Upper Tamar Lake

At 81 acres the Upper Tamar is a challenging water, but with plenty of features and a very good stock of fish there is something for all carp anglers. The lake record is a 46lb mirror caught in 2007 but the average size carp is around the 15lb mark. There is a very good head of twenties and a handful of thirties in the water and longer sessions usually pay off for the bigger catches. It’s not uncommon to get 20 fish in a day or night if conditions are favourable. The fish tend to follow the wind if it’s not too strong and in the warmer weather the shallower water at the far end of the lake is very productive, particularly where the gravel meets the silt of the old river bed. There are well over 100 swims to choose from and tackle can be transported around the lake by prior arrangement on 01288 321712. Fishmeal boilies work well at this venue and often a large amount of bait will pick off the bigger fish. There are a few 48-hour carp competitions throughout the year so please check the bookings before turning up to fish. There are toilets, showers and a tea room (open during summer) on site. For more information contact Ben Smeeth of the South West Lakes Trust on 01566 771930 or bsmeeth@swlakestrust.org.uk. Self-service permit room on site, prices are as follows: Full day £5.50, 24HR £10.

Tench Fishing with Mark Barrett & Chris Ponsford

The favourite fish of many an angler, the tench to many anglers is the epitome of summer. Mist shrouded pools, lilies and bubbles all bring to mind a summers dawn, and the chance of catching this hard scrapper with the 'teddy bear’ eyes.

In this DVD Mark Barrett and Chris Ponsford take us on a tench fishing journey covering both the traditional and most modern of tench fishing tactics, in the process showing you how to get a bit more from your tench fishing.

Mark covers the new, fishing two large gravel pits on the famous Bawburgh complex hoping to catch that holy grail of tenching, a double figure fish. Mark will show you the latest in tench tactics, including method feeders, in-line maggot feeders and more, catching loads of tench along the way at the stunning Norfolk Anglers Association run complex.

Chris meanwhile will be concentrating on the most traditional of tench waters - estate lakes, using the more traditional tactics, showing that there is still a place for tradition in the modern world of tench angling.

Whatever your style of tench angling there will be something to both inform and entertain, but best of all there’s plenty of tench catching action at some of the countries most glorious waters.

Tench Fishing is available from the Carp-talk Shop for £10.95, to order either call 01430 440624 or visit www.carptalk-shop.co.uk.