Although we had known of the existence of Astwood Fishery for several years, it was only when owner Frank Kean erected brown tourist signs showing the way that we were able to find it - and we weren't disappointed!A short drive from Junction 5 of the M5 motorway leads you through the Worcestershire countryside to the fishery entrance and on to a choice of two car parks.

A few yards further on the fishery opens up with lush and tended green banks giving way to Smokie Joe's, one of Astwood's three waters and a favourite with pleasure anglers.

There is a patio area which overlooks Smokey Joe's pool.

With shrubs and trees surrounding the banks, Smokey Joe's looks inviting enough - but at the far end there is the hint of another lake.

This is Bluebell Pool where some of the bigger fish can be found.

Look to the left and a grass bank hides Astwood's third water - Buddleia - a canal-type lake with three islands which started life as a silver fish and tench lake but now offers all-round sport for match and pleasure anglers alike.

Astwood is a great all-round fishery where the emphasis is on enjoying angling in relaxed and unspoilt surroundings.

Indeed, to give anglers plenty of space, none of the pegs are less than nine or 10 metres apart.

But that shouldn't be surprising when you consider that Astwood Fishery was developed by Frank as something of an anglers retreat.

Frank was head chef at the Chateau Impney Hotel in Droitwich before working for several years in the Middle East and North African where he developed accommodation 'towns' for employees in the oil and petrochemical industries.

A keen angler since he was a boy, it had always been his dream to own a fishery, so after returning to Droitwich from the Middle East he decided to turn his dream into reality.

He bought the site of the current fishery in 1990 and by the end of 1991 had completed work on Smokie Joe's and Bluebell lakes.

In 1999 he started work on Buddleia which opened to anglers in March 2000.

Whilst there are few rules, only the fishery's own feeder pellets should be used although anglers can use their own hooker pellets.

Permitted baits are sweetcorn, luncheon meat, maggots, casters, worms, sinking bread and hooker pellets.

Keepnets are not allowed and both hooker and feeder pellets are available from the office.