Both fish are prized for their size, but there are different rules regarding gear and safety, so it is important to consider these differences when preparing to fish with Forest Lakes Kent in our carp or catfish lakes.
If you have any further questions about our angling facilities or in general, please contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.
Catfish are powerful and can easily snap lighter setups. Anglers are required to use dedicated catfishing rods and high-strength mainlines (20lb to 30lb minimum).
Carp setups are lighter than catfish, with typical mainline starting around 12lb to 15lb. Fixed lead rigs are prohibited in favour of safety clips or free-running rigs to prevent tethering fish.
Treble hooks are almost universally banned. Single micro-barbed or barbless hooks (sizes 4-6) are required, and free-running rigs must be used so the lead drops off if the line breaks.
With carp fishing, you need specific hook links like mono or fluorocarbon and braided mainlines are banned to protect the scales and the mouth. You can’t use the same for carp, as catfish have sandpaper-like pads, so abrasion-resistant materials are needed for them.
Handling can be somewhat similar, but there are more specific rules due to catfish’s size and structure. Catfish must be handled with extreme care. Unhooking mats or giant, padded cradles are compulsory, and a water bucket must be on hand to constantly wet the fish. Catfish are often heavier than carp, so they should not be held standing up; they are best kept over the unhooking mat and presented in portrait orientation for photos
We offer day and night tickets for day fishing, overnight camping and angling in our Ashford fishery. The pricing is detailed below:
Our lakes are stocked with a variety of fish sizes, making them suitable for anglers of all experience levels.
Our catfish lake contains catfish, pike, carp, koi, chub and silvers, while our carp lake is stocked with common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, grass carp, koi carp, golden orfe, barbel, perch and silvers. Below are the fish categorised by their size:
On-site, we have a Portaloo, a shop selling bait, snacks, drinks and 2 lakes with large swims in our Ashford fishery. Our carp fishing lake has 11 swims, and our catfish lake has 6 swims with 4 doubles and 2 singles. For your safety, we have an adult on-site at all times and 24/7 CCTV, so everything is supervised, and our anglers are taken care of.
Yes, we do have rules to fish with us to protect our fish, waters and business, and they are as follows:
This way, we prevent disease from being carried between waters, ensure our business is compliant, and that we can welcome dogs whilst keeping the experience peaceful for other anglers.
