans can't pick your bait up, you just got to find them with a marker. The lake is very weedy, more so in Winter bay, Summer bay aint too bad with plenty of clear spots.
The swims are comfy and there are a few double swims, in fact when you get your membership card and all the info you will get a map of the lake and swims, on the map you will see where the double swims are. On a large percentage of the lake you can drive to the swim and drop your gear off but you must park your car in the parking areas, btw don't drive on the grass areas, they don't like it and will tell you so if caught.

I have been Carp fishing for just over 20yrs and never caught a UK 30, this year I hope to fullfill my dream and what better place to do it than Horseshoe.

Hope I have helped, in my small way, and wish you all the best.


Malc.

Thanks a lot grumpy that helps a great deal. my only down points are no Spod or Marker rods. I have a spare set of rods which i think are 2 1/4lb TC not sure if they would be of use as a marker rod. Really love the look of the place from the pics i've seen and really looking forward to making the journey down there just for the relaxation more than anything. My aim is to bag a 20 which i have been trying for a couple years now but now my Dad has passed away and i'm using his gear hoping i can do it and would be great if it was a Horseshoe 20

You'll be ok using one of those rods with a marker but may not be man enough for a spod. One thing I didn't mention is the Seagulls, there are a few, and when you use a catapult or throwing stick they are on the bait as it hits the water. If you can get a spod rod and reel it would help your cause. I found it the best way of getting free offerings out, boilies and spod mix.

Sorry to hear about your Dad mate and I'm sure you'll do him proud

I'll see what i can do regarding a spod rod and reel but on a tighht budget as its my moms birthday next week so have to buy her a nice prezzie plus just bought a new bedchair so if i can pick something up for around £50 would be good.

Any particular flavours spring to mind with regards bait? Fishmeal or birdseed which way to go certainly gonna be bringing a few jars of hemp with me but do i use normal or frenzied chilli?

Certainly looking forward to it bivvy has been all aired out new bedchair checked out fine need to respool the reels tomorrow and sort out a marker float setup on my other rod i have spare.

I'm really eager to get down there but its still over a week away oh and still waiting for my carp society membership gubbins to come through the post lol