Car Park Pool, Offord Cluny

The lowdown

• The pool has two weirs, and the flow over them changes with rainfall. For much of the season there’s normally very little flow, so it can fish more like a lake than a river.
• Most swims are between 5 and 8 feet deep, with some deeper holes reaching around 12 feet. Plenty of water to explore, especially if the fish aren’t showing.
• The spit beside the big weir is a key-looking bit of water. The club reports big pike and carp coming from there, so it’s certainly worth giving the area a proper look.
• Water lilies provide shallow cover for carp and tench. These margins could be bang on for watching for signs, presenting a bait tight to cover and keeping things quiet.
• Carp are a big draw here. Several fish over 30lb are caught almost every year, with both common and mirror carp listed by the club.
• There are bream over 6lb, perch to 3lb and roach to 1lb too. In winter, the pike fishing can produce fish over 20lb, so don’t forget the wire trace.
• With the normally gentle flow, feeder work, float fishing and carp tactics all sound like sensible approaches. When the weirs push more water through after rain, look for creases and steadier water.
• The water is popular with carp anglers, but it isn’t just a bivvy-and-boilies job. The lilies, weirs, deeper water and spit give you a few different features to pick apart.
• The main car park is off Station Lane. Buy your day ticket in advance if you want the barrier combination, and check the vehicle height restriction before turning up.

Methods: Feeder and float tactics should suit the quieter, lake-like conditions, while carp anglers can work the lilies, deeper water and the spit. When rainfall adds flow over the weirs, fish the creases and steadier edges.

Access & tickets

Day tickets are available online or from bailiffs on the bank. Adult tickets are £5, while under-17s fish free; tickets are valid from dawn to dusk.

Fish the club names

carp, tench, bream, perch, roach, pike

Key rules

• A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
• Day-ticket anglers should buy in advance to obtain the car-park barrier combination.
• Anglers must show their membership or day ticket when asked.
• Maximum of three rods per angler.
• Anglers may occupy only one swim at a time.
• All fish must be returned to the society’s waters.
• Unhooking mats are required for large fish.
• Pike anglers must use a wire trace.
• No open fires are allowed. Bivvies are permitted, but tents are prohibited, and the Ouse Valley pathway must not be blocked.

River level

Where it is