Suffolk is well-known as the home of British horse racing and Britain’s smallest pub. In addition, one of its villages provided the inspiration for Harry Potter’s birthplace. If that wasn’t enough, it also has some of the finest day ticket carp fishing opportunities that the East of England has to offer.
Some of the most beautiful countryside in the whole of the UK lies in Suffolk, and the runs waters and specimen lakes are situated amongst it.
Let’s get straight into taking a closer look at some of the best day ticket carp lakes that Suffolk has to offer.
Broome Pits (Bungay)
Broome Pits is located in Broome, approximately 4 miles from Bungay.
The complex has 4 lakes in total, all of which are former gravel pits, with 2 of the lakes being aimed at carp anglers.
B Pit is the largest lake on the complex, extending to around 13 acres in size. There are 25 pegs in total, giving each angler a generous 0.5 acres of water. The lake boasts 3 islands and mature margins among its main features, with the carp often being caught from the deeper water, which reaches a maximum of 14ft. The average size is around mid-double figure, with a good head of 20lb+ fish. The lake record weighed in excess of 30lb when captured.
D Pit is the deepest lake at Broome Pits, with maximum depths of 25ft. It covers roughly 8 acres of water and has 8 pegs. There are multiple gravel bars, deep holes and shallow areas to target in search of the carp. D Pit is not as heavily stocked as B Pit, so a bite can be harder to come by. However, the rewards are there, with some lovely specimen carp up to a lake record of over 40lb.
Toilet facilities are available on-site and there is a secure car park. There are 3 tackle shops within close proximity of the lakes.
Day tickets are priced at £10 and are valid from sunrise to sunset, while 24 hour tickets cost £20. All anglers are restricted to using 2 rods at this picturesque Suffolk fishery.
Broome Pits At A Glance:
Name: Broome Pits
Location: Bungay, NR35 2PE
Biggest Carp: 40lb+
Creeting Lakes (Stowmarket)
Creeting Lakes is located in Braziers Hall, around 2 miles from Stowmarket.
The complex has 2 pleasure lakes and 1 specimen lake.
Big Fish Lake, as it is known, is approximately 2 acres in size and has a central island that divides the water between the opposing pegs. It is quite heavily stocked, with a large majority of the carp in excess of 10lb in weight.
There are 15 pegs, so the lake can get quite busy at times, but the high stock level ensures that a bite is never far away. The lake record is in the region of 30lb.
There is ample car parking on-site and there are toilet facilities available.
Night fishing is not allowed at this idyllic Suffolk fishery, but day tickets are available between dawn and dusk and are priced at £15.
Creeting Lakes At A Glance:
Name: Creeting Lakes
Location: Stowmarket, IP14 5BW
Biggest Carp: 30lb+
Field Farm Fisheries (Beccles)
Field Farm Fisheries is located in Wrentham, approximately 10 miles from Beccles.
There are 6 lakes in total, 3 of which are aimed at pleasure anglers and 3 that are said to hold the larger fish of the complex.
House Pond has 16 pegs and covers just under an acre of water. There are lots of smaller carp present, but the lake record is rumoured to be in the region of 32lb.
Three Islands Pond is about half an acre in size and has 18 pegs, meaning that it could become extremely crowded. The largest carp to be caught from this lake allegedly weighed 35lb.
Deep Pond, as the name suggests, is the deepest lake on the complex, with depths to a maximum of 15ft. Finding where the fish are in the water column is the main key to success, which could result in tempting one of the larger residents of the lake.
As Field Farm Fisheries is on a Suffolk campsite, facilities such as toilets, showers and electric hookups are available to anglers. There is also secure parking and an on-site tackle/bait shop.
Day tickets are priced at £8 and are valid for a maximum of 12 hours. Night fishing is possible if it is booked in advance and costs £10.
Field Farm Fisheries At A Glance:
Name: Field Farm Fisheries
Location: Beccles, NR34 7HP
Biggest Carp: 35lb+
Halesworth Lakes (Halesworth)
Halesworth Lakes is located in Wissett, around 1 mile from Halesworth.
There are 2 pleasure lakes on the complex and 1 lake that has a stock of larger fish.
Middle Lake is a long, narrow lake of roughly 2 acres. Being a mixed coarse fishery, there are some silver fish present, but this is where the larger carp reside.
There is a good head of double figure carp in this lake, with the bigger specimens crossing the 20lb barrier.
There is car parking next to all 3 lakes and there are on-site toilet facilities.
Day tickets are priced at £10.50 for anglers wishing to use 2 rods. Unfortunately, night fishing is not available.
Halesworth Lakes At A Glance:
Name: Halesworth Lakes
Location: Halesworth, IP19 8BT
Biggest Carp: 20lb+
Hawstead Fishing Lakes (Bury St Edmunds)
Hawstead Fishing Lakes is located in Hawstead, approximately 3 miles from Bury St Edmunds.
Spring Head Lake is the smaller of the 2 lakes on the complex, covering less than an acre of water. It is mainly stocked with silver fish and is aimed at pleasure anglers.
Willow Lake is the largest on the complex, extending to around 2.5 acres in size. While the average is close to double figures, there are some larger carp here, with multiple specimens in excess of 20lb and a lake record in excess of 33lb.
There is on-site parking which is close to both lakes and toilet facilities are also available. For those wishing to visit for a short break or a holiday, barn accommodation can be rented.
Night fishing is possible, but must be booked in advance with the owners. Day tickets are valid from 6:30am-6:30pm and are priced at £12 for anglers wishing to use 2 rods.
Hawstead Fishing Lakes At A Glance:
Name: Hawstead Fishing Lakes
Location: Bury St Edmunds, IP29 4AB
Biggest Carp: 33lb+
Hintlesham Fisheries (Ipswich)
Hintlesham Fisheries is located in Burstall, around 4 miles from Ipswich.
There is a match lake, a predator lake and 2 specimen lakes at Hintlesham Fisheries.
Predator Lake is just over an acre in size, with 7 pegs and 3 small islands. It is the only lake in Suffolk that has a catfish licence, with many specimens in excess of 50lb and a lake record of over 70lb. This lake also has a good head of carp, with the biggest in the lake tipping the scales at over 33lb.
Specimen Lake 2 covers approximately 2 acres of water and has 1 island towards the east bank. The positioning of the island and the multiple beds of lily pads divide the water between anglers nicely. The average size carp in the lake is now mid-double figure and there are multiple fish that have exceeded 20lb. The lake record is already over 30lb and they are growing fast.
Specimen Lake 1 is slightly bigger than its sibling water and is home to the largest carp on the complex. There are in excess of 50 carp that have crossed the 20lb barrier and a number of 30lb+ fish up to a lake record of over 36lb. There are many features to be found in the depths of this lake and presenting baits accurately on them is the key to success.
There is a small tackle shop on-site along with toilets and hot showers.
Day tickets are valid from 7am-7pm and are priced at £15, while 24 hour tickets (starting at either 7am or 7pm) will set you back £25.
Hintlesham Fisheries At A Glance:
Name: Hintlesham Fisheries
Location: Ipswich, IP8 3EG
Biggest Carp: 35lb+
Kirton Hall Lake (Felixstowe)
Kirton Hall Lake is located in Kirton, approximately 5 miles from Felixstowe.
This is a mixed coarse fishery that covers around 6 acres of water. There are 54 pegs, so it can get busy during peak times. The lakebed can be quite silty in places, so it is worth considering this when deciding on best tactics.
The average sized carp in the lake is low double-figures, with multiple fish over 20lb and a lake record close to crossing the 30lb barrier.
Day tickets are available from Tackle Up in Felixstowe for £7, while 24 hour tickets cost £14. Tickets cannot be purchased on the bank.
Kirton Hall Lake At A Glance:
Name: Kirton Hall Lake
Location: Felixstowe, IP10 0PD
Biggest Carp: 27lb+
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Suffolk Water Park (Ipswich)
Suffolk Water Park is located in Bramford, around 5 miles from Ipswich.
The complex consists of 7 lakes, with a mixture of specimen lakes and match lakes.
Jacobs Creek is a beautiful 2 acre lake that is available for exclusive bookings only. It has only 3 pegs, with each peg having its own log cabin. Although other species are present in the lake, carp are the main target, with average sizes of low/mid double-figures. The lake record is only ounces away from the magical 30lb barrier.
Match Lake 1 extends to 7 acres in size and, although it is a match lake, it has kind of become the runs water of the complex for carp. There are 42 pegs available, though night fishing is restricted to a maximum of 4 pegs. The majority of the carp are low/mid double-figures, with the biggest residents being just over 20lb.
Traditional Lake is the smaller of the 2 specimen lakes, covering approximately 6 acres of water. There is a total of 20 pegs for day fishing, with 16 available for overnight sessions. The central island is always the main target for anglers, but the margins tend to be productive in most pegs and should never be ignored. The average size carp is mid double-figures with a good head of 20lb+ fish. The lake record tipped the scales at just over 30lb.
The Big Lake is the largest lake of the complex, extending to 25 acres in size. With only 37 pegs, each angler has a generous amount of water in which to fish. With approximately 200 carp present, it isn’t heavily stocked, but the majority of them are in excess of 20lb in weight, with a good head of 30lb+ fish. For those anglers who like to target something a little out of the ordinary, there is a beautiful koi carp called The Carrot who is brightly coloured, but rarely caught.
There is a tackle shop on-site and a cafe that serves meals, drinks and snacks. There are clean, portable toilets near each of the lakes as well as a toilet/shower block close to the tackle shop. Many of the local takeaways will deliver to the main gate.
Day tickets are priced at £13 while a 24 hour ticket costs £24. Reduced rates are applied during the winter season.
Suffolk Water Park At A Glance:
Name: Suffolk Water Park
Location: Ipswich, IP8 4JS
Biggest Carp: 40lb+
Weybread Carp Fishery (Diss)
Weybread Carp Fishery is located in Weybread, approximately 12 miles from Diss.
Located on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, this fishery boasts an extremely peaceful setting.
The lake is around 3 acres in size and has a central island which accommodates 2 of the 7 pegs. The water levels fluctuate from 3ft in the shallow areas to 12ft in the deepest parts.
There are over 100 carp swimming in the depths, with almost 50% of them weighing in excess of 20lb. In addition, there are at least 5 different carp that have been captured at over 30lb, with the majority of the remaining fish being mid double-figures.
There is a purpose built toilet on-site and there are some excellent local takeaways that will deliver to the main gate.
Fishing commences at either 7:30am or 7:30pm and tickets are priced at £15 for 12 hours or £25 for 24 hours. All tickets must be booked in advance.
Weybread Carp Fishery At A Glance:
Name: Weybread Carp Fishery
Location: Diss, IP21 5TP
Biggest Carp: 30lb+
Conclusion
Aside from being a beautiful county, I think this article shows that Suffolk offers carp anglers plenty of opportunities to put a bend in the rod.
Whether you are looking for an all-action runs water or a more difficult venue where you can pit your wits against some wary carp, I hope that this list gives you some insight about where to go.
Have you ever fished any of these lakes? If so, please let me know how you got on in the comments.
