Letchworth Garden City Angling Association

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Poppy Hill - Lake 1

Lake 1 is the first lake you come to on your left as you enter the Poppy Hill complex. It covers an area of approximately 2.8 acres with two islands in the main area of the lake. Depths range from about 5’ to 7’ with the shallower areas being found down ”The Arm” (narrower section). Water tends to remain coloured all year round in here.

With swims to suit everyone’s angling style (32 in total), you’ll be spoilt for choice for somewhere to fish. If you like your overnighters there are wide open swims big enough to fit your bivvy, or maybe it’s a days pleasure fishing your after then the secluded swims amongst the trees might be more your thing. For the serious match angler with seatboxes there are platform swims amongst the Norfolk reeds.

This lake is a mixed fishery and you’ll find most species in here. Carp to over 20lb, Pike to over 20lb, Tench to 9lb plus quality Roach Rudd and Perch. Bream average about 5lb-6lb although there have been some reports of fish into double figures; in fact several were stocked at 9lb in 1999.

1998 saw the entire lake drained to reduce the sizes of the islands and increasing the fishing areas. During this period the fish were removed and put into the other lakes around the complex. After the remodelling had finished and the lake filled again we tried to return most of the original stock back into lake 1 but as you can imagine this was no easy task and most of the lakes kept more than they gave back.

Since the works there has been a continuous restocking program including over 20,000 Silver fish, thousands of Skimmers, Crucians, and Tench. Over 500 small carp were introduced and more recently some 400 odd Bream all to over 4lb.

 

Directions: On the A507 Stotfold to Bedford road, turn onto the A6001 to Langford at the roundabout in Henlow, go over the next small roundabout and approx 200 yds further along, turn right into Park Lane. Bear right keeping the playing field on your left, enter the park and continue to the Grange Health Farm, at the junction turn left, after approx 100 yds, turn right, cross the River Ivel and just after the bridge bear left, carry on for about 150 yds to the car park. The gate is opened by a Padlock ( Please close the gate and lock after use). This is the only entrance to Poppy Hill

Please take all your rubbish home.