Looking for some pike fishing action this winter? having a hard time trying to find river/lake locations? We have compiled a list of 10 great locations for pike fishing in Essex, we have also looked at which locations allow live baiting, dead baiting and lure fishing. Most of the fisheries I have listed below are all available on a day ticket.
1. A12 Cuton Lakes – Chelmsford
This fishery has produced some extremely large pike in the past, one of which was caught 10 years ago that weighed in at a staggering 33lb. It’s not yet known if that fish is still alive today. However, there are plenty of other target fish to get your teeth stuck into such as a 28lb 10oz pike that was caught from the specimen 2 lake. Both of the specimen lakes contain a very large head of pike with 20lb+ fish regularly being caught.
Tactics
Fishing close to the margins (depths range between 4 to 8 feet deep) can often result in a good days action. Other winning tactics consist of fishing on the back of the wind and using roach as dead bait.
Rules
– Dead bait tactics are allowed to be used on both of the lakes.
– lure fishing and live baiting are not permitted on the complex.
– Night fishing for pike is allowed.
The pike fishing season starts from the 1st of November and finishes the 31st of March.
2. Crowsheath Fishery – Billericay
The main carp/pike lake within its complex is 8.5-acres in size, it contains over 150 Pike with the largest among them reaching the 25lb mark. A lot of the pike are jacks so its great if you are going for a good days sport and to put a bend in your rod.
There was a small separate dedicated pike lake on the complex which was stocked during 2011. However due to its size, it was often full so the owners decided to move all of the Pike into the main lake.
Rules
– Live and dead bait only.
– No lure/spinning allowed.
3. The Warren Fishery – Stanford-le-hope
This main lake on the complex is roughly 19 acres in size with depths ranging between 2 to 10ft. The lake is broken up into numerous channels, bays, islands and reed beds which are perfect areas to fish for predators.
The lake certainly has some history with regards to large pike, a 50lb pike was once found in the margins (sadly dieing). The Pike record currently stands at 28lb 6oz which was caught in March 2009. Perch are also present in the lake with the largest reaching 4lb 7oz, drop shotting tactics can often come into their own when targeting them.
Rules
– No livebaiting.
– Nospinning/lure fishing.
– Wire traces must be used at all times with either semi or barbless hooks.
Fishing for Pike is allowed from 1st November until 28th February.
4. Oak Lake Fishery – Southminster
Oak lake fishery is a day ticket venue in Southminster which has 4 lakes on the complex, one of them being a predator lake. The predator lake contains some truly massive fish such as catfish to 140lb (good luck bringing that in on a lure) and pike to over 30lb. The lake is roughly 3 acres in size with depths ranging from 5 to 16ft, there are also 5 large swims which catfish fisherman are restricted to using. Pike anglers however are not and can freely fish around the entire lake as much as they like.
I have looked through the rules and it doesn’t say that live baiting and lure/spinning are banned.
Pike fishing is from 1st October to 31st March
5. The River Chelmer – Chelmsford
Looking for more of an adventure? maybe you want to have more water to yourself? the river Chelmer could be the perfect choice with miles of river to choose from. There are countless well-known fishing spots such as the Hoe Mill Lock and Springfield basin. Pike come out over 20lb, however a majority of them being caught are jacks. It’s a great place to go exploring and to get a bend in your rod. Other species such as Perch and Chub are regularly caught. In my opinion this is one of the best places for pike fishing in Essex purely because of the sheer amount of pike that are within the river.
Chelsmford AA and the Maldon angling association both have fishing rights to the 12 miles of river. The stretch starts from the gasworks in Chelmsford and ends at Heybridge.
The Rivers/canals close season is from the 15th of March – 15th June.
6. Blasford Hill Fisheries – Chelmsford
There are 2 lakes on the complex the main lake and the match fishing lake. The main lake is 4 acres in size and has reedy bays, Lilli pads, trees and islands. There is also a private exclusive stretch of the river Chelmer which can be fished when paying 8 pounds for a day ticket from the fishery.
The pike in the main lake go up to a very respectable 26lb.
Rules
– Live baiting is strictly forbidden
7. Crowgreen Fishery – Brentwood
This fishery is renowned for having one of the best catfish lakes in the UK with the current record standing at 120lb. The main lake is 3 acres in size with a large stamp of Carp, Pike, and catfish. There is also 2 match lakes on the complex that have been joined together.
The Pike go to over 20lb in the main lake, which the catfisherman often catch by accident. Most people who fish the venue seem to target the Carp and Catfish so it could present a good opportunity for anglers to catch Pike.
One of the downsides of the venue is it closes down during winter (from the 23rd of December until the 1st of March). The venue is a day ticket however in order to nightfish you normally have to be a regular fisherman at the complex.
Rules
No live baiting (dead baits only for pike) No spinning
8. Chigboro Fisheries – Heybridge
Chigboro Fisheries has 8 lakes on the complex and is extremely popular for Carp fisherman. The most popular lake for Pike fishing is Scraley Mere that contains pike up to the 27lb mark. The lake itself is crystal clear at times with areas that can be very weedy. These are the areas that seem to be very productive for Pike fishing.
I have read through the rules on the fishery and it doesn’t mention whether live baiting and spinning tactics are allowed so it might be best to ask the bailiff. A day ticket at the venue costs £10 (from dawn to dusk).
9. Wicks Mere – Maldon
Wicks Mere is part of the Chelmsford angling association, in order to gain access to the lake you will need to become a member which costs £78 per adult for a year. There are 12 lakes included in the membership so it’s definitely a steal for that price. The lake is 6 acres in size with depths averaging at 10ft with the deepest parts reaching 20ft.
The pike are going over the 25lb mark, there are also other species such as carp reaching 40lb, tench and large Perch. The average sized pike is normally between 3-12lb.
Dead and live baiting is allowed on the venue. For more information about the rules on the lakes the rulebook can be found here.
10. Northlands park – Basildon
Northlands Park is made up of 2 lakes which combined are roughly 6.5 acres in size. Both lakes contain a large amount of pike, a vast majority of them are Jacks. It’s a great place to go if you are looking for a lot of action of smaller Pike. Tactics such as live baiting and spinning are allowed which most lakes don’t allow.
The pike season opens the 1st of Septemer and closes on March the 31st.
Finally you can have a look at all of the pike fishing lakes in Essex by clicking here