Nazeing Meads - Meadgate Road, Nazeing, Essex

Here we have an honest and informative review be an angler who spent has 18 years fishing this complex.

Please note : The views and opinions in this article are not those of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Nazeing Meads Brackens Pool

In the summer the banks can be very busy and space can be limited. I enjoy visiting this little pit during the winter months when few anglers grace its banks. There are a few humps scattered about and a gravel bar runs through the centre of the pit finishing at a small island. I have found that in the colder months a small scattering of broken baits and a small bait on the hair fished just over the reeds in the edge is a good tactic, it has brought me fish in the coldest of weather. The fish are growing well and the lake record currently stands at 38lb.

Nazeing Meads Centre Lagoon

This lake lies between the North Lagoon and the South Lagoon. Sailing boats use this lake mainly at weekends but don't be put off by them. Many times in the past I have seen takes come just after a boat has past over a baited area. Because this lake is fed from water by the North lagoon through a sluice gate system, the area of the gates can be particularly good when there has been rain and the water is churning through. There is a bar which runs down the centre of the lake which is adjacent to the east bank and half way along at about 80-100 yards. The boat house sits at the very end of the west bank and the last swims here can also be good. Unlike the North Lagoon which is effectively cut-off from the other lakes by the sluice system the Centre Lagoon is connected to the South Lagoon by a small channel through which fish can move. This means that numbers of fish in the centre can fluctuate depending on weather, time of year, angling pressure etc.

Nazeing Meads South Lagoon

In my opinion this is the most interesting of the lakes we have covered so far.
With its many gravel bars and islands it is a lovely part of the complex.
I suppose the best way to proceed is to take a tour of the lake and its swims.
We will begin with the 1st swim on what has become known as the caravan bank (due largely to there being a permanent caravan site behind) this is a very pleasant and comfortable area with its grassy banks and good swim construction. The 1st swim has the end of a gravel bar directly out in front at about 60 yards, this bar travels most of the way down the centre of the lake and at points is only 2 feet deep! Carp are attracted to this area at most times of the year but in the summer when a brisk northerly blows then it can be very productive. Carp can often be seen showing along it. When conditions are right a bait cast to the end of the bar can bring numbers of fish to the bank. The 2nd swim has a feature at about 100 yards straight out in line with the causeway in the distance, this is a small hump which has a nice smooth clay slope behind, this is one of my favourite spots on the lake. Not much bait is required on this spot, in fact most of my fish have been taken from it while using a hookbait only! The next swim is largely redundant due to the lack of features when compared to the 1st and 2nd. Then we have the corner swim which has a nice large shallow area out front and when the wind is right it can attract large numbers of fish. It also has snags in the left hand corner in which carp often visit and hold for a while. Now we come to a swim I know as The Stumps although I think it has changed names now. This swim has been very kind to me and many others also.