Escape to the Norfolk countryside
We started our journey 5 years ago with the aim to provide intimate carp fishing for large fish in a beautiful setting
Who We Are
At Carper’s Retreat we want to provide a quiet space away from the Rat Race. Big carp, lightly fished for, in a beautiful setting, deep in the Norfolk countryside.
The main carp lake is called Longwater, owing to its shape. Longwater has a stock of about 50 carp. All of them are over 15lb, with 30 of those over 20lb’s and a handful over the magical 30. Two of these are likely to be tantalisingly close to 40 by the end of the year. Our fish are a mix of three different strains with some super scaley, some stunning linears, commons and a few bare-flanked bruisers!
About Longwater
Situated a few miles East of Swaffham, Longwater Lake is a different kind of place to spend some time. The owner is a long time carp angler who has sought to create a unique environment for both the angler and the carp. Fishing on the lake is run strictly on a small syndicate basis.
Do get in touch if you wish to be considered for membership, numbers are limited but both full season and winter options are available.
The Experience
The lake itself is just under 2 acres in size and is long and narrow. The site is neat and tidy without looking too manicured or too wild. There’s plenty of marginal cover and swims are sensibly spaced to ensure no encroachment on each other. There are six swims evenly spaced along the southern bank. This gives the angler a comfortable experience – you won’t need pods for the rod rests either as the banks have been made up to be user friendly.
Most of the casting can be done underarm, bait will most likely be introduced by hand and you’ll want to settle back from the waters edge and watch the water cloud up or the pads start to twitch as those bigguns creep into your swim! It’s fundamentally a margin water, like we all fished when we were kids - except these fish are monsters!
The Swims
Each swim is plenty big enough for most bivvies and many do contain steps of some kind which you might want to bear in mind if you have mobility issues. You’ll really appreciate the way the swims are set up, with a reed fringe and enough bankside cover to make you feel at home with your surroundings.
Each of the swims have been laid out in such a way that there is always a range of angling options, depths, features or silty areas to target. For example in the Willows you can cast baits to the lilies or reeded far margins or maybe chase the bubblers in the silt patches.
When you're sat back in your chair enjoying the tranquillity of the place and a 30+ leaps out just past your rod tips your heart will be pounding out of your chest!
The Fish
The stocking of the fish has been intentionally mixed to ensure you have diversity in the catches. We have a variety of stunning black backed carp which are all of proper English heritage and hand selected from three different sources. Long, dumpy, scaley or leathery, they’re all in there. So whatever your preference, there’s going to be something to excite you.
In terms of tackle, you won’t need any specialist gear, with rods of 3lb TC being ideal. Mainlines of 12 to 15lb are best as there are some lilies and a few reed beds which those carp will try to take you into! We even provide all the mats, nets, slings and fish treatments (please don't bring yours!) so you won’t have to stink out the car after your session!
The Facilities
Most anglers choose to rest their swims for periods of each day, convening by the picnic bench to have a BBQ (provided) and a cold beer or two. Enjoy the space, the quiet, the beauty and the challenge of outwitting the carp and hopefully enjoy breaking a personal best!
We have provided a toilet so please do use it and leave it in good shape.
We also have a small lodge on site with food preparation areas, chairs and a patio area which will allow you to socialise even when it's raining!
We do have a few rules, particularly around fish welfare, so please acquaint yourself with those before booking.
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