🎣 Forest of Dean Carp & Specimen Fishery

Elton Carp & Catfish Lakes

Elton Farm · Newnham-on-Severn · Gloucestershire

📋 About the Fishery

Elton Carp & Catfish Lakes is a well-regarded two-lake fishery set within the picturesque grounds of Elton Farm, just off the A4151 near Newnham-on-Severn in Gloucestershire — conveniently positioned at the edge of the Forest of Dean, with easy access from the A48 Gloucester to Chepstow trunk road and within reach of the M5, M4, and M50 motorway network. The fishery has established itself as a popular destination for carp and specimen anglers from across Gloucestershire and beyond, offering two very different but equally rewarding lakes within a single, well-managed site.

Barn Lake and Horseshoe Lake are designed with natural features, islands and varying depths, providing challenging and rewarding sessions for anglers using both margin and long cast tactics. With spacious, carefully maintained swims, the lakes cater to both day ticket and longer term anglers seeking a peaceful, low disturbance environment for specimen carp fishing. This dual-lake setup gives visiting anglers the flexibility to choose between a more intimate, feature-rich session on Barn Lake or a wider-ranging specimen challenge on the larger Horseshoe Lake depending on their preference and experience level.

Horseshoe Lake — the larger and more challenging of the two waters — was opened in June 2007 and reclassified as a Specimen Lake in 2018 following significant growth in the size of its carp stock and the introduction of wels catfish. This lake has been stocked with some very strong breeds of carp such as the Laney Bloodline and Redmire Commons — two of the most respected and sought-after bloodlines in UK carp fishing. These are not generic commercial fishery carp; they are fish with genuine heritage and genetic pedigree, stocked deliberately to produce specimens of exceptional quality, character, and fighting ability as they continue to grow within the lake’s environment.

One of the most striking characteristics of Horseshoe Lake is the natural diversity of its carp stock. Alongside the Laney Bloodline commons and Redmire-strain fish, the lake holds a colourful and varied collection of ghost carp, albino grass carp, jumbo koi, and a range of mirrors and commons of varying scale patterns and colouration. Every year the fish have spawned twice with thousands of fry evident in the margins in the Summer and Autumn — a sign of an exceptionally healthy and self-sustaining fishery environment that speaks volumes about the quality of the water and the management approach at Elton.

Barn Lake — the original lake on the complex — has recently undergone significant improvement works including de-silting and reshaping to improve the living environment for its fish stock. This lake has spots from 3 foot to 12 foot deep and houses some weird and wonderful fish, with a good head of commons and mirrors alongside plenty of jumbo koi, albino grass carp, ghost carp, and smaller species including bream, roach, rudd, and eels. With six pegs and a maximum of four anglers permitted at any one time, Barn Lake offers one of the most intimate and peaceful fishing experiences available anywhere in the Forest of Dean area.

Due to the colour of the water and clay content, Horseshoe Lake can present some challenges and should not be overlooked as an easy runs water. Presentation and attraction are key to catching here. This slightly coloured, clay-tinged water is a defining characteristic of the lake and one that experienced anglers learn to use to their advantage — the reduced water clarity means that attractors and visual elements in hookbait choice become even more important than on clearer venues, and rigs that might be rejected on a gin-clear gravel pit will often succeed here when paired with the right bait.

Elton is a regional favourite for night fishing and social events, with Horseshoe Lake available for advance-booked overnight sessions that have built a loyal following among local and visiting anglers who enjoy the full immersive experience of a summer night on the banks. The social aspect of fishing at Elton is genuinely part of the venue’s identity — this is a fishery that welcomes groups, social sessions, and relaxed longer visits as warmly as it does dedicated specimen hunters targeting the lake’s most impressive residents.

Disabled and wheelchair access has been thoughtfully incorporated into the fishery’s design, with a car-accessible peg on level ground available for wheelchair users on the top lake, with other easy access pegs available on both lakes. This commitment to inclusive angling reflects the welcoming and community-focused spirit that has made Elton one of the most warmly regarded local fisheries in Gloucestershire. Payment is made on site via a post box system using cash in an envelope, and bait and tackle can be supplied if arranged in advance.

🐟 Fish Stock

Horseshoe Lake holds an impressive head of carp dominated by the high-quality Laney Bloodline and Redmire Common strains that form the backbone of the specimen stock. Carp in Horseshoe Lake are plentiful in the 20lb-plus range, with mirror carp of 29lb having been landed and the stock growing steadily year on year as the fish continue to mature in the rich Gloucestershire environment. The carp record for the lake has been climbing consistently as the original stock develops, with thirties a realistic prospect for well-prepared anglers targeting the bigger residents. Ghost carp, albino grass carp, and jumbo koi add exceptional visual variety to every catch, and each of these unusual varieties is a memorable capture in its own right.

Barn Lake provides a slightly different carp fishing experience, with its stock including a diverse range of commons, mirrors, ghost carp, and koi across a broad weight range from smaller double-figure fish up to specimens approaching the mid-twenties. Bream of more than 10lb are not uncommon on Horseshoe Lake, with rudd, tench, perch, and roach of good sizes also present. The bream fishing in particular has impressed many visiting anglers, with fish exceeding 10.7lb confirmed — outstanding bream weights for a Gloucestershire fishery of this type. Roach, rudd, tench, and perch round out a balanced and healthy mixed coarse stock across both lakes.

A note on the catfish: catfish in Horseshoe Lake can exceed 60lb, with one example — ‘The Claw’ — weighing at least 65lb. While catfish are not the primary focus of the venue, their presence adds an exciting dimension for anglers who enjoy the possibility of encountering a specimen predator during a carp session. The Claw in particular has become something of a local legend and its captures are widely celebrated within the Elton angling community.

🎯 Tactics & Methods

The clay-tinged water on Horseshoe Lake is the most important tactical consideration for visiting anglers. In slightly coloured water, visual attraction becomes more important than in clear-water venues — bright, high-attract hookbaits in yellow, orange, or white consistently outperform naturalistic presentations that would work well on clearer gravel pits. Pop-ups, bright wafters, and plastic corn tipped presentations all have a strong track record on the lake, and the added attraction of a quality dip or glug on the hookbait can make a meaningful difference in conditions where fish are relying more on smell and colour than on a close visual inspection of the bait.

Island fishing is a key feature of both lakes at Elton. Barn Lake and Horseshoe Lake are designed with natural features, islands and varying depths providing challenging and rewarding sessions for anglers using both margin and long cast tactics. On Horseshoe Lake’s 30 pegs, casting accurately to island margins and the features around them — overhanging trees, reed fringes, and the natural patrol routes carp use alongside these features — consistently produces results throughout the season. The method feeder fished to the islands and the shelf edges has proven particularly effective, as has the pole in shorter pegs where island distance allows it.

Margin fishing should be a significant part of any session on both lakes. On Barn Lake especially, where depths slope from 3 feet in the margins down to 12 feet in the centre, the marginal shelf is a key holding area for carp — particularly during the warmer months when fish move into shallower water to feed. A simple but accurate margin rig fished with a pop-up or critically balanced wafter over a small amount of pellet and corn is a devastating method for the double-figure carp that spend considerable time in these zones.

For the specimen carp on Horseshoe Lake, a boilie approach over a modest particle bed remains the most reliable method for targeting the larger Laney and Redmire strain fish. These are carp with good genetic instincts and will move to well-presented baited spots — but the clay water means bait application needs to be purposeful and measured rather than simply flooding the swim with bait in the hope of attracting numbers. A spod mix of pellets, hemp, corn, and broken boilies over a quality hookbait fished on a fluorocarbon hooklink will consistently attract the better fish in the lake throughout the carp season.

For overnight sessions on Horseshoe Lake — which must be booked in advance — a more sustained baiting approach is justifiable given the longer session length. A regular top-up of the swim every four to six hours through the night, using a baiting pole or accurate spod rather than casting spombs that risk spooking fish in the dark, will keep carp visiting the swim and feeding with confidence. Night sessions at Elton are a highlight of the fishing year for many regulars, and the peaceful Forest of Dean setting makes them an experience well beyond just the fishing itself.

🏆 Lake Records & Key Stats

📅 Seasonal Fishing Guide

Spring (March–May): As temperatures warm, carp at Elton become increasingly active, particularly around the island features and margins of both lakes. This is an excellent time to target the colourful ghost carp and koi that move shallower than most species during spring and are often visible to spot-fishing anglers. Bright pop-up presentations fished to the island margins produce strongly as the season gets underway.

Summer (June–August): Every year the fish spawn twice with thousands of fry evident in the margins during summer and autumn — a wonderful sign of the lake’s health and the quality of its environment. Surface fishing becomes very productive during warm settled conditions, and the island swims on both lakes come into their own during the long summer evenings. Overnight sessions on Horseshoe Lake are at their most popular and enjoyable during this period.

Autumn (September–November): Carp at Elton feed hard through autumn and the Laney Bloodline and Redmire stock in particular show excellent feeding activity as temperatures cool. Boilie and particle presentations over the island margins and deeper features on Horseshoe Lake produce some of the season’s best carp during this window, and the bream fishing peaks impressively through September and October.

Winter (December–February): The Forest of Dean setting gives Elton a sheltered character in winter, and the clay-tinged water retains heat slightly better than clear gravel pit venues — meaning carp remain catchable through the colder months, albeit at a slower pace. Single hookbaits and small PVA bags fished to the deeper areas of both lakes are the most reliable winter approach, with the deeper central channel on Horseshoe Lake a productive holding area during the coldest spells.

ℹ️ Facilities & Key Rules

The fishery offers toilets and, if requested in advance, can supply bait and tackle. Parking is readily available and plentiful, with spots close to each lake. Disabled and wheelchair anglers are well catered for, with a car-accessible level peg on the top lake and additional easy-access pegs on both waters. Night fishing is available on Horseshoe Lake by advance booking — contact the fishery directly to arrange sessions. Payment is made on site via a cash-in-envelope post box system. Bait and tackle can be arranged in advance by contacting the fishery before your visit.

Horseshoe Lake is the fishery’s specimen lake and is particularly popular for social fishing sessions and group visits. Maximum angler capacity on Barn Lake is four anglers at any one time, ensuring the intimate character of this smaller water is preserved. Anglers are advised to contact the fishery directly before travelling to confirm swim availability, particularly for weekends and popular fishing periods.

Key Rules to Know:

Barbless hooks only on both lakes. Unhooking mats mandatory for all carp and large species. No sacking of fish. Night fishing on Horseshoe Lake by advance booking only — do not arrive for a night session without prior arrangement. Maximum 4 anglers on Barn Lake at any one time. Disabled access pegs are available on both lakes. Bait and tackle available on request with advance notice. Payment by cash in envelope on site. All litter to be removed. Dogs permitted on a lead and under control. Valid EA rod licence required at all times.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📞 Venue Information

🌐 www.eltoncarplakes.fishing

📍 Elton Farm, Littledean Road, Newnham-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, GL14 1JU

🗺️ Satnav: GL14 1JU · On the A4151, just off the A48 Gloucester to Chepstow road

Day tickets & night fishing available · Night fishing by advance booking on Horseshoe Lake only · Payment by cash on site · Bait & tackle available on request · Disabled access on both lakes