Norton Disney Billy's Lake Essential Tips

Billy’s Lake is 28 acres in size, with one island and 22 swims, meaning each swim commands a lot of water. Carp to upper 30 with loads of 20s and a good head of 30’s are now coming through.

Depths vary from 8ft to 14ft on average, with peg 11 the absolute flyer and is my favourite swim, where you’ll always be close to a pack of fish.

Pegs 3, 4, 20, 21 and 22 are consistent swims in the central body of the lake, with carp always in these areas, and then in the spring and summer, carp become a lot more nomadic and get caught all over. Peg 13 is often overlooked, but in the summer, it’s a banker, fishing around 12 wraps around the weed, it’s a brilliant swim to get a few bites. On a warm south westerly, peg 1, fishing at 12 wraps is a brilliant option and when they are there, they show like mad.

Pegs 15, 16 and 18 are relatively deep swims, and in the late autumn and into winter, these can be great areas to find carp, where they’ll often roll at dawn and dusk to give their location away.

As a rule, 3 on a spot, starting with anywhere between a dozen and 20 spombs would be my go-to, topping up after each bite and ensuring you have plenty of bait, as when they are on it, the action can be thick and fast and they’ll eat like mad.

Yellow is 100% the ‘in’ colour on Billy’s, so a pellet and crumb mix with a few flecks of corn and a yellow hookbait would be a great approach.

Don’t feel the need to cast to the horizon, you’re best finding a spot at a range you are comfortable with, and fishing it effectively, rather than fishing extreme range and spreading bait everywhere. Be nice and tight and make it easy for yourself.

Because action can be thick and fast, try to fish with a match mentality, using rigs where you can quickly change hooks (spinner rigs) and get that rod straight back onto the spot after each bite.