About Us

Hello I would just like to introduce myself; I am Rusty.

I started fishing when I was a teenager, mainly sea fishing back then with a bit of course fishing thrown in, then a few years later beer, clubbing and girls got in the way.

Years later my youngest son wanted to have a go at the fine art of fishing, so a trip to a cheap a shop and £30 on 2 rods and reels and we got started. After the first few minutes sitting on the bank, I was hooked back in. 26 years later and like most of us I have gone from £30 to thousands of pounds worth of gear.

I have been lucky enough to fish all over, from Weeley to Thailand, and been a member of many clubs over the years, I was also a bailiff and committee member for Paxmans and was able to take part in a few Environmental Agency (EA) training sessions.

I had always dreamt of having my own lake, I then heard about a little lake in Alresford and went to introduce myself to the owner. I found out the lake was dug out as the reservoir for the cattle farm many years ago and had been stocked about 30 years ago with some carp from another farm pond and then never fished. After some negotiation and some trust being built the land owner (Baden), was happy to make an arrangement with me.

21st July 2021 I walked through the gate as the lake manager, at that time the lake was completely untouched, natural and over grown and I had no idea what was in there but I knew there was carp swimming about and a lot of silvers.

I hired a digger and driver and after a few days ripping out brambles and moving dirt, Hollys and Long view started to look somewhat like swims. Then over the next few months and many hours of ripping out brambles and the odd trees that were in the way Birches, Reed View, High View and Snags were made. By that September the first few members took to the bank.

That winter I started a 5-year stocking plan, adding 10 Carp from 14lb to 18lb and 30 Tench from 3lb to 4lb, also 2 Grass Carp with one of them being an albino. With support from EA, we then added Pike in the first winter.

Year 2 the lake had its first known 30lb carp some perch and few more Grass Carp.

Year 3 a few more carp with some Koi Carp crosses and some more Perch.

Year 4 more carp from 9lb to 30lb were added.

So after years of fishing with a UK 31lb7oz and a French 58lb4oz Carp and a 60lb Alligator Gar in Thailand, I have now just taken up Camping at Brook Farm Lake.

Good luck and thank you Rusty