The first of the two waters at the end of the track to the fishery after passing Woodland Pool, Spring Valley Middle Pool is about an acre and a half in size and, like the other two Boyce waters, is a very pretty water with grass banks, no formal pegs, willow trees dipping into the water and beds of water lilies where the fish love to hang out.

The end near the entrance steps is narrow but further along the pool opens out giving plenty of open water.

It is a good pool for fishing either pole, waggler, swimfeeder or traditional and modern carping techniques.

Middle Pool has reed lines banks which is where many of the fish tend to hold up making fishing the margins a popular technique.

Known to hold common and mirror carp to between 14lbs and 16lbs which are regularly caught this pool is also reputed to hold fish to the mid 20s although few anglers tend to fish for them.

With a decent head of pristine roach which have been caught to over 2lb 8oz as well as some very pretty rudd to 12oz, perch to 1lb and golden orfe, the pool is also said to hold some tench although these have rarely been seen.

Unlike most waters these days there are no bream.

Although Middle Pool is quite shallow around the edges with depths along the right hand bank as you approach the water ranging from two and three feet to just four feet, it is deeper off the left hand side where six feet of water can be found just a rod's length out.

It is deepest in the centre of the lake at the far end where between 12 and 14 feet of water can be found, making this an ideal spot for fishing the swimfeeder or lead in winter and colder weather.

All of the permitted baits work well on Middle Pool.

Anglers fishing maggots, casters or sweetcorn on light tackle will find the roach and rudd easy to catch at any depth as long as they feed samples of hook bait little and often.

When going for the carp slightly heavier tackle will be required with a minimum 6lb line recommended and size 10, 12 or 14 hook.

The carp respond well to fishing soft hooker pellets, luncheon meat, sweetcorn, bread flake, worm, casters and maggots but be warned - once hooked the fish fight like wild carp and are lightningly quick.

Unwary anglers who do not respond quickly to bites will be in the lily pads before they know what is happening!

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