Part of a 450-acre arable farm in the middle of the countryside just a few miles from the border with Wales in Herefordshire and five miles north of Ross-on-Wye, Andy's Fishing Lake has been throwing up some amazing catches since it opened to day-ticket anglers in Spring 2005.

With pleasure catches of over 100lbs becoming commonplace and several anglers reporting they have taken over 400lbs of fish in a day, Andy's is interesting in that it must be one of the few large day-ticket venues in the UK which does not allow matches.

Excavated in 2005 to supply water to a neighbouring strawberry and raspberry farm, Andy's Fishing Lake was stocked the following year with several thousand mirror and common carp, roach, bream, tench and perch - the latter having grown well and now run to over 4lbs as can be witnessed by the 4lb 4oz specimen caught at the end of October 2015 by Alan Clough (see top of page) and an earlier fish which weighed in at 4lbs 8oz.

After being introduced the fish were allowed to settle over the next couple of years and were fed several tons of pellets and kibbled wheat before the lake was opened for anglers.

And the patient approach has certainly paid dividends.

Whilst the majority of the carp were introduced at only 8oz, they are now regularly coming out between 5lbs and 6lbs whilst the bigger introductions are now over the 15lb mark with several fish just under 20lbs having bee caught.

Since opening the five - acre lake lake has developed nicely.

The reeds which were planted in the fringes between one and two rod lengths out at various points around the lake are now well established and provide plenty of cover whilst the banks have been dotted with specimen trees which are being supplemented with plantings of Scots Pine and Weeping Willows.

In addition, hedges will be planted around the lake to give further protection from the wind and make the lake increasingly attractive as the new planting develops.

Because of the high quality of the water, one of the features of Andy's Fishing Lake is that all the fish are in excellent condition and even the smaller ones fight way above their weight - many anglers saying that they have had to take a rest when fishing because their arms ache.

Adults accompanying younger anglers also say they rarely get chance to fish themselves because they are too busy helping their children play and net fish!Andy's Lake has a car park and portable toilet near the entrance gate and a rough track roadway leads to all pegs, although anglers are asked to leave their vehicles in the car park after unloading their gear.

Whilst there are few rules, anglers should use only barbless hooks and are not allowed to use keepnets.

There is a maximum of two rods per angler and fishing is from dawn until dusk.

They should also note that the smaller lake which adjoins Andy's Fishing Lake at the end of the right hand arm is a wildlife conservation pool and should not be fished.

Ticket fees will be collected by the bailiff on the bank.