A Walk Around Tolpits - 20 November 2006 - Back

A walk around this famous North London club water with former regular George Loughlin

Tolpits, A Swim By Swim Guide

The car park: main areas to fish are on gravel seam in front, 6ft out from the bank under the willow to the right and under the willow branches in the corner to the right (walking along the reeds and placing the bait if the water levels allow). Small baiting has been the way forward in these 3 locations and they are consistent bankers. Although it must be said that the corner does have a tendency to show the fish but they are more finicky about takes due to the depth and proximity to the bank. Depths on the gravel and under the willow are between 5-7 feet.
Not in Use: Overgrown and due to it being so close to the car park, it doesn?t get used.
The weed bed: named after a weed bed which used to grow at 2 O?clock to the left of the swim, around the end of the gravel. The main area to fish from here is the end of the gravel seam. It is your water and although I fished it from the bungalow, there was nobody on the car park bank. Depth on there is around 8-10ft depending on time of year. This swim has produced some of the bigguns. Another area I had some luck with is to the left at 11 O?clock around 2 rod lengths out on the tree shadow line from the far bank. I have observed fish topping there consistently when fishing the gravelly.( particle mix dripping in molasses with maize hook bait did the trick)
The Gravelly: this swim commands a lot of water and has two gravel seams in front. The main areas for takes seems to be between them rather than on them. They are easy to find, one being about half way across and the other closer. This swim can turn on and off like the weather so timing is crucial along with a lot of luck. Depth between 8-11 feet depending on time of year.
The Island: This one is has the fish sanctuary directly over the sunken Island and is a good reference point if nothing else as there was no sign of a cage when the water level was down. Directly off the right hand side there is a weed bed which has lots of aquatic goodies for the those carp and they constantly roll, leap and top off there. Fish a rod length to the left and you will be right on the money. (Plodder slipped up for me on a single Malarkey pop up!) The pads on the left margin are also a good bet and also casting halfway out and between the stumps and Telegraph is another hot spot they like. Obviously the number of anglers on will determine your casting flexibility!
The little Tree: Hardly used and very overgrown, serious snags on the left of the tree and thick pads in front.
The Big Tree: Margins, Margins, Margins!!! Nothing out in front but silt , observation to see where they are showing is a good indicator for the open water rod.Has produced some very good fish both close in and open water.
The Sandy: Allegedly this swim has a sandy spot ? of the way across towards the stumps but I never found it. I just cast half way to the telegraph where the fish seem to show regularly. There are always bubbles and rolls in the morning and evening and Plodder slipped up for me here after I put 3 kilos of 12,14, 16 and 18mm baits out there in a couple of nights. The left margin tight in is also a hot spot in the summer, behind the pads.
No night fishing: hardly used
The Canopy: A margin swim with the right hand being the one to go for. Big snags in there and only really a one rod job due to the room available and the proximity to the other swims at that end. Has produced some nice fish and stealth is paramount!
The Coots Nest: This is really a one rod swim and the left margin being the favoured position. Stealth is important but the coots and ducks and swans are a pain due to the depth being so shallow.Has done a lot of big fish but is mainly a summer or warm weather swim. Open water is just more leafy silt and pop ups are a better option.
The All Alone: Fishing into the right hand snags can produce takes but you need to be locked up and quick, real hit and hold stuff! I had Sputnik and baby plodder from the left corner 4-5 feet out on balanced maize and this corner gets visited regularly. As long as there is not too much traffic going round the top path , it is a good bet when quiet. Minimum bait is a must. It is just light silt and gravel and it is best to go to the inlet swim, place the bait and walk back along the margin.
The Inlet: No one fishes it if they have any common sense, it just ruins a quiet corner of the lake
No Name: Fish in the right hand corner if all is quiet at that end of the lake. Stealth is the key!
The Bonfire: left margin is a good bet and also halfway out inb the silt as they seem to follow this line quite a bit. Has produced some good fish.
The Telegraph: A big fish swim, right margin under bushes, pole is a must for this one. Also just halfway out in the silt is as good a bet because they do seem to feed around there regularly. Particles and boilies work equally well. Stealth is a must as they get right under the rod tips!
The Stumps: Only fished it once, never appealed to me but is just another silty swim that has produced for other in the past.
The Little Oaks: Only really fished by 2 mates if nothing else free, no one would fish there if you were in the Oaks.
The Oaks: Another big fish swim that benefits from fishing the back of the island either tight to the left or on the gravel to the right. Bait up plenty if you wish as there is always fish activity and they will have it. Also to the left at 10 O?clock along the tree line shadow, 2.5 rod lengths out is another good spot that produces. (see map)
The Reeds: Another consistent big fish swim and here I found that the shadow of the tree line 30 yards out has been very productive, lining up with the tree to the immediate right of the car park swim , there is always bubbling and rolling in this area. The gravel seam directly in front is also a banker but you need to find a clear spot as it does get weed growth on it and this seems to shift. Also if you can, fish tight to the left side of the island, always a good option.
The Railway Snags: Fish to the gravel seam on the right if you can as one option, straight out to the line on the map and by placing you bait behind the rope and walking back with it. Out by the ?bog spot? is a good bet if no one is in there. Fish are always showing there.
Snags: just another way of getting in there, not the preferred side and no open water either.
The Grassy: doesn?t do hardly any fish and hardly ever gets fished
The Bog: Line up with the island and cast out 30 yards and pull back til you feel the small gravel spot. It is around 20-25yards out and it is a good winter bet as well a summer. Other od can be a margin bet but you get people constantly plotting up in your swim chatting because of the toilet s and tap!
The Bungalow: left hand rod fished to the end of the gravel seam ( see map) right hand rod either in the margins or out in front 3 rod lengths in the silt towards the island. Bit of a hit and miss swim this one, not very consistent.
The Willow: left rod fished under the willow, right rod either on the gravel or to the right margin. Not a very consistent producer. Last resort.
Tolpits Current Stock list

Lesters 43-45lb
Plodder 37-44lb
The Italian 34-39lb
The Long Common 35lb
Sputnik 35lb (absolutely stunning)
The Box 32-34lb
Gerry?s 30-34lb
Sandy 32-34lb
Sandys Mate 31-34lb
Baby Plodder 30-33lb (fights like a demon!)
Swimbladder low 30?s not been out for 2 seasons
Red Cheeks 28-30lb ( Tail is enormous!)
Dark back mirror 30lb mark(looks like a mini plodder, slate grey)
Original common 26-28lb
Half Linears X 2 between 22lb and 25lb
A couple of mid 20 mirrors
2 Little Original mirrors both between 18-20lb( scrappers!)

These are the notable ones that people want and there are several small commons which escaped from the little lake next door, people refer to them as renegades. They are every bit as difficult to catch and are growing well.
Saly the club put a dozen simmos in which are coming out around mid to upper doubles now.

Fish deaths in 2005 included Arfur 35-38lb, Big Common 40lb+ and the Bullet Hole Common 33-35lb.

George Loughlin