Opened in 2012, the new Specimen Carp Lake at Coppice Lane Pools has has matured nicely and has been designed with dedicated and experienced anglers in mind, being stocked only with double figure fish which are now being caught to 26lbs.

About three acres in size, it averages five feet in depth with a sunken island and has four spacious grass pegs on either bank of the water.

It is available for day tickets and longer stays to anglers aged 18 and over.

Anglers looking to stay for more than a day must book and pay in advance either by visiting the fishery or by making an Internet Bank Transfer to: NatWest Bank; Sort Code: 51 - 70 - 32; Account Number: 80582907.

Anglers should include their own name, the date they require to fish and desired peg number as a reference.

Bookings will only be accepted on receipt of payment.

The lake is predominantly stocked with commons and mirrors although about 10 per cent of the fish are leather and ghost carp.

The mirrors are the bigger fish, running to over 20lbs whilst the commons go to just under 20lbs although the average size for both is between 15lbs and 20lbs.

Although the water has been dug with a gradually sloping bottom which runs from one to three feet at the car park end down to six feet at the far end, there is a large submerged island about two feet under the surface in the centre of the lake which covers about a third of the total area of the lake.

This is where the fish love to hold up in warmer weather and is a good target for summer fishing.

Tried and tested carp fishing methods have worked well so far but it still pays to experiment with techniques and baits.

So far most anglers have had success fishing pop - up boilies with anglers saying they do well using zig - zag rigs.

Most anglers also bait their swims using pva bags packed with pellets and sweetcorn.

The lake record is currently held by Oldbury angler Craig Wilde for his capture of a 25lbs 6oz common taken in March 2016.

Craig, who runs CND Baits, was fishing one of CND's own 12mm King Crab Wafters on a drop back rig about 60 yards out from Peg 1.

Pegs need to be booked and paid for in advance by contacting Jamie on 07933 488986.

Jamie should only be contacted before 5.

30pm and is not available on Tuesdays or Sundays.

For security purposes the gates to the new pool will be locked between dusk and 7.

00am.

Lake Rules