Fishing Hedgecourt Lake in West Sussex, England

• Overview

  Hedgecourt Lake sits within West Sussex in England. The water sits 220 feet up. Around 37 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Head to Crawley Down, 1.9 miles away, for anything you forgot. Copthorne is 2.4 miles and East Grinstead 3 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Hedgecourt Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. West Sussex records list brown trout, European eel, roach and perch among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Work Hedgecourt Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 16°C; the cold one sits at 4°C. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan around that when you fish Hedgecourt Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A pier or jetty stands 170 yards away, which helps on a crowded bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Bay Pond at 7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Hedgecourt Lake as something to verify.