To be found in a delightful countryside location just outside the small village of Shilton to the north of Coventry, Hopsford Hall fishery looks like a typical old estate lake where the fishing has improved greatly over the past few years.

Those improvements are set to continue further following a great deal of ongoing fishery consultancy work which will thin out the smaller fish to give the remaining stock the opportunity to grow on.

Deceptively deep -up to 12ft in parts at the dam end - the main lake is fed by three natural springs which leads to a high water quality and healthy fish.

With plenty of bankside vegetation and a tree-clad island, it is a delighful looking lake which produces equally delightful fish.

Indeed, over the past few years Hopsford Hall's main lake has built a growing reputation for its carp and is now a popular haunt with an increasing number of anglers not only from the Coventry area but as far afield as Suffolk.

This is hardly surprising with mirror carp having been caught to 31lbs and commons to just over 30lbs.

In addition, there are masses of mid-sized fish as well as good numbers of bream to double figures and perch to over 3lbs.

Slightly away from the main lake past the remains of a former canal arm is another small lake -the Duckery(below) - which is preferred by some anglers to the main lake.

Although only about half-an - acre in size, this lake is up to seven feet deep in parts and is virtually surrounded by trees which add to its charm of seclusion.

Whilst some 26 carp to 17lbs were lost in this water in the worst of the 2010 - 2011 winter when the pool froze in the severe weather, these have now been replaced with some 30 fish of similar size which have been taken from the main lake.

Surrounded by reeds in the summer and on the verge of open countryside, the Duckery is a delightful spot to get way from it all.

As its name suggests, it was originally used for duck raising and shooting and holds a good head of fish including some good sized double figure commons and mirrors as well as decent roach and perch.

Improvement work will also be carried out on the Duckery during the next couple of years to remove much of the excessive vegetation which is becoming invasive whilst maintaining the original charm of the pool for those anglers who enjoy fishing smaller, more intimate waters.