Hayfield Lakes, Bawtry.

This is one of the premier match waters in Yorkshire. There are 2 waters on the site that are owned by the enigmatic Robin Goforth. It also home to the famous Fish-o-Mania, that always seems to turn the fish off for some reason. With it being a match fishing venue first and foremost, it is always wise to check first that they can accommodate a number of pleasure anglers. Available pegs are posted on the board at the entrance to the 2 lakes.

The first water that you will see is Adams Lake. It actually looks like 2 Lakes, but they are interlinked in a figure of 8 shape, with a bridge over the small water. There are over 60 pegs to fish from. The water is surrounded by grass banks and is sloped. As such it is not the easiest water to access for those anglers with disabilities. The water is heavily stocked with carp in the 4 to 6lb range but there are bigger fish amongst them. There is also a large stock of silver fish with barbel, roach, bream, tench and ide in there.

The larger of the lakes was formerly known as Lucy's Lake, and is now named Island Lake. The island that features near the top of the lake is known as Danny's Island. This water has over 80 pegs and stretches a way down the side of the River Tone and again the banks are well kept with mowed grass and quite steep slopes in some places. The water also features a lot of carp, with mirrors, commons, ghosties and crucians. Barbel are again stocked along with roach, tench, bream, ide and perch.

A great deal of work has been put into the complex over the last 18 months with the building of a large building holding a café and pub. All the pegs are fished from the metal stages over the water, again helping you to loose errant tackle. You can often pick fish up from right underneath the stages first and last thing as the fish pick up the bait that has dropped over the sides.

The barbel that were stocked as fish of a few inches are now piling the weight on and although still quite small do give tremendous fight. A wide variety of tactics will get you fish here. A lot of the top match weights are taken on pellet. Floating baits cast at distance is also a top method for taking big weights on both these waters.

As with a lot of the commercial carp waters, don't make the mistake of fishing too light as you will come to grief.

This water was also subject of my Red Letter Day with Dave Barrell a number of years ago - see Fishing articles for details.

Day Tickets £5.00 on the bank, extra rods £2.00. Fishing from 7.00 am until dusk. Barbless hooks, no keepnets (except matches). Largest hook size 10, No balling in Groundbait, nuts or boilies. All nets must be dipped (including landing nets). Yearly membership at £95.00, Senior citizens and disabled £75.00

Directions - Leaving Doncaster on the A638 head towards Bawtry cross over the M18 and then over the river. Pass Hayfield lane on your left (now closed to traffic) until you come to the First set of traffic lights, you turn left at these onto Hurst Lane. Follow Hurst Lane till you come to the first set of traffic lights and turn left at these onto the other end of Hayfield Lane, follow this and you will arrive at the Hayfield Lakes entrance which is on your right. Thanks to John Willoughby for the updated directions.

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Thanks The YF Team