Moat Pool holds a massive 80 pegs and a huge head of carp but anglers looking to catch mixed bags will score heavily as more tench are showing along with skimmers. Hallcroft’s own brand of pellets are proving to be popular with both anglers and the fish, and while meat fished up-in-the-water over pellet is doing the business on the pole, don’t ignore the margins as this is where the big carp to 16lb will be nosing about. Reed Pool (47 pegs) is a similar scenario, with again more tench being caught, and over on Croft Pool (27) some of the bigger carp will be eager to oblige. Bridge Pool (80-plus pegs) has been producing 200lb weights of bream down the edge from the island on corn and meat. That is brilliant fishing by any angler’s standards. Pole fishing will dominate but those opting for feeder fishing out into open water, should go for an open-end jobby and groundbait, using dead maggot or hair-rigged hookbaits. School holiday mums, dads and lads should play in the Stock Ponds, which hold a total of 28 pegs in all and also hold virtually every species of fish that inhabit the whole of Hallcroft. It’s bite-a-chuck stuff and a tin of sweetcorn or a few maggots is all that is needed for bait. Day tickets are great value at £5, with OAPs/disabled £4.50 and kids only £4, and the spacious cafeteria serves up hot and cold food and drinks all day long. Contact owners Terry, Luke and Nick Sears on 01777 710448.

(Daiwa Hallcroft will be holding Vets Matches every Thursday with a 9am draw and entry is £10 all-in).

Midland Angler