🎣 The Cotswolds’ Premier Lodge Carp Venue

Cherry Lake – Cherry Lakes

South Cerney · Cirencester · Gloucestershire

📋 About the Fishery

Cherry Lake is the flagship specimen water at the Cherry Lakes complex, nestled in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park near South Cerney in Gloucestershire. This five‑acre gravel pit has been meticulously managed since its establishment in 2013 to produce some of the finest carp in the region. The lake record stands at an impressive fifty‑pound‑two‑ounce mirror, with a ghost carp record of forty‑three‑pound‑eight. Cherry Lake has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most popular carp fishing holiday destinations in the UK, combining high‑quality fishing with premium lakeside accommodation.

The lake is home to over three hundred carp, with more than one hundred fish exceeding twenty pounds, over eighty topping thirty pounds, and ten‑plus fish that have surpassed the forty‑pound barrier. Notable residents include ‘The Patch’, a well‑known common carp that has been recorded at forty‑six‑pound‑twelve. The quality and condition of the fish is exceptional, a testament to the careful stock management and low angling pressure that defines the Cherry Lake experience.

What sets Cherry Lake apart from other specimen venues is the luxury lakeside accommodation. Three lodges — Heron, Osprey, and Grebe — sit directly on the banks, each with its own exclusive swim. Rods are positioned just steps from the front door, and the lodges feature fully fitted kitchens, central heating, wide patio doors opening onto private decks, and Wi‑Fi. This combination of world‑class fishing and five‑star comfort has made Cherry Lake a destination of choice for anglers seeking a truly memorable fishing holiday.

The Cherry Lakes complex comprises four lakes in total, but Cherry Lake remains the jewel in the crown for serious specimen anglers. The lake features gravel bars, silt pockets, and overhanging willows that provide a variety of tactical options. Lily pads and reed‑lined margins add further interest, and the relatively compact size of the water means that fish can often be spotted and stalked. Bookings are available as three‑night, four‑night, and seven‑night breaks, with pricing varying by lodge, party size, and season. Advance reservation is essential as the venue is in high demand throughout the year.

The peaceful Cotswold setting, combined with the quality of the fishing and facilities, makes Cherry Lake a venue that delivers on every level. The fishery operates a strict bait policy — only Cherry Lakes boilies are permitted (purchased on‑site) — and all fish care equipment is provided by the fishery. This attention to detail ensures that both the fish and the anglers are looked after to the highest possible standard.

🐟 Fish Stock

Cherry Lake is home to over three hundred carp, with an average weight of twenty‑four pounds. The stock breakdown is remarkable for a five‑acre water: more than one hundred fish exceed twenty pounds, over eighty have topped thirty pounds, and ten‑plus fish have surpassed the forty‑pound barrier. The lake record currently stands at fifty‑pound‑two for a mirror, with a ghost carp record of forty‑three‑pound‑eight. Notable residents include ‘The Patch’, a well‑known common carp that has been recorded at forty‑six‑pound‑twelve.

Beyond the carp, Cherry Lake also holds a healthy population of tench. There are no bream or pike present in the lake, which ensures that all natural food is directed towards the growth of the specimen carp and tench. This deliberate management strategy has produced a stock of exceptionally fit, hard‑fighting fish that are in pristine condition.

The quality and condition of the fish at Cherry Lake is exceptional, a testament to the careful stock management and low angling pressure. The carp are described by regular visitors as some of the hardest‑fighting in the Cotswolds, with the lake’s gravel pit origins producing fish with incredible power and stamina. Every fish in the lake is a genuine specimen, and the presence of ten fish over forty pounds confirms that Cherry Lake is operating at the very top tier of UK carp fishing venues.

🎯 Tactics & Methods

With only three anglers maximum on the lake at any one time — one per lodge — Cherry Lake offers an unrivalled opportunity for truly intimate big‑carp fishing in the Cotswolds. Each lodge has its own exclusive swim, meaning you have a significant portion of the lake to yourself. The relatively compact five‑acre footprint means that feature finding and location are both more straightforward than on larger gravel pits — fish are never far away, and their movements across the lake can often be tracked visually.

The lake features gravel bars and silt pockets that provide a variety of tactical options. Lily pads and reed‑lined margins add further interest, and the relatively compact size of the water means that fish can often be spotted and stalked. The gravel bars are particularly productive during the warmer months, when carp patrol these areas in search of natural food. Presenting a rig accurately onto the gravel, whether identified with a marker rod or by careful casting to feel the bottom composition change, is consistently one of the most reliable ways to intercept the lake’s largest residents.

Margin fishing along the lily pad and reed‑fringed banks is highly productive, particularly during the evening and overnight periods when the lake’s biggest carp patrol these natural corridors with great confidence. A bait placed accurately within inches of the lily pad edge — whether by hand, baiting pole, or accurate underarm cast — will frequently out‑fish presentations made further out in the open water during these key feeding windows. The overhanging willows that line parts of the lake also provide excellent holding spots for big fish.

Bait choice at Cherry Lake is straightforward: only Cherry Lakes boilies are permitted, and these are purchased on‑site. The fishery supplies high‑quality boilies in proven flavours, and anglers are encouraged to use these exclusively to maintain the lake’s careful feeding programme. A single, perfectly presented pop‑up or wafter fished over a handful of matching freebies is a consistently effective approach. PVA bags and The Method work particularly well, especially when you consistently cast to the same areas.

The fishery recommends baiting several margin spots along your exclusive bank several times a day and fishing these spots on a regular basis. The carp at Cherry Lake are fed on larger‑than‑normal boilies (twenty‑four millimetre) to ensure these are not eaten first by the smaller carp in the lake. This approach helps to target the bigger, more experienced fish that make Cherry Lake such a special venue.

🏆 Lake Records & Key Stats

📅 Seasonal Fishing Guide

Spring (March–May): As water temperatures rise, the carp at Cherry Lake become increasingly active around the gravel bars and lily pad margins. Spring is an excellent period for sight fishing in the shallower margins before full lily pad development — visible fish can often be targeted directly with well‑placed presentations. The tench also begin feeding strongly from late spring, providing excellent sport for lodge guests targeting a change of species.

Summer (June–August): Arguably the most exciting period at Cherry Lake, with carp active throughout the lake and the lily pad margins at their most attractive to fish. The lake’s biggest residents spend significant time in the deeper areas during the heat of the day before moving into margin and gravel bar areas in the cooler evening and overnight periods. Surface fishing is highly effective during settled conditions, and zig rigs produce well when fish are visible but not responding to bottom presentations.

Autumn (September–November): Carp at Cherry Lake feed hard through autumn building condition, and this period consistently produces some of the season’s best catches. The gravel bars and silt pockets are at their most productive through October and November as fish feed over natural food‑rich areas of the lakebed. Lodge guests fishing autumn sessions frequently report their best‑ever carp captures from the venue during this window.

Winter (December–February): Cherry Lake is available as a year‑round venue and the luxury lodge accommodation makes it a genuinely appealing winter fishing destination in a way that bivvy‑based fishing can never be. Carp slow during the coldest months but the lake’s exceptional stock density means fish remain catchable on single hookbaits and small PVA bags. The lodge guests benefit from heated, comfortable accommodation between takes, with the fully equipped kitchens and central heating making winter sessions a genuine pleasure.

ℹ️ Facilities & Key Rules

Cherry Lake offers three luxury lodges — Heron, Osprey, and Grebe — each accommodating up to two anglers. All lodges are self‑catering and provide a comfortable home‑from‑home environment for the duration of the booking. Features include fully fitted kitchens, central heating, wide patio doors opening onto private decks, and Wi‑Fi. Each lodge has its own exclusive swim, with rods positioned just steps from the front door. The lodges are designed to the highest standards, giving you a luxury apartment feel right on the water’s edge.

Bookings are available as three‑night, four‑night, and seven‑night breaks, with pricing varying by lodge, party size, and season. Advance reservation is essential as the venue is in high demand throughout the year. The fishery does not offer day tickets — all fishing is exclusively for lodge guests. A bedding and towel pack can be rented at a cost of forty pounds per bed, which includes bedding sheets, pillows, a duvet, and towels.

Key Rules to Know:

Only Cherry Lakes boilies are permitted (purchased on‑site). All fish care equipment is provided by the fishery. Barbless hooks only. Unhooking mats and carp care products mandatory for all fish. No sacking of fish. Pre‑booking essential — no walk‑up sessions available. Maximum two anglers per lodge. Only lodge guests permitted on site — no day visitors. Valid EA rod licence required at all times. Bait boats are permitted and the fishery has partnered with Angling Technics to offer bait boat services.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📞 Venue Information

🌐 www.cherrylakes.co.uk

📞 01285 869887

📍 Cherry Lake House, Wildmoorway Lane, South Cerney, Gloucestershire GL7 5UZ

Lodge bookings only · 3 luxury lodges (Heron, Osprey, Grebe) · Max 2 anglers per lodge · 3, 4 & 7-night breaks · Year-round fishing · No day tickets · Advance booking essential