The Specimen Lake is a strictly members only venue. Its goal is to cater to the needs of our most experienced anglers. You'll need at least 5 years of carp fishing experience, as well as the essential gear to land and protect large carp and catfish.

Here you'll find some of our largest fish, including Mirror and Common carp weighing over 40 pounds, as well as a couple of unusual blue carp at 74 and 65 pounds, respectively. The two blue carp are England's only two and are part of a historical stocking. There are about 200 specimen-sized fish in this lake, with an average weight of about 26 pounds.

It's not uncommon to see these fish put on spectacular feeding displays, revealing their location and making it easier for a vigilant angler to locate them. Depending on the time of year, fish may be heard crashing out and seen head and shouldersing at specific times of day and night, which are unmistakable signals of eating, and at night, you may occasionally hear catfish feeding on the surface, which can be quite thrilling while waiting for a run. With 8 swims and a maximum of 6 fishermen at any given time, there is enough of room for everyone on the roughly 4-acre lake.

Near the lake's bottom, gravel areas, silty gullies, high plateaus, and hard clay parts can all be found. The professional fisherman has a lot of options when it comes to discovering the fish. At one end of the lake, there is an island where the lake shallows to about three feet, then depths range from six to twelve feet near the dam. Few lakes in Kent and Sussex offer such a realistic chance of catching a thirty-pounder, and last year one of our anglers caught nearly 12 thirtys in his best season ever.

Minimum gear requirements apply due to the size of the fish. We'll need at least 2.75lb test curve rods with 12lb mainline, as well as a 42-inch landing net and a large unhooking pad to protect our animals. You will be tested on your tackle, so don't apply if you don't have the necessary equipment.