Under The Surface - The Serpentine

A lot of people could have fished a water for years, thinking they know what lies beneath the waters surface. I will hold my hands up as one of these people, but its not until you actually see the bottom of a lake with your own eyes, that you realise just what is down there.

I'd originally taken these photo's for my own personal use, but as i've had so many requests for them, I decided to write an article showing these photo's to you, the VBAS members. I hope these photo's will give you a better understanding of the lake bed and therefore improve your chances of catching.

As VBAS Head Bailiff, I was closely monitoring the lake during the winter of 2005/06. During this time, British Waterways were working on Knypersley Reservoir next door to The Serpentine. As a result of this work, The Serpentine's natural level had to be dropped up to just under 20 foot. Although the fishing during this time was difficult, I had an excellent chance to view the margins and shallow areas of the lake. The following is what I discovered.

I'll start at peg 15, leading you around the pool to the left and finishing on the dam wall.

The main point to notice on the peg is the tree to the left. It usually overhangs to water but notice no snags beneath the overhang and then one small snag behind it. I'd expect pike to use this area.

This image looks to the left of peg 15 with peg 19 just appearing in the far right of the picture. Notice the small point to the left of centre thats drops off at a greater angle to the surrounding area. This is actually just out in front of peg 16.

This image looks back at peg 15 from peg 19. The main highlight of this picture is the massive snag to the right of the peg. Normally, this snag would be totally hidden from view.

Again from peg 19 but this time looking left. Notice the deeper water hugs the right side of the bay. Also, the end of another snag can be seen on the left of the picture which would be again hidden from view when the water level is full.

This picture looks out from peg 24. Notice the water has started to filter into a thinner channel as the lake shallows off.

This picture looks towards the shallows from peg 25. We now have no water in this section all but a small channel hugging the left bank. Also notice the fallen tree to the right on peg 2.

This picture looks back at peg 1 from the end of the lake. Its difficult to pick out put there is a deep channel running straight through the picture.

The far top end of the lake and by far the shallowest area. Items to notice is the island on the right, the channel through the middle and a post on the left. This post can usually only just be seen popping out above the surface.

Moving down the opposite side of the lake, this view of the left of peg 4 shows the highly popular peg 5 tree to the top right of the picture. Notice how the drop off suddenly increases after the tree.

This picture looks left from peg 11 round to the dam wall bay. Notice how the drop off is far more steady to the previous opposite bank pictures.

This picture looks left from peg 12. Notice a very steady drop off compared to the rest of the lake. Also, just above centre it looks as if the lake has a small point. This is actually a very steep drop off and is just to the right of peg 14.

This picture looks back down at peg 14 from the dam. On the far left of the picture is a shaded area of bank. This is the drop off from the previous picture. Also notice the stream bed that enters the right of the picure and creates a small flat area as it breaks through.

This picture looks mainly at the ever popular metre stick swim. Notice the metre stick actually ends at the top of the picture and continues down as a scaffold pole. This then enters a concrete grid. Notice the flat area just behind this grid where the water enters.

This picture looks along the dam wall from the metre stick. Notice how the drop off suddenly changes half way along the dam creating a small point.

And finnally, the last picture shows the dam wall looking from peg 15. Again, the point of land is a clear feature to notice.

I hope that these pictures have now given you a clearer idea of what the bottom of the lake looks like. I've highlighted many of the key features of all the pictures but there are many more if you look closely. I'd advise anyone intending to do any serious fishing on The Serpentine, use these pictures as a guide to help you understand the lake. Still however, take the feature finding gear to the lake and build an accurate picture of the lake to give you a full understanding of what lies beneath the surface of The Serpentine.

Tight Lines

Daniel Goddard

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