Oakview Lake Reviews

All of these 5 stars are for real - you'll find the exact same hand-written versions on the bookshelf in the lodge.

See you in September!
By Bob Carey on 22 June 2012

Another very good week, weather very nice. Accommodation very clean & pleasant. Thanks once again to Martin & Shirley! and thanks for looking after the gear - see you in September! xxxx
Bob: 7 fish - 5 mirrors, 2 commons largest 32.12
Ray: 4 fish, 2 mirrors, 2 commons, largest 24-02
Martin and Shirley are great hosts
By Keith Wells on 15 June 2012

Martin and Shirley are great hosts, and made us feel very at home.
Tom agreed with Molly (Matthews family feedback May 2012), should have a slide and see-saw, and perhaps a trampoline as he found catching different fish hard! 14 carp to 32lb 12oz
The accommodation met our expectations and more
By Darren Palmer on 8 June 2012

Fishing was excellent and Shirley and Martin were great hosts and couldn't do enough for us. Coming back next year. We were all delighted with the venue. Even our 17 month old son loved running around.
25 carp to 40lb 8oz. Darren - 17 mirrors and 2 commons including 40lb 8oz PB. Phil - 6 carp to 29lb 2oz fishing days. 5 mirrors and 1 common.
Could not have been bettered
By Ken Beckingham on 1 June 2012

Martin and Shirley have been excellent hosts, making our holiday one to remember and definitely to be repeated. PS to next week's anglers - If I was there again this week, I would fish the bowl area. Watch the lake to see why. Our average time for bait in the water was 4 - 6 hours. Biggest common 38lb. PB Ken and new lake record common. Called it Bert. Catch - 16lb (PB Jake), 15lb 5oz, 25lb, 38lb, 18lb (2nd PB Jake), 14lb 4oz, 13lb 4oz.
Will be back a.s.a.p
By Paul Shaw on 18 May 2012

The weather went from 11deg.C & heavy rain to 27deg.C & very hot. This got the carp spawning somewhat. But it's not all about the fishing when you come to Oakview. We are going home very relaxed & refreshed. Will be back a.s.a.p. 4 mirrors & 3 commons 14-10 to 32-00 (The Legend)
Accommodation was great
By Linda Henshall on 11 May 2012

This is not a runs water, but there are plenty of fish to catch if you work at it. Getting a bed of bait out and keep feeding the water worked best for me. Accommodation was great. Lake and surrounding areas well maintained. Martin and Shirl were excellent hosts. Carp up to 34lb (including 6 x 30's) mostly mirrors all in excellent condition.
Accommodation perfect - didn't need for anything
By Richard Matthews on 4 May 2012

Thank you for sharing this stunning venue with us. It was a piece of paradise & we hope to come back again soon. Molly quoted can you ask Martin if I can have a slide and see-saw next time. Thank you - p.s. or a Trampoline!
(Extremely comfortable) Accommodation perfect - didn't need for anything. Surroundings gorgeous. Lovely owners, thankyou, Gemma. Hard week due to fish spawning but both fish were immaculate condition and a new PB.
Food is excellent, breakfast sets you up for the day
By Mick Cooper on 27 April 2012

Martin and Shirley are two of the loveliest people you could meet, nothing is too much trouble. Shirley even washed and dried some clothes for son, daughter-in-law and grand-kids. No charge!!. Food is excellent, breakfast sets you up for the day, definately put weight on. Always made sure there was plenty of fuel for the bungalow, rang and booked places to visit when needed. 6 Stars plus for them both.
30lb 4oz mirror, first French carp, new PB. Bad weather and fish starting to spawn mid week killed chances of big catches but that's fishing for you.
Loved it the first time, second and third and now the fourth
By Bob Carey on 20 April 2012

The weather was the worst possible for fishing, we had gale force winds, heavy rain and very cold temperatures. Shirley and Martin were perfect hosts, keeping our heating topped up and checking that we hadn't blown away! All fish came from the right hand side of the lake. I was fishing from the home swim. 5 mirrors and 1 common up to 29lb
Loved every second will be back next year
By Martin Brighton on 13 April 2012

Mallet - loved every second will be back next year. Martin - always loves it. Justin - loved the fishing will return, shame about the weather. Bowen - love the place, but could do with some sunshine!
1 x 41lb, 35lb 5oz, 33lb, 31lb 6oz, 30lb 12oz, 30lb 4oz, 9 x 20's to 29lb 6oz + 2 doubles. Bowen - 41lb PB & New lake record, Mallet 33lb PB & New lake record common.
Very happy
By Louise Holt on 30 March 2012

Very happy, accommodation is fantastic and beautiful place. Martin & Shirley great hosts, nothing is too much trouble. Just one fish 30lb 12oz. We have been before and it is a lovely venue.
Martin and Shirley fantastic hosts
By Louise Holt on 23 March 2012

Martin and Shirley fantastic hosts, wanted for nothing. First 2 fish out smashed our PB's. Craig 32lb 5oz and Les 28lb.
Fishing very slow, mainly nights. Average size 28lb. Smallest fish was 25lb 5oz.
We have never had more comforts whilst fishing
By Keith Platt on 2 March 2012

Beautiful venue. Shirley + Martin our fantastic hosts. Will be returning next summer. 5 stars.
Got straight on the fish with 4 out the first day. 32lb 8oz, 28lb 7oz, 23lb 9oz and 15lb 8oz (one of the new commons). Then hail storm and hard frost - water temperature down from 11deg to 6 degrees overnight, making fishing tuff. Fantastic!
More than happy - everything you could possibly need
By Louise Holt on 21 October 2011

24lb 5oz Leather. Holiday date was 22nd Oct to 26th Oct 2011
only. May not have caught as many fish as we wanted but we've had a fabulous few days only wish we could stay longer. Hope to be back soon. More than happy - everything you could possibly need
Love it like home !
By Martin Brighton on 16 September 2011

Love you and will miss you a great deal! The lake looks fab this time of year! Can we come live with you?? xxx 2 x Mirrors, 28lb and 38lb. Lost 7. Was very cozy and warm, love it like home!
You won't find better anywhere
By Mick Haynes on 2 September 2011

Tried to target the bigger fish, which worked to a point. Another totally enjoyable week in wonderful surroundings and good company. All mirrors - 32-06, 31-14, 30-12, 24-04, 20-10. You won't find better anywhere.
Can't believe it's all over and have to go back to good old Blighty!.
By Tony White on 26 August 2011

This was great as wife not a fisherman so we could also enjoy as an all round holiday. Weather was lovely - so had BBQ's every night by lake. Food & wine 10/10. Our dog Bailey loved his time here.
Shirley and Martin most accommodating people we have ever had the pleasure of meeting and great hosts. Can't believe it's all over and have to go back to good old Blighty! All very late at night, early hours of morning, at long range beginning of the week. Fish came closer towards end of week. All and much more.
Very comfortable, as expected plus more.
By Gary Hewes on 19 August 2011

Good fishing between continuous thunder storms. All week we have had very bad weather. The first 2 days were very hot and then Monday saw the start of continual showers with very bad thunder and lightning, which halted our fishing. The first storm lasted from 9am to 2.30pm and then again that night, so no fishing again then. This was continuous but I think our catch report shows that it wasn't all bad. Fished on and off between heavy thunder storms.
We caught 17 fish, both mirror and common carp. Lowest to highest weights were 22lb to 31lb 8oz. Catch included 3 x 30s and a ghost carp. All fish were in amazing condition. The facilities were brilliant. Very comfortable, as expected plus more.
The photos do not do the place justice
By Minne de Swart on 12 August 2011

We wanted a quiet week away from work with a bit of fishing and Oakview delivered on all counts. If the accommodation was not so good I may have spent some time in the bivy and caught a few more fish as they were mainly feeding at night.
Fished two night and days - fish feeding at night.4 x 20's to 28lb1 x 32lb 8oz. More than what I expected, Five star. Great hosts, great location, great accommodation.
27 carp including 2 new PBs and 9 in one day
By Paul Jeive on 5 August 2011

3 fish in 10 mins, 2 new PBs and 9 carp in one day - storming fishing when you think that the main object of our trip was to visit our family Shirley and Martin.

27 carp average 24lbs. Lots of pristine fish. New PBs for Paul (32lb 8oz) and Janice (24lbs). Just 2 fish under 20lbs (17lb 10oz common and 18lb 8oz mirror). Family friend Howard fished for one day and had 9 fish between 22lb 8oz and 30lb 8oz.