Carlston Hill Ponds | WetherbyAnglingClub

Sicklinghall Ponds

The Club is proud to Announce the ponds are now open to club members, please stick to the rules and speed limits when accessing the ponds your club book is on the line if you do not you have been warned.

There is still work to be done but Ponds 1,2,3,are open to fish,NO NIGHT FISHING.

Rules Below

Please note this is a working farm and that livestock (sheep) are present and that any damage incurred to persons or tackle the Club and Owner is/are not liable, please make sure all gates are shut.

Carlston Hill Farm Ponds.

The ponds at Sicklinghall are part of a wider conservation area supported by a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme from Natural England. They are also located on Carlshead Farms, a working farm which provides support for school children and the disabled. This makes the site extremely sensitive, and therefore attention to the rules is essential. Acquiring the fishing rights for the ponds was the culmination of a long search by WADAC to find still-waters so close to Wetherby, and we hope members will enjoy fishing in such peaceful natural surroundings. However, the environmental sensitivity of the site means that rules must be strictly observed, and infringements will lead to the loss of club membership.

During 2018, Committee members worked with the owner and the Environment Agency to provide a natural fishery in peaceful surroundings. A stock of "true" crucians were supplied and introduced by the Environment Agency. Crucians are in decline in the UK, mainly due to the lack of suitable habitat (i.e. old-fashioned farm ponds) and also their propensity to cross-breed with non-indigenous King carp

The ponds are being developed as a specialist Crucian Carp conservation area. Details can be found on the Angling Trust and Crucian Carp Organisation websites. No King Carp will be stocked, and if you believe you have caught one, please report it to the committee immediately.

There are currently four fishing ponds, although new ponds are being added.

Pond 1

A small pond of around 0.5 acres, it is an extremely mature pond, which is shallow and heavily weeded, it responds best to light tackle. It contains crucian carp, tench and rudd. A new extension pond has been constructed during Summer 2021. This extension will be allowed to mature before the two ponds are joined.

Pond 2

Again, a mature pond slightly larger than Pond 1 containing bream, crucian carp, tench, roach and rudd. Fishing close to the marginal growth normally produces fish. Pond 1 and pond 2 are currently joined by a pipe, but it is planned to widen the junction to allow fish easier transfer between the ponds.

Pond 3

Pond 3 is a larger pond of around an acre, and contains bream, crucians, tench, roach and rudd. Some of the larger fish live in Pond 3, with bream up to 4lb having been recorded. Pond 3 contains natural and floating islands to provide cover for fish from predators.

Pond 4

Pond 4 was re-dug in 2018 to remove silt and bulrushes and left to refill naturally from a spring which feeds into the pond. There is a large central island which is an important habitat for breeding birds. The pond was stocked with mixed silver fish in November 2019. It supports a large population of smaller fish.

There is clear evidence of extensive breeding of all species in the ponds, with smaller fish below the size of the original stock being caught.

New Ponds

Pond 1 Extension

A large extension to Pond 1 has been dug. This has a two-stage marginal shelf stretching around 10 foot from the bank, and will be around 8 foot deep in the centre. This is being allowed to fill naturally, and once established the divider between pond 1 and its extension will be removed. It is hoped that this enlarged pond will provide the potential for the fish currently in Pond 1 to continue to breed and individual fish to increase in size.

Breeding Pond

Sited behind Pond 3, this pond is around 10 yards wide and 50 yards long. This will be used as a breeding facility to increase stock levels for the other ponds.

Rules

The following rules have been implemented to protect the fishery and the clubs assets, along with assurance that the fishery thrives and provides a pleasurable retreat for our many members.

Speed Limits on the approach track must be observed. Wildlife, walkers and children frequent the track.
Parking is restricted to the gravel carpark only.
Livestock (sheep) are present. Gates must be closed after you.
No night fishing.
The ponds are restricted to members only, no day ticket or day membership is permitted (even if accompanied by a member).
Keep nets are permitted under the following strict conditions, minimum length 2 meters – silver fish mesh nets only – all nets MUST be laid out to dry for 30 minutes prior to fishing (even if it is raining).
When returning fish held in keep nets, they must be returned by folding the last ring inside out and lowered into the water, under no circumstances should fish be rolled down and out of the keep nets.
Strictly no transferring of fish between ponds.
Barbless hooks only.
No braided line.
No cat meat.

The following bait limits will apply per fishing session:

Ground bait – 1 pint (wet mix) including paste mixes

Feed pellets – 1 pint (micro and 4mm only)

Corn – 2 tins maximum

Luncheon meat – 2 tins maximum

Bread – liquidised ½ pint (dry mix)

Hemp/Tares – 1 pint

Maggots, pinkies and casters – 2 pints

Worms – ½ Kg limit

How to find them:

Carlston Hill Farm Ponds
Paddock House Lane
Sicklinghall
Wetherby
LS22 4BN

If travelling from Wetherby, pass through Sicklinghall. The road turns to the left and then there is a track called Paddock House Lane on the left. There is a large sign for Carlshead Farm. Drive down the track to the end where there is a gravel car park.

There is a single gate at the side of the car park alongside the barn, cross the track and pass through a farm gate into the fields which contain the ponds.

Wetherby and District Angling Club

Fishery Rules

Carlston Hill Farm Ponds
Paddock House Lane
Sicklinghall
Wetherby
LS22 4BN

Comprising of 4 ponds, varying between 1/2 and 1 acre each these ponds contain bream, Tench, Crucians , roach and Rudd.

Rules:
The following rules have been implemented to protect the fishery and the clubs assets, along with assurance that the fishery thrives and provides a pleasurable retreat for our many members.

Parking is restricted to the gravel carpark only
The ponds are restricted to members only, no day ticket or day membership is permitted (even if accompanied by a member)
Keep nets are permitted under the following strict conditions, minimum length 2 meters – silver fish mesh nets only – all nets MUST be laid out to dry for 30 minutes prior to fishing (even if it is raining)
When returning fish held in keep nets, they must be returned by folding the last ring inside out and lowered into the water, under no circumstances should fish be rolled down and out of the keep nets.
Strictly no transferring of fish between ponds
Barbless hooks only
No braided line
No cat meat
No boilies