Hill and Black - The Fennes Fisheries

Location
Fennes Road, Bocking, Braintree, Essex CM7 5LB

Description
About a quarter of a mile from the main Fennes Fishery site is Hill and Black, a former farm irrigation reservoir which was drained, re-contoured, re-shaped and then landscaped when it was converted into a fishery in 1994. Because it is away from the main site, the fishery is used by members of the Essex County Constabulary AC who help to maintain the water and act as 'honorary bailiffs', but is available when not pegged for Essex CC matches for pleasure angling. Unlike some fisheries which have been converted from farm reservoirs and which can sometimes look sparse and featureless, The Fennes has made great strides in landscaping this water and providing features. An 'inner barm' has been built around the water to protect anglers from the wind whilst soil from a former bank which used to divide the water into two has been used to create three islands which provide additional features to which to fish. Looking across the lake from the bank near the car park the water is some seven feet deep at one end and rises to only three to four feet around the islands. General information about the Fennes Fisheries - The Fennes - pronounced 'Fens' - is one of the largest coarse fisheries in Essex and offers a total of 14.5 acres of water the three spring-fed lakes within easy walking distance of each other. The fishery is a superb example of how, with careful planning, development and management, a tailor-made complex can mature in less than a decade into a well-established and productive site with a truly 'natural' feel. The fishery is built on former watermeadows and the lakes each take their name from the names of the original fields on which they now stand. Probably best described as a general mixed fishery, The Fennes has been developed with a strong emphasis placed on the environment and has plenty of decent sized specimens for anglers looking to catch bigger fish. These include carp to nearly 20lbs as well as good sized tench, bream, roach, rudd and perch. With decent all-weather car parks, tended banksides, platform pegs and well-maintained ladies and gents toilets, it is also well equipped to cater for disabled anglers. In addition to the angling, The Fennes sports a superbly stocked on-site tackle shop which sells a wide range of fresh baits, rods, reels, poles and whips plus accessories including line, floats, hooks, shot, etc. Indeed, anglers often visit the tackle shop for equipment even when they are not fishing The Fennes and the maggots on site are said to be some of the best available in the whole county. In addition, the tackle shop sells freshly frozen sea bait for those heading further afield! The shop also sells cold drinks and confectionery whilst a refreshment van serving breakfasts, hot and cold snacks and drinks is open on the site almost every Spring and Summer weekend. The refreshment van can also be made available at other times for visiting club matches. The Fennes prides itself on the quality of the fish in its waters. All carp are now bred and reared in the fishery's own off-site fish farm which regularly has some 7,500 fish at various stages of development, enabling the stock levels and quality of fish to be maintained at optimum levels for anglers thanks to what the owners describe as "an aggressive stocking policy". Although night fishing is not allowed and children under 12 years old must be accompanied, there is no Close Season and very few rules except the most obvious. In addition to Day and Evening Tickets, The Fennes offers an annual membership for regular visitors which costs £25 for adults and £12.50 for OAPs, juniors and the disabled. Members receive half-priced admission every time they visit the fishery and the ticket starts paying for itself after an angler's sixth visit. How to get there... The Fennes is in Bocking Village which is about three miles north of Braintree just off the A131 at High Garrett. Heading towards Sudbury, turn off the A131 into Bocking Church Street as directed by the brown Tourist Board signs. The fishery is signposted half a mile down Fennes Road, which is a right turn by the Village Hall (Bocking United Services Club). Again, follow the brown Tourist Board signs. The car park, shop and Ash Grounds Lake are on the left, Hobbs Croft Lake is on the right and Hill and Black 400 yards down a concrete road.

Fish Details
The lake holds the same species of fish as the other two lakes on The Fennes site, but there are a larger head of good sized fish than in either of the other two venues. Although the carp aren't as large as those in Hobbs Croft, running to only 20lbs-plus, there is a decent head of tench which provide good sport for those who like this species.

Tactics
Whilst fishing on the bottom is obviously successful for the most part, in summer good nets of fish, particularly carp, rudd, roach and skimmers, are regularly taken at between 18 inches and two feet deep with the secret here being to feed regularly.

Tickets
Day Ticket costs: Adults £6.00 (1 rod) £8.00 (2 rods); Juniors/OAP/Disabled £4.00 (1 rod) £6.00 (2 rods). Evening Ticket costs (from 4.30pm summer only) Adults £3.00; Juniors/OAP/Disabled £3.00. The Fennes is open from 7.30am until sunset all year round with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Contact
Tel: 01376 323285. Fax: 01376 322591. E-mail: crampy@fsbdial.co.uk

Rules
Not Supplied

Day Tickets
Available for this water

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Accuracy of information
Please email nkw@go-fish.co.uk if you notice any mistakes. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of our information, but cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.