Athersley Community Lake, Athersley. 

This is a small, neat venue just on the outskirts of Barnsley, and although the community want to spread the news of the lake, I think that most of the people want to keep it to themselves. Not to say they are unfriendly, infact quite the opposite, they will share tactics and methods.

They do have matches on weekends, but they are posted the week before and they only last about 4 hours, and you can still usually fish from the opposite bank.

All together there are fifty pegs, the depth is about 4 ft all over with a couple of deep holes either end going to about 8 ft. The lake has its own feed and run off so oxygen levels are good all year.

The only restrictions are no nut baits and no keepnets during spawning. So why come here, well for one thing I have never blanked here, even if the only fish I've caught have been small perch. For the serious carper there are mirrors and commons to 25lb, chub, bream, tench, to around 6lb. It's a great place for poles, also loads of silver fish and crucians. The top pegs are in the low teens but you will catch anywhere.

Tickets and books are available from Albert the bailiff on the bank. £2.00 adults £1.50 kids. The season ticket is now £10.00, which does not include the key to the gate at a cost of £6.00 per key.

The head bailiff can be contacted for matches and too make sure the gate is open on Barnsley 01226 701038. The second bailiff can be reached on 07939 639082. They have tightened the controls on the fishing for the carp you now need a specimen mat and a large landing net and ten pound line as minimum and you will get checked. I have been a couple of times since the changes and seen them checking the young lads. You can bivvy up there and now the gate is up and locked at night it is a lot safer to do so but I would still go with a couple of mates. Please ring the bailiff for peg availability for overnight and price.

Directions - Take the A61 Wakefield road than look for the B6132 Laithes Lane, then left onto Chapel Lane opposite a filling station, then left onto Crookes Lane, right along the dirt track to the lake fall out of the car and fish. (Sheffield A to Z Page 8 Grid ref 4/D).

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