Pen Ponds in Greater London: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pen Ponds is one of the Greater London waters in England. The shore lies 28 miles out. Start from East Sheen, 1.5 miles down the road. Roehampton follows at 1.6 miles, then Richmond at 1.9 miles. Round about: Queen's Mere (pond) 1.7 miles away, Round Pond out at 6 miles, The Long Water 6.4 miles away, The Serpentine out at 6.5 miles and The Lake 6.7 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Pen Ponds

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Greater London include European eel, common carp and perch. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Anyone new to Pen Ponds should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 18°C, with January the cold end at about 5°C. No part of the year shuts this water. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It sets the rhythm of the year at Pen Ponds.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Pen Ponds Car Park offers parking about half a mile from the water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Queen's Mere (pond) sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Pen Ponds if anything is unclear.