Fishery guide · Northamptonshire
Drayton Reservoir
Drayton is a 25-acre carp reservoir at Daventry, with advertised average carp of 14–18lb and two-rod day tickets. Day anglers fish the dam wall, while the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.
“7.3/10 — The advertised 14–18lb carp average gives Drayton strong appeal for carp anglers, with three other species present.”
Tackle Index scorecard
The lowdown
Fancy a proper carp-focused reservoir rather than a circuit of little pools? Drayton, off the A361 at Daventry, offers one advertised 25-acre water. Carp are the headline attraction, with the fishery putting their average at 14–18lb and advertising a biggest carp of 35lb. That gives you a clear idea of the appeal: double-figure carp are central to the pitch here, rather than just an occasional bonus among smaller fish.
- 1 lake: Drayton Reservoir
- Fish: carp, roach, perch, pike
- Tickets from: Adult day — £12, two rods.
- Find it: Daventry · NN11 0SG
Plan your session
Fishery map of Drayton Reservoir
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Around the fishery
A look around the venue
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Drayton Reservoir
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The full rundown on Drayton Reservoir
Fancy a proper carp-focused reservoir rather than a circuit of little pools? Drayton, off the A361 at Daventry, offers one advertised 25-acre water. Carp are the headline attraction, with the fishery putting their average at 14–18lb and advertising a biggest carp of 35lb. That gives you a clear idea of the appeal: double-figure carp are central to the pitch here, rather than just an occasional bonus among smaller fish.
There are roach, perch and pike too, so the species list goes beyond carp. Still, the advertised carp sizes make this an obvious one to consider if that's where your interests lie. Don't read an average weight as a promise of a busy session or a PB, though. For predator anglers, there's a defined pike season running from 1 October to 31 March, rather than year-round pike fishing.
The big planning point is where your ticket lets you fish. Day fishing is restricted to the dam wall, and limited day tickets are sold bankside by the bailiff. The Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas, not extra stretches to wander onto with a day ticket. That's worth sorting before you start picturing your swim: a daytime visit and an overnight stay give you different options around this single reservoir.
Nights need booking ahead by text with the fishery. Although Drayton advertises 24-hour operation, that doesn't mean unrestricted day-ticket entry at any hour. Weekday day-ticket gates open at 7:30am and weekend gates at 7am, with the daily closing time to be confirmed with the bailiff. Get that bit bob on before travelling, particularly if you're fitting a session around work or planning an evening on the bank.
Around the water, a wooden walkway serves jetty-style pegs, and portable toilets are provided. The practical setup is worth keeping in mind alongside the fish: this isn't simply a choice of grassy margins all around the reservoir. For navigation, the postcode is NN11 0SG. There's also a useful warning about map pins: the supplied coordinates mark the reservoir's southern side, not its entrance. Don't let the final bit of the journey become unnecessary faff.
Tackle rules are straightforward but worth checking before packing. It's two rods maximum, barbless hooks only, and single-hook rigs except for pike. Braided mainline is prohibited apart from spod, marker or pike fishing. Concession tickets require a concessionary rod licence too. In short, Drayton offers a clear carp-led proposition with day and overnight options; the trick is matching your ticket, fishing area and kit to the session you actually want.
Straight from anglers online
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Drayton Reservoir FAQs
Where is Drayton Reservoir?
Off the A361 at Daventry, Northamptonshire, postcode NN11 0SG. The supplied coordinates mark the southern side of the reservoir, not the entrance.
How do I get a ticket?
Limited day tickets are sold bankside by the bailiff. For nights, book ahead by text with the fishery.
When can day anglers arrive?
Day-ticket gates open at 7:30am on weekdays and 7am at weekends. Confirm the daily closing time with the bailiff; advertised 24-hour operation includes overnight fishing.
Are there toilets and built pegs?
Yes. Portable toilets are provided, and a wooden walkway serves jetty-style pegs.
Where's the nearest tackle shop?
We haven't found a tackle shop on site at Drayton Reservoir. Sort your bait and end tackle before you travel, as there's no guarantee of anything close by near Daventry.
Do I need to bring food?
We haven't seen any food on site, so bring your own grub and drinks. A flask and a stove (where allowed) make a long day much better.
Is there parking, and how close is it to the swims?
The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off. Bring a barrow in case it's a walk.
What's the postcode for the sat nav?
NN11 0SG.
How much is a ticket?
Adult day: £12, two rods.; Concession day: £10, two rods.; Evening: £10, two rods, adult or concession.; Night: £30, two rods, midday–11am.. Prices last checked 2026-10-03 — they can change, so check before you go.
Can I just turn up, or do I need to book?
Day tickets are available on Drayton Reservoir. Busy weekends can fill up, so ring ahead if you've got your heart set on a swim.
What fish are in there?
Across the lakes you'll find carp, roach, perch, pike. See each lake tab for which fish live where.
How many lakes are there?
1 — Drayton Reservoir (25).
Is night fishing allowed?
Yes, it's required — Book nights ahead by text with the fishery; the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.
Can I bring my dog?
Not covered in the rules we've checked. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
Are bait boats allowed?
We haven't seen a bait-boat rule listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
Do I need barbless hooks?
Yes, it's required — Only barbless hooks are permitted.
Do I need my own unhooking mat or cradle?
Bring one either way — most fisheries expect it and the fish deserve it.
Is it suitable for disabled anglers?
We haven't seen disabled access listed. The fishery doesn't say on what we've checked, so give them a quick call before you set off.
Do I need a rod licence?
Yes — anyone 13 or over fishing in England and Wales needs an Environment Agency rod licence (or Natural Resources Wales in Wales), on top of your fishery ticket.
When's the best time of year to fish here?
Late spring through autumn is prime for most species. Check our live weather edge for this venue before you go — it updates daily.
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Day ticket · turn up
Drayton Reservoir: one big carp-led water, with dam-wall days and bookable nights
- Size
- 25 acres
- Swims
- Not published
- Max anglers
- —
- Species
- carp, roach, perch, pike
Drayton is one 25-acre reservoir, not a collection of separate lakes. Carp take centre stage, with roach, perch and pike also present. The advertised 14–18lb carp average is the main draw if you're after a water focused on sizeable fish.
Day tickets put you on the dam wall. The Point and Boards belong to the bookable night-only side of things, so sort your session before choosing an area. A wooden walkway serves jetty-style pegs, and pike fishing is restricted to 1 October–31 March.
The fishery advertises carp averaging 14–18lb and a biggest carp of 35lb.
Lake photographs
A look around Drayton Reservoir
Drayton Reservoir
Drayton Reservoir
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Suits
- Carp anglers drawn to an advertised 14–18lb average
- Anglers wanting either a dam-wall day session or a prebooked night
Maybe not for
- Day anglers wanting access to the Point or Boards
- Pike anglers wanting to fish outside the stated season
Bait, rigs & seasons
How we'd fish Drayton Reservoir
carp
Zigs in the warmer months
In clear, deep water carp often sit up in the layers on warm days. A zig is the only way to get a bait in front of them.
- Start at half depth and move up or down a foot at a time until you get bites.
- Black or foam hookbaits work well on bright days.
- Keep it simple — no freebies needed.
carp
A bigger bed of bait at range
On wide, open water the fish move about a lot — a decent bed of bait at range holds a passing group long enough to get a bite.
- Find a clean, hard spot with a marker float and clip up so every cast lands on it.
- Spread the bait with a spod or throwing stick — little and often.
- Mix boilies, pellet and particles so there's always something left for the fish to graze.
- Match the hookbait to the freebies.
roach
Float maggot for roach
On a mixed lake a waggler and a pint of maggots is the easiest way to keep the float going under all day.
- Feed six to ten maggots every cast.
- Shallow up if bites come on the drop.
- Size 18 hook and light hooklength.
perch
Worm or small lure for the perch
Perch hang round cover, boats and drop-offs. A lobworm on a light float, or a small lure worked along the features, will find them.
- Fish lobworm under a float tight to cover.
- On lures, try a small drop shot or soft shad near features.
- Feed chopped worm to keep them in the swim.
Drayton Reservoir FAQs
Are the Point and Boards separate lakes?
No. Drayton is one reservoir; the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.
What fish are in the reservoir?
Carp, roach, perch and pike. The fishery advertises carp averaging 14–18lb and a biggest carp of 35lb.
What's the lake record on Drayton Reservoir?
Going by what the fishery says: The fishery advertises carp averaging 14–18lb and a biggest carp of 35lb. That's the owner's figure, not ours — take it as a guide.
What fish are in Drayton Reservoir?
carp, roach, perch, pike. The fishery advertises carp averaging 14–18lb and a biggest carp of 35lb.
How big is Drayton Reservoir and how many swims?
Around 25 acres. One big carp-led water, with dam-wall days and bookable nights.
Which baits work well on Drayton Reservoir?
We've put together a full bait, rigs and seasons plan for Drayton Reservoir further up this page — it's built from the lake's features and the venue rules. As a rule, match your approach to the stock: with the fish the fishery lists here, a solid food-source boilie and a tidy presentation will catch anywhere on the complex.
When does Drayton Reservoir get busy?
Weekends and bank holidays are busiest, especially spring through autumn. It's a day-ticket lake, so popular swims go early — arrive at first light or midweek if you can.
What weather suits bigger catches on Drayton Reservoir?
A mild south-westerly with falling pressure is the classic carp trigger, and overcast days usually beat bright, still ones. Check our live weather edge for Drayton Reservoir before you go — it ranks every lake here for the next 7 days.
Which pegs are best on Drayton Reservoir?
Honestly, we don't rank pegs — the fish move with wind, pressure and pressure from other anglers. Have a walk and watch the water before you set up; the tips section above has what we've found so far.
Can I fish Drayton Reservoir on a day ticket?
Yes — Drayton Reservoir is on the day ticket. Tickets: Adult day £12, two rods.; Concession day £10, two rods.; Evening £10, two rods, adult or concession.; Night £30, two rods, midday–11am. (last checked 2026-10-03).
Is night fishing allowed on Drayton Reservoir?
Yes, it's required — Book nights ahead by text with the fishery; the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.
Who does Drayton Reservoir suit?
Good for: Carp anglers drawn to an advertised 14–18lb average; Anglers wanting either a dam-wall day session or a prebooked night. Less suited to: Day anglers wanting access to the Point or Boards; Pike anglers wanting to fish outside the stated season.
Community reported
Recent angler updates
No angler updates yet — that's normal. Be the first to help the next angler.
How busy was it?
Nobody's said yet. It's part of the 20-second update below.
No live tracking — this is what anglers told us after their session, and it's never part of the venue score.
Water updates from anglers
No active water updates.
Help other anglers
Venue Rule Checker
- No
Can I use more than two rods?
Maximum two rods.
- Must
Must hooks be barbless?
Only barbless hooks are permitted.
- Must
Are single-hook rigs required?
Single-hook rigs are required, except for pike.
- No
Can I use braided mainline?
Braided mainline is prohibited except for spod, marker or pike fishing.
- Seasonal
Is pike fishing seasonal?
Pike season runs from 1 October–31 March.
- Must
Must I book night fishing ahead?
Book nights ahead by text with the fishery; the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.
- Must
Must day anglers stay on the dam wall?
Day fishing is restricted to the dam wall.
- Must
Do concessions need a concessionary rod licence?
Concessions require a concessionary rod licence.
Taken from the fishery’s own pages, last checked 3 October 2026. Rules change — always check with the fishery before you go.
Tips & guides worth reading
How we'd fish each lake
Our own suggestions, worked out from each lake's features, its main fish and the venue rules. They're tried-and-tested methods, not reports from this venue, so watch the water and ask in the tackle shop on the day.
Drayton Reservoir
carp
Zigs in the warmer months
In clear, deep water carp often sit up in the layers on warm days. A zig is the only way to get a bait in front of them.
- Start at half depth and move up or down a foot at a time until you get bites.
- Black or foam hookbaits work well on bright days.
- Keep it simple — no freebies needed.
carp
A bigger bed of bait at range
On wide, open water the fish move about a lot — a decent bed of bait at range holds a passing group long enough to get a bite.
- Find a clean, hard spot with a marker float and clip up so every cast lands on it.
- Spread the bait with a spod or throwing stick — little and often.
- Mix boilies, pellet and particles so there's always something left for the fish to graze.
- Match the hookbait to the freebies.
roach
Float maggot for roach
On a mixed lake a waggler and a pint of maggots is the easiest way to keep the float going under all day.
- Feed six to ten maggots every cast.
- Shallow up if bites come on the drop.
- Size 18 hook and light hooklength.
perch
Worm or small lure for the perch
Perch hang round cover, boats and drop-offs. A lobworm on a light float, or a small lure worked along the features, will find them.
- Fish lobworm under a float tight to cover.
- On lures, try a small drop shot or soft shad near features.
- Feed chopped worm to keep them in the swim.
Good background reading. Most of it is a few years old, so treat it as a starting point and ask on the day.
Videos linked by the fishery
What anglers reckon
7.3/10 from Tackle Index: The advertised 14–18lb carp average gives Drayton strong appeal for carp anglers, with three other species present.
Straight from anglers online
Short, unedited extracts from public reviews, credited to the person who posted them. Not checked by us and not a Tackle Index view.
We haven’t found any public angler reviews of this venue yet. Fished it? Add yours below.
Our take on the feedback
Our read
Checked Sept '26 — “Drayton is a 25-acre carp reservoir at Daventry, with advertised average carp of 14–18lb and two-rod day tickets. Day anglers fish the dam wall, while the Point and Boards are bookable night-only areas.”
This is our own summary of recurring public feedback and the venue details we checked, not a copied customer review or a promise you’ll catch. Feedback changes, so we keep it separate from the Tackle Index score.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drayton Reservoir
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