🎣 Norfolk’s Premier Day Ticket Carp Water

Catch 22 Main Lake – Catch 22 Fishing Centre

Lyng Easthaugh · Wensum Valley · Norfolk

📋 About the Fishery

Catch 22 Fishing Centre is one of the most celebrated and historically significant carp venues in East Anglia — a fishery that has earned its reputation over more than three decades through consistent fish quality, outstanding stock credentials, and a setting in the heart of the beautiful Wensum Valley near the quiet Norfolk village of Lyng Easthaugh, approximately 12 miles from Norwich. The Main Lake, a mature 21-acre gravel pit that sits at the heart of the complex, is widely regarded as one of the finest day-ticket carp waters in Norfolk and has been a destination venue for serious carp anglers from across the UK since the early 1990s.

The story of Catch 22 begins in the 1970s, when Dereham Angling Club first stocked the former working gravel pit with roach, perch, tench, pike, and a small number of English strain carp. The venue’s transformation into one of the UK’s leading specimen carp fisheries came in 1990, when Norfolk Koi Import Ltd — led by Joseph Van Haam — took on the lease and began a programme of major development. In 1992 and 1994, thousands of robust Dutch-bred carp, primarily powerful common carp of German and Italian strains, were legally imported from the Netherlands and introduced to the lakes. This stocking decision would prove to be one of the most significant in the fishery’s history, laying the foundation for the exceptional head of large, hard-fighting commons that Catch 22 is famous for today.

Throughout the 1990s, the Main Lake underwent extensive landscaping, tree planting, swim construction, and the creation of the famous Island swim — a unique feature that remains one of the most sought-after fishing positions at the complex. The Nature Reserve swim was constructed in 2000 along the northern bank, adding a second exclusive boat-access-only peg that has since become famous for producing exceptional catches of the lake’s larger residents. These two special swims — Island and Nature Reserve — provide a genuinely unique fishing experience that is virtually impossible to find elsewhere on the UK day-ticket circuit.

After several years of significant success and national recognition, Catch 22 entered a period of closure under previous ownership. The fishery has since reopened under new management with a renewed focus on specimen carp angling, fish care, and the visitor experience. Once one of the UK’s most popular day-ticket carp venues, it is making a resurgence as a prime destination for anglers seeking challenging and rewarding fishing. The reopening has been met with considerable enthusiasm from the carp fishing community, with many anglers who fished the venue in its earlier years returning to reconnect with a water that holds a special place in the history of Norfolk carp fishing.

The lake’s character is defined by its rich variety of underwater features and clear, slightly weedy water, demanding a thoughtful and strategic approach from anglers. It is not a runs water; it is a venue for the dedicated angler seeking to target specific, large fish. The topography is complex, a direct result of its gravel extraction history. Anglers will find a network of gravel bars, deep silt channels, firm clay spots, and raised plateaus. Depths vary significantly, from shallow 2-foot margins to holes dropping down to 14 feet, offering diverse fishing scenarios throughout the year.

The bankside swims are nicely spaced apart and 9 of these are known as doubles which have room for two anglers on them — pegs 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, 20, 23, 28 and 31. This generous spacing between pegs, combined with the lake’s 21 acres, means anglers rarely feel crowded and each swim commands a significant and varied stretch of water. The lake has good swims around three banks with the fourth bank forming the nature reserve — a protected area that adds a genuine wildlife dimension to the fishing experience.

The on-site facilities at Catch 22 Fishing Centre are extensive and well-regarded. Facilities include a well-stocked tackle shop for essentials and advice, a breakfast café, indoor toilets and showers, and Scandinavian holiday lodges for longer stays. To ease the burden of transporting gear, a quad and trailer service is available to help anglers get to their swims. Security cameras are installed throughout the site and gates are locked at night, providing reassurance for anglers fishing overnight sessions. The overall package — quality fishing, genuine big-fish potential, and comprehensive on-site amenities — makes Catch 22 one of the most complete day-ticket destinations in Norfolk.

The peaceful Wensum Valley setting provides a genuinely atmospheric backdrop to a session at Catch 22. Tree-lined banks, abundant birdlife, and the tranquil Norfolk countryside all contribute to an experience that goes well beyond simply catching fish — though with the stock credentials this water holds, catching fish is very much on the agenda for any well-prepared visiting angler.

🐟 Fish Stock

In the Day Ticket Lake there are 4 known forties, 70 thirties, a good head of twenties and mid to upper doubles. The majority of the stock traces its lineage directly back to the Dutch imports of 1992 and 1994 — primarily powerful German and Italian strain commons that have spent over three decades growing in the rich Norfolk gravel pit environment. These fish are renowned for their exceptional fighting qualities, with their Dutch heritage giving them a robustness and stamina that regularly tests tackle and angler alike during prolonged battles across the lake’s 21 acres. The day ticket lake record is held by Lee Nobbs with a 45lb 9oz mirror.

Common carp make up 60% of the stock; other species include mirror and leather carp. The carp average 23lb, with a lot of anglers catching between 25–35lb fish. Leather carp are a particularly rare and exciting component of the stock — a species that many carp anglers spend years targeting without ever landing one, making any leather caught from Catch 22 a genuinely memorable and special capture.

Specimen size roach to 4lb, tench to 10lb, bream to 16lb and pike to over 30lb can be caught from both lakes. This remarkable multi-species stock profile makes Catch 22 a genuine all-round specimen venue rather than a one-dimensional carp water, and the winter pike fishing in particular has produced extraordinary catches for anglers prepared to switch focus during the colder months.

🎯 Tactics & Methods

Catch 22 Main Lake is emphatically not a water that rewards lazy or unfocused fishing. It is not a runs water; it is a venue for the dedicated angler seeking to target specific, large fish. The complex lakebed — a result of decades of gravel extraction — means that finding and accurately fishing productive features is the single most important skill an angler can develop here. A marker rod session at the beginning of every visit, spent mapping the gravel bars, clay spots, silt channels, and raised plateaus in front of your swim, will always be time well spent and will consistently outperform anglers who simply cast to open water without reading the lakebed first.

The gravel bar edges and raised plateau tops are the most consistently productive bottom fishing spots at Catch 22. Carp patrol these features throughout the day and night, and presentations fished to the leading edge of a bar — where the gravel gives way to softer silt — account for a large proportion of the lake’s better catches. Fluorocarbon hooklinks blending into the gravel, combined with balanced wafter or critically balanced pop-up hookbaits, are a reliable baseline setup that has produced well across all seasons at this venue.

The two exclusive boat-access swims — the Island and the Nature Reserve (Peg 32) — deserve special mention. From experience, there’s always carp in these sections of water. To hire these private swims out costs £35 for 24 hours. With virtually private water and some of the most productive pegs on the lake, it’s a no-brainer for serious specimen hunters prepared to make the short row out. Both swims must be booked in advance and require a rod pod rather than bank sticks due to their platform construction.

Bait selection at Catch 22 should reflect the Dutch heritage of the stock. These are powerful, well-travelled fish that have encountered a huge variety of baits over their decades in the lake, and bait confidence is more important than bait novelty. High-quality, well-sourced boilies from proven brands — particularly fishmeal and birdfood-based recipes — have a strong track record on the venue. Note that no nuts of any kind and no shelf-life boilies are permitted, and only particle bait prepared on-site or from approved suppliers such as Dynamite and Nash is allowed. Plan your bait selection accordingly before arriving.

Zig rigs and surface fishing are worth considering during warmer months when fish are visible in the upper layers, particularly from the shallower margin areas where depths as little as two feet can concentrate fish during warm, settled conditions. For winter pike fishing, targeting the deeper holes — some dropping to 14 feet — with static deadbaits fished on the deck provides access to the lake’s exceptional pike stock, with fish to over 30lb a genuine winter target from this world-class all-round specimen venue.

🏆 Lake Records & Key Stats

📅 Seasonal Fishing Guide

Spring (March–May): As water temperatures rise through spring, the Dutch-bred commons at Catch 22 become increasingly active and begin feeding with confidence across the gravel bars and plateau areas. Peg 1A in the far top corner is particularly noted for good spring carp catches, and the shallower margins warm first, drawing fish into accessible areas. This is an excellent time to book the Island or Nature Reserve swims as fish congregate around the island features early in the season.

Summer (June–August): Day tickets run from 07:30am – 07:30pm from 1st April to 1st November. Summer brings long sessions and active fish, with carp moving freely across all areas of the lake. Surface fishing and zig rigs come into their own during warm settled conditions, particularly from the shallower margin swims. The slightly weedy nature of the lake during summer creates additional ambush zones for carp and adds a visual, location-based element to the fishing.

Autumn (September–November): Widely regarded as the prime period on Catch 22. The Dutch commons feed hard through autumn, visiting all areas of the lake and responding strongly to well-presented boilie and particle combinations over the gravel bars. The lake’s 70 confirmed thirties are at their most catchable during the September and October feeding windows, and many of the venue’s most memorable captures have come during the autumn period.

Winter (December–February): Day tickets run from 8am–5pm from 1st November to 1st March. Carp slow during the coldest months but remain catchable on single hookbaits fished to the deepest holes and known holding areas. Winter is also the prime season for targeting the lake’s exceptional pike stock, with fish to over 30lb a realistic prospect for dedicated predator anglers using static deadbaits in the deeper sections of the lake.

ℹ️ Facilities & Key Rules

On-site facilities include a well-stocked tackle shop for essentials and advice, a breakfast café, indoor toilets and showers, and Scandinavian holiday lodges for longer stays. A quad and trailer service is available to help anglers get to their swims. Security cameras are installed and gates are locked at night for security. A maximum of 17 people fish the bankside swims per day, keeping the venue from becoming overcrowded. The Island swim, Nature Reserve (Peg 32), and Peg 1A all require advance booking and cost £35 per 24 hours — rod pods are required for all three platform-based swims.

Key Rules to Know:

Carp care kit mandatory. Fish to be kept out of water for the minimum time possible. Sacking of fish is strictly forbidden. 3 rods maximum. Micro-barbed or barbless hooks only. No fixed leads — lead clips, helicopter setups, and running rigs are permitted. Minimum 15lb mainline. No leadcore leaders — safe zone leaders are permitted. No braided mainline except for spod and marker rods. Bailiffs will conduct regular checks. Failure to comply with rules will result in being asked to leave without a refund. No nuts of any kind. No shelf-life boilies. Only particle bait prepared on-site or from approved suppliers such as Dynamite and Nash is permitted. No excessive pre-baiting. Vehicles to be parked in designated areas only. 5mph speed limit on site. Do not drive on the grass.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📞 Venue Information

📞 01603 872948

📧 catch22fishinglakes@gmail.com

📍 Lyng Easthaugh, Wensum Valley, Norfolk, NR9 5BQ

🗺️ Satnav: NR9 5BQ · Approximately 12 miles from Norwich

Pre-booking required · Max 17 anglers on bankside per day · Island & Peg 32 £35 per 24hrs · Day ticket hours vary by season · Scandinavian lodges available for overnight stays