Fishing at Higham's Park Lake, Greater London, England

• Overview

  Set in Greater London, England, this is Higham's Park Lake. It lies 98 feet above sea level. The nearest place of any size is Woodford Green, 0.6 miles away. After that come Highams Park at 0.7 miles and Monkhams at 0.8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing. It sits away from the main road, which keeps the noise down.

• Where to Fish on Higham's Park Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. 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. County-wide records name European eel, common carp and perch. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Take Higham's Park Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 4°C to 17°C. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan any trip to Higham's Park Lake around it. A rising level after rain switches things on for a day or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. A pier 40 yards from here gives a platform over deeper water. There are toilets 140 yards off. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Banbury Reservoir at 1.9 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Higham's Park Lake in what we hold.