Also known as the Silver Fish Lakes at Birch House Lakes, Mallard and Teal tend to be regarded as one water as they are both canal-style venues ideally suited for pole fishing.

However, the larger of the two - the three canal 55-peg Mallard Lake - has a large rectangular bay at one end which also makes it suitable for either waggler, swimfeeder or straightforward ledger fishing.

Teal has a total of 21 pegs.

In addition to a few errant carp, both waters are heavily stocked with a selection of silver fish.

These include roach and rudd to 1lb 8oz, bream to 8lbs, perch between 8oz and 1lb, chub to about 1lb, green and golden tench to about 2lbs and both blue and golden orfe and ide.

Although there are a small number of common and mirror carp in the water, the only other carp tend to be crucians, some F1 hybrids and goldfish.

Offering a total of just under 80 concreted pegs, Mallard and Teal run between four and eight feet deep and are great year-round waters which particularly come into their own in winter.

Both are ideal match and pleasure venues and although not particularly popular because of the current trend for carp fishing are two places where those who do fish them tend to bag up.

Equipped with their own toilets and car park, Mallard and Teal also have the attraction for anglers who enjoy solitude that, being at the far end of the Birch House site, they are normally quieter than the other lakes - except on Sunday mornings when the nearby church bells announce the morning services!

Lake Rules