River Valley
Yateley, Surrey
OS Map Reference: SU 825 609
Postcode: GU46 7UU
Water Type: Mature Gravel Pit
Designation: Carp & Specimen Water
Size: 20 acres
Maximum Depth: 30 feet
Facilities:
Secure Car Parking
Contacts:
Head Bailiff: Ty Robertson
Deputy Bailiff:
Local Police: 101
Stock:
Mirror Carp to 30lb
Common Carp to 30lb
Tench to 9lb
Rudd to 2lb
Pike to 20lb
This deep, twenty acre lake has been developed to become the Society’s premier pike water. It has been well stocked with pike to over twenty pounds and can offer rewarding sport to the experienced predator angler and novice alike. Carp of over thirty pounds and double figure tench are also a possibility, but a rather more dedicated approach will be needed to bring these reclusive residents to the bank.
Junior Members may only fish at River Valley if accompanied by a Senior Member and must fish in the same or adjacent swim.
Very much a specialist water requiring a dedicated approach. The water holds a small head of high quality carp, with both Mirror Carp to 40lb and Common Carp present to mid 30’s, Perch to 4lb 8oz reported and a few very large Tench to 12lb.
A number of large Pike have now been stocked up to mid twenties which are beginning to produce good sport. Members are reminded that Pike are easily damaged and no water can hold many large specimens. Please take care of the stock and observe the special Bye-law 4.s. pages 10/11, regarding Pike fishing.
The River Blackwater contains Chub, Roach, Gudgeon, Dace and some Pike to mid 20’s and may be fished from the wooden fence near the entrance to the site through to the end of the main lake.
The very deep water and abundant weed on this venue make it an interesting challenge and the awesome size of some of the Carp and other species can make it as rewarding.
This venue is a great Winter venue for Pike and the abundant shoals of little Rudd offer great chances for live baiting. Fish well out to connect with the bigger Pike as the margin is the domain of Jacks!!
Following the wind is recommended for location the small head of Carp, as location is probably the biggest problem and most of the usual bottom tactics will pay dividends if you can get on the fish.
Specialist tactics are also needed to get on the other species, especially the Rudd of which this venue used to be justly famous
River Valley - April 2009 to January 2010
The Big Common that has previously been caught at over 45lb has been out at 36lb, with other fish showing to 30lb +. However, with only about 12 Carp in the lake, rewards come mainly to those showing true dedication and perseverance. Very large Tench between 10-12lb have been caught in recent seasons, but not unfortunately this year though a Tench angler caught a very large Eel. Big Perch over 3lb occasionally show and Pike sport remains consistent with at least 3 different 20lb fish having been caught with many smaller fish providing good sport. A much larger Pike has been seen many times, estimated at exceeding 4’ long, but has yet to be caught. Increasing numbers of anglers usually visit this fishery during the old close season, so if you are looking for peace and quiet, it may be worth a visit in the week - although it is 20 acres. Carp to 36lb plus have been caught, with one session having produced a 13Ib Common, a 26Ib Double Row Linear Mirror, a 29Ib Linear, a 30Ib Linear and a 35Ib Common: and that’s a good session by any standard ! Perch up to 3lb, again in low numbers and loads of small Pike, in the 2lb class can be caught using plugs or spinners. No big Rudd, that it was previously famous for, have been reported in recent times with fish around 1lb being the largest. The lake has produced some reasonable catches of Tench from early morning sessions, with at least 2 fish being over the double mark, feeder fishing appears to be the way to go with maggots the most successful bait. The weed can be heavy and natural baits or the usual mix of particle and boilies bring best results. After the 16th June when you can fish the river you can expect very good catches of Perch, Chub and Roach.
Farnham Angling Society Record
| Species | lbs:ozs:drms | kilo.grms | Date | Captor |
| No Records Caught From This Venue Yet! | ||||
- Members can fish all banks
- Night fishing is permitted, for Junior Members Bye-law 4.r. page 10 applies.
- This is a residential area, so please be quiet and courteous when entering and leaving the water and remove all litter.
- Please ensure that the gate is locked at all times, even if it was open on your arrival.
- Members are asked to note the boundary area marked on the map and to keep out of this area at all times.
River Valley update
The infill work at River Valley have been completed, site infrastructure including both path and swim construction and landscaping are due to take place in 2013. As such, the water is now closed to Members and will remain closed until 1st April 2014.
The future management of the water will be considered during this time.
River Valley will not be listed in the FAS 2013/14 permit.
The River Blackwater remains open until 14th March 2013.
River Valley update August 2012
The final drain down and fish rescue took place at the end of July and unfortunately most of the small silver fish had been eaten by the numerous cormorants that reside in the area and the herons as water depths fell and the area reduced, however the water quality for the remaning fish was maintained by the above nornmal rainfall that we experienced this year.
We netted and electro-fished the last section and moved 5 Common Carp in double figures, 35 Tench with an average weight of 4 lbs, 1 specimen Eel of 6 lbs, 10 Pike and hundreds of small Perch into the finished and flooded sections.
No large Carp or Tench were found and as far as I know the only fish remaining on the entire River Valley site are those shown above.
As we found only the small Carp and none of the big fish know to be in there, I believe they have been fished out and moved. Those big Carp may have been moved across the dividing bund into the finished and flooded half by anglers afraid they may perish if left in the section being drained. Only time will tell.
The lorries have now stopped tipping, leaving several pieces of large plant o site that continue to work the site by moving earth around and shaping the banks. The site is best avoided until the work is completed towards the end of the year.
We remain in the hands of the devloper at this site for the forseeable future and will provide another update before Christmas, but under the planning permission, the developers have until April 2013 to construct the swims and paths, with provision for parking still to be sumitted for consideration by the planning authority.
The Executive Committee
River Valley Lake Development - Update
On 29th May 2012, Hampshire County Council, as the Mineral & Waste Planning Authority, granted planning permission for a variation of condition 2 of Planning Permission 07/02026/CMA, to extend the time for the infilling and restoration of River Valley Lake, East of Sandhurst Road, Yateley.
The importation and tipping should cease by mid September 2012 at the latest and the site should be restored by mid March 2013 in accordance with the original restoration plan, which includes path and swim construction.
ORIGINAL NEWS ITEM 2011
Following the granting of planning permission by Hampshire County Council to the landowners, development has commenced to split the lake into two, creating two lakes by building a causeway across the southern half of the lake.
One lake (the larger northern lake), will be dedicated to fishing and FAS fully expect to continue to provide fishing on this water to it's members.The smaller southern lake will cater for canoeing.
Following the splitting of the lake, each section of the lake will be drained separately and reduced in depth before being refilled to create two, shallower lakes with a maximum depth of 5m and will hopefully be more suitable venues for fishing and canoeing.
The main part of the drainage and infilling of sections of the fishing lake is believed to be scheduled for June to September 2011, depending on the commencement date of the works and availability of infill.
FAS Chairman, Richard Cane commented "Farnham Angling Society's fishery management team have been working with the landowner and contractor on their plans and hope to continue to help provide advice and practical help to protect the fish and to ensure that our members can continue to fish as the work progresses with minimal disruption and disturbance".
The development also includes the creation of extensive reed beds in the north-eastern corner of the lake, which will have a boardwalk that cuts through them as part of a new riverside walk to the south of the River Blackwater. A new path will surround the two lakes and lead across the causeway to provide improved access.
As part of the development plan, access to the fishery will change due to the works traffic, so members are reminded to please take note and take care when entering and leaving the fishery and use the marked car park which will be relocated from it's current position.
The development will take place between the following times: Between 7.30am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday and from 7.30am to 2.00pm on Saturdays. There will be no working on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
The development will involve the importation of approximately 100,000m3 of inert waste soils and approximately 10,000 to 15,000 HGV deliveries of inert waste during this period: this will amount to some 40-60 HGV loads a day.
The planning permission is publicly available online at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/environment or you can contact the Chairman, Richard Cane on 01252 - 721105 to check on any impact on fishing and the progress of the works.
River Valley update 20th December 2011
The original published plan has not significantly changed. The fishing lake (Northern side closest to river) has been temporarily divided into two so that a body of water can be maintained on site to hold the fish as they are rescued from each of the drained down sections.
The temporary causeway dividing the fishing side in two will be removed when re-profiling works within the drained section have been completed and the island will remain intact within the fishing lake.
No fish have been removed from the site and all of the venues stock are currently in the section closest to the car park and should be catchable, in fact several have been caught from the two remaining undisturbed banks.
When the top half of the fishing lake has been profiled the water in the lower half will be pumped back over the temporary bund and then all the fish transferred to the fishing side top half.
With the temporary fishing lake dividing bund just high enough to retain the water, they will then part fill with soils and re-profile the last section (car park corner), removing the temporary bund on the way out.
The work appears to be on schedule with a predicted end date around March 2012 although they can easily apply for an extension of time if the project is lagging behind.
The main water supply to the venue was diverted to allow the work to take place and will be re-instated towards the end of the project. In the future, River Valley will be much changed, but in time as productive as before and hopefully enhanced. The Executive Committee
River Valley Lake Development - Update
The causeway to divide the lake into two is almost complete and the first section to be drained prior to re-profiling was emptied recently.
As you can see the hole was very deep and the banks unstable having collapsed during de-watering.
Working conditions are never ideal when the water is removed but the fish have to be extracted.
Approximately 5000 fish were safely re-located into the other half, mainly small perch and a few pike. No carp had been seen in this first section and none were found. We had expected to see a few large eels but even after extensive electro fishing , there were none.
River Valley Lake Development - Plan To Transform Lake into separate fishing and boating lakes gets the go-ahead
Following the granting of planning permission by Hampshire County Council to the landowners, development will soon commence to split the lake into two, creating two lakes by building a causeway across the southern half of the lake.
One lake (the larger northern lake), will be dedicated to fishing and FAS fully expect to continue to provide fishing on this water to it's members.The smaller southern lake will cater for canoeing.
Following the splitting of the lake, each section of the lake will be drained separately and reduced in depth before being refilled to create two, shallower lakes with a maximum depth of 5m and will hopefully be more suitable venues for fishing and canoeing.
The main part of the drainage and infilling of sections of the fishing lake is believed to be scheduled for June to September 2011, depending on the commencement date of the works and availability of infill.
FAS Chairman, Richard Cane commented "Farnham Angling Society's fishery management team have been working with the landowner and contractor on their plans and hope to continue to help provide advice and practical help to protect the fish and to ensure that our members can continue to fish as the work progresses with minimal disruption and disturbance".
The development also includes the creation of extensive reed beds in the north-eastern corner of the lake, which will have a boardwalk that cuts through them as part of a new riverside walk to the south of the River Blackwater. A new path will surround the two lakes and lead across the causeway to provide improved access.
As part of the development plan, access to the fishery will change due to the works traffic, so members are reminded to please take note and take care when entering and leaving the fishery and use the marked car park which will be relocated from it's current position.
The development will take place between the following times: Between 7.30am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday and from 7.30am to 2.00pm on Saturdays. There will be no working on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
The development is due to be completed and restored within 18-months of commencement and will involve the importation of approximately 100,000m3 of inert waste soils and approximately 10,000 to 15,000 HGV deliveries of inert waste during this period: this will amount to some 40-60 HGV loads a day.
The planning permission is publicly available online at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/environment or you can contact the Chairman, Richard Cane on 01252 - 721105 to check on any impact on fishing and the progress of the works.
Just off Sandhurst Road, Yateley, Hampshire
View Larger Map
Take the B3272 through Yateley, heading in the direction of Reading. Turn right opposite the Royal Oak pub into Sandhurst Road. The access to the fishery is on your right, directly opposite ‘Weybridge Mead’ road.
Parking is provided in a clearly marked area on the northern side of the lake. Only park in the area indicated and do not park along the access track. Access
The access has a 2.2m restrictor fitted. Once through the gate, take the track that leads to the fishery car park. Do not stray onto the land area between the road and the lake as it is boggy, stay on the access track.