This 34 acre former gravel pit sits 3 miles east of Junction '15' of the M1 in Northamptonshire along the A45 next to the Marriott Hotel and Delapre Golf Course, just south of Northampton town.

Being one of Northamptonshire's oldest lakes, it's surrounded in mature tree's with three big overgrown islands, with depths ranging from 2-6' in the margins to 10-15' in the middle section. There is a large area of Canadian pond weed in the Summer months.

The fishing has been run for the last 30 odd years by a local angling club but as their numbers dwindled the lake got too much for them to handle. When the lease came up for grabs I jumped at the chance because of the carp fishing potential.

Talking to a few local lads who fish it each season there is a huge shoal of 5-9lb bream that like the deeper water, plenty of 3-7lb tench, pike to 20+lb and 40-50 original carp with the biggest two a common of 38-41lb and a mirror of 39-42lb+.

The lake is used by a water ski club from April - September so please sink your fishing lines to the bottom where possible and do not fish within 80m of the boaters compound.

I did fish the place myself between 1998-2001 and was lucky enough to catch 16 carp with the biggest three being 31lb, 33lb and 39lb all commons. I did see the big 'Italian' mirror one summers day and it dwaft the big common. I know Piers from Earls Barton has caught carp up to 30lb 'A dark mirror', Steve Holliman had 30 odd carp in the 1995-2003 period up to 30lb 'A Common'. Warren Bennett and Martin Chapman have both caught them to low 20s.

The lake bed is a mixture of silt, sand and gravel.

My tip is to fish under your rod tips. The carp are used to clearing up the food washed up the margins by the water skiers. I used to get savage line bites if I fished any distance out and they love sitting in the snags just out of sight.

There will be dog walkers, joggers, cyclists, swimmers and kids down there so its fun and games at times. The rewards are there for those willing to explore the place. It will be a challenge, it will not be easy. You will have lots of space to fish thats a fact.

This is a public park and is therefore for residents and all to enjoy. Fishermen do not own this water so please be courtious and clear up any rubbish before you leave.

Having fished most of the pits along the valley, this one has the most mystery surrounding its likelyhood to produce a true English uncaught 45-50lb carp. Watch this space!