Orchard Lake

Orchard Lake is a private and secluded mixed carp and catfish lake with of approx 1.85 acres with a small island at the top of the top with mature beds of water lilies running just behind the island

This lake, as with the other lakes on the complex, is clay based with areas of silt and exposed gravel. There are not known to be any snags within the lake but there are well defined undercuts in the banks and troughs that act as the nesting areas predominantly for the cats. There are no areas of weed and there have been no episodes of algal growth.

The lake contains carp, grass carp, catfish, zander, roach, rudd and a few bream.

Carp are know to reach 43lbs with an average weight of approx 28lbs with numerous 30s with these carp now growing quickly within the lake. . Successive nettings and stock management of the carp should mean that there are very few carp below 20lbs in the lake with the last netting in 2024 focused on removing carp below 16lbs. With most of the carp being a Czech/Hungarian strain they are prone to put on weight at a reasonable rate. There are known to be 3 grass carp within the lake up to approx 32lbs, the biggest known grassie within the complex. Orchard is also home to ‘Sally’ the sturgeon. Sally is a frequent visitor to the banks! Additionally, there are three koi-carp with the largest being ‘Cracker’ weighing in around 14lbs.

The wels-catfish are present in the form of large specimens. Again, through successive nettings and stock management, the vast majority of the catfish will be above 40lbs. The biggest cats seen in recent years have been up to approx 86lbs . There are well defined cat nests within the lake mostly to the left of the lake.The larger cats though seen in the most recent netting are rarely seen on the banks of late.

The zander are currently young (about 4/5 years old) but seem to be growing well within the lake.

New fish stock 2025

Arriving in December 2025 were just two fish in the form of a 45lb3oz solid tone mandarin catfish and a 30lb13oz common. Additional carp will be transferred from Peter’s throughout the season as they reach 20lbs.

The mandarin will be clearly visible within the lake whilst on its predator runs in 2026 and at this time is unnamed. The naming will fall to the first angler to land it in 2026. With the current larger wels catfish being largely absent from the banks in 2025 it is hoped the arrival of the new mandarin will help to enliven the existing cat residents a little!

Additional carp will be transferred from Peter’s at intervals during 2026 as the carp there exceed 21lbs.

The next round of new stock is scheduled for December 2026

The next scheduled netting is in the early winter of 2026

Accommodation on Orchard Lake

This lake has it’s own private access from the local country road and provides a glorious entrance to private land around Orchard Lake. This is your home for the week. The accommodation is within 10metres of the edge of lakeside and the main double swim