Bream - Walthamstow Reservoirs

[Roger Pearman]

This is quite a big departure for me as I’ve always observed the closed season and used it as a break from fishing.

However, I’m not getting any younger and have many things to tick off fishing wise - one of them being a ‘big’ Bream.

Having watched a few videos and read a few articles Walthamstow looks worth a go for the Bream. Does anyone have experience of fishing there? I’d be limited to daytime sessions (probably mid-week).

 

[Daniel Jeffery]

It’s been a long time since I’ve fished it (almost 10 years ) but back then, number 1 used to be a good bet for big bream.

I used to fish it on the bend (more or less opposite where the channel between 2 & 3 is) fishing toward the island. Ball in as much bait as I could carry on the tube (gb mixed with pellets, sweetcorn, hemp, caster etc) feeder on top. Standard feeder rig or helicopter, pellet or casters on hook, wait. Worms also worked well but the eels also loved them.

 

[Roger Pearman]

It’s been a long time since I’ve fished it (almost 10 years ) but back then, number 1 used to be a good bet for big bream.

I used to fish it on the bend (more or less opposite where the channel between 2 & 3 is) fishing toward the island. Ball in as much bait as I could carry on the tube (gb mixed with pellets, sweetcorn, hemp, caster etc) feeder on top. Standard feeder rig or helicopter, pellet or casters on hook, wait. Worms also worked well but the eels also loved them.

Thanks Daniel. I appreciate the reply.

I’ve seen about the heavy baiting requirements so looking at a cheap spodding setup. Fishing stillwaters, at range and with such tactics is very alien to me, but like I said I want to diversify a bit and try and tick off some more species.

 

[Tim Marks]

As per DJ above.

A mate fished it a few years back on match gear and had fish to 13.

I’ve just watched the 2024 Nick Marsh video and I would do exactly that. Short hooklink, heli rigs and a big cage feeder or a 50g black cap over a bed of bait. I’ve bream fished like that since 1990.

They love fishy pellets -so I would add plenty of smallish pellets to the spod mix.

 

[Roger Pearman]

As per DJ above.

A mate fished it a few years back on match gear and had fish to 13.

I’ve just watched the 2024 Nick Marsh video and I would do exactly that. Short hooklink, heli rigs and a big cage feeder or a 50g black cap over a bed of bait. I’ve bream fished like that since 1990.

They love fishy pellets -so I would add plenty of smallish pellets to the spod mix.

Exactly the video that inspired me Tim!

I’ll be honest and admit the location aspect and spodding is quite daunting having fished exclusively on small rivers forever but that’s part of the allure too.

 

[Dave Quinn]

Hi Roger

There's a close season at Walthamstow at the moment for Reservoirs 1 and 2/3, but not the High and Low Manards and the other big one I forget the name of. They're across the rod from the office. The hours arent great - its 7 am- 7.30 pm until early May when it goes to 7 - 10 until late July. Thats from the gates opening to closing and theres a bit of a walk to the reservoirs and they'll lock you in if you're in the carp park after closing time. I've sat there a few times with the bobbins going while I'm packing up which can be a bit frustrating, but you can catch in the daytime and evening. Its not cheap either - £15 for the day regardless of the on and off times.

The closed season means that there will be a lot of carpers on the Low Maynard at the moment. Not that its a problem but it does make it busier than after the close season ends at the start of June. Not so bad midweek.

The Low Maynard is the one that features in all the videos and has the reputation now, nobody fishes the 1 which used to be more popular. When I fished it a few years ago there were a lot of fish around 9-11lb, if you got on them you could really fill your boots. They will have grown on and I personally think you're more likely to have a good day on there than the Low Maynard, especially since the best swims will probably be taken on the Low now. But the Low does have bigger fish in it, but fewer, the 2/3 fewer and bigger again.

I would follow the wind, and put plenty of bait in but I've had my best days on there when I haven't filled it in. You might get away with a catapult at 40 yards, you dont have to cast into the middle of the lake on the Low, on the 1 you need to get as near to the island as possible which is a good 80 yard chuck which can make baiting up a bit more difficult. On the Low I'd fish on the Lockwood side, on the 1 on the first swim opposite the island.

They arent fussy - dead reds, red maggots, dendros, pellets and a small popped up boilie will catch if they're in your swim and feeding. Worm kebab seems to be in fashion at the moment.

From what I've seen the sponsored anglers who film videos get to fish nights when nobody else does and their swims are baited up in advance so its not as easy as they can make it look but its a great place for a big bream.

Send me a PM if you need more info

Dave

 

[Roger Pearman]

Hi Roger

There's a close season at Walthamstow at the moment for Reservoirs 1 and 2/3, but not the High and Low Manards and the other big one I forget the name of. They're across the rod from the office. The hours arent great - its 7 am- 7.30 pm until early May when it goes to 7 - 10 until late July. Thats from the gates opening to closing and theres a bit of a walk to the reservoirs and they'll lock you in if you're in the carp park after closing time. I've sat there a few times with the bobbins going while I'm packing up which can be a bit frustrating, but you can catch in the daytime and evening. Its not cheap either - £15 for the day regardless of the on and off times.

The closed season means that there will be a lot of carpers on the Low Maynard at the moment. Not that its a problem but it does make it busier than after the close season ends at the start of June. Not so bad midweek.

The Low Maynard is the one that features in all the videos and has the reputation now, nobody fishes the 1 which used to be more popular. When I fished it a few years ago there were a lot of fish around 9-11lb, if you got on them you could really fill your boots. They will have grown on and I personally think you're more likely to have a good day on there than the Low Maynard, especially since the best swims will probably be taken on the Low now. But the Low does have bigger fish in it, but fewer, the 2/3 fewer and bigger again.

I would follow the wind, and put plenty of bait in but I've had my best days on there when I haven't filled it in. You might get away with a catapult at 40 yards, you dont have to cast into the middle of the lake on the Low, on the 1 you need to get as near to the island as possible which is a good 80 yard chuck which can make baiting up a bit more difficult. On the Low I'd fish on the Lockwood side, on the 1 on the first swim opposite the island.

They arent fussy - dead reds, red maggots, dendros, pellets and a small popped up boilie will catch if they're in your swim and feeding. Worm kebab seems to be in fashion at the moment.

From what I've seen the sponsored anglers who film videos get to fish nights when nobody else does and their swims are baited up in advance so its not as easy as they can make it look but its a great place for a big bream.

Send me a PM if you need more info

Dave

Thanks for such a comprehensive reply Dave. I really appreciate that.

 

[Daniel Jeffery]

Some good info above, I’m almost tempted to go back lol. Just looked at my diary and it’s actually almost 11 years since I’ve been there.

Last trip I was carp fishing. I was getting bothered by bream, switched to double 20 mm boilie and still caught bream. Amazing what the bigger ones will take. Also had to wake a guy up (10 am) who had a screamer and eventually landed a beautiful linear mid-20s I think. Same day a guy had a huge haul of bream, never seen so many doubles come out in one go. That was mid Oct.

There are some good videos of the Drennan boys (Danny Woolcott & Alfie Russell) on YouTube.