🎣 Carp Fishery
The Islands Fishery
Mere · Wiltshire
📍 Wiltshire
🎫 Day Ticket
🐟 400+ Carp
🏆 Carp Over 36lb
📋 About the Fishery
The Islands Fishery is one of the most unique and visually impressive carp fisheries in Wiltshire, located near the town of Mere close to Warminster. The venue was originally designed and excavated by experienced fishery developers with the aim of creating a modern carp lake that offered privacy, excellent swim design, and consistent action for anglers of all abilities. Since opening, the fishery has quickly built a strong reputation amongst carp anglers across the South West thanks to its carefully planned layout and impressive stock of hard-fighting carp.
The main lake covers around 4.5 acres and features twelve spacious swims positioned around a maze of islands, bays, marginal shelves, and underwater features. The unique design helps minimise angler pressure while allowing each swim to feel like its own private section of water. Many anglers describe the venue as one of the best-designed day ticket fisheries in the region, with excellent fish care, clean facilities, and a peaceful atmosphere throughout the complex.
Its location near the A303 also makes it highly accessible for travelling carp anglers looking for a quality session water in Wiltshire.
🐟 Fish Stock
The Islands Fishery holds an impressive stock estimated at over 400 carp including commons, mirrors, and heavily scaled fish. A large percentage of the stock exceeds 20lb, with numerous fish surpassing the 30lb barrier and a lake record reported over 36lb. The fish are known for their incredible condition, dark colours, and powerful fighting ability.
Alongside the carp, anglers may also encounter tench, perch, and silver fish across the venue. Consistent fishery management and careful stocking have helped maintain healthy growth rates and excellent catch reports throughout the warmer months.
🎯 Tactics & Methods
The Islands rewards anglers who fish accurately to features. Each swim contains islands, gravel spots, deeper holes, and marginal shelves that can all hold feeding carp at different times of the year. Solid PVA bags, boilie approaches, wafters, and small bait traps all produce fish consistently across the lake.
Many successful anglers focus heavily on watercraft and positioning, especially during changing weather conditions. Margins and island edges can be particularly productive during warmer conditions, while deeper holes and gravel plateaus often produce bites during colder periods.
Because of the lake layout, accurate casting and quiet approaches can make a major difference to catch rates.
🏆 Lake Records
| Mirror Carp | 36lb 1oz |
| Common Carp | 30lb+ |
| Tench | 8lb+ |
| Perch | 3lb+ |
ℹ️ Facilities & Notes
The venue offers secure gated access, maintained swims, on-site toilets, tackle supplies, and disabled-friendly access around parts of the fishery. Night fishing is permitted, and all sessions must usually be booked in advance due to the popularity of the venue.
The fishery is particularly well known for its clean presentation, professional management, and high standards of fish care. Anglers are expected to follow strict fishery rules including suitable tackle requirements and carp care equipment.