SOUTH VIEW FISHERIES, SHILLINGFORD   BACK TO PRIVATE LAKES PAGE

DESCRIPTION (To visit the owners website click HERE) OK. Here we have yet another of those day ticket fisheries created by someone with a bit of spare land, a stream (which used to be the water supply for the village) and a dollop of commercial acumen. Of the three such venues featured in these pages (Darts Farm and Upham Farm are the others), I think this one is by far and away the best. And judging by the competition for swims on a sunny Sunday afternoon, its also the most popular. This is a pleasant place - originally a stream in a small valley. Its a rural setting - on a quiet day (if you fix your gaze in the right direction) you can kid yourself that you are miles from anywhere. When the weather is dry, you won't even have to think about finding wellies or stout shoes. Three ponds here. I shall describe them in the reverse way from which you will encounter them when walking up from the car park. Just to confuse you and relieve my boredom. The top pond at South View (furthest from the car park) is rather small and has the feel of one of those ornamental basins full of water that you see at stately homes. Don't be put off by the look of it - the top pond is really rather good. There are some excellent carp in here - I once saw another angler hauling out about a dozen in two hours in the 5-10lb range by fishing floating crust over the reed bed that is on the left of the pond as you walk up to it, whilst I contented myself with a lesser quantity (same quality) from the lower bank. The middle pond is the largest of the three and is the one that has been most heavily populated every time I have fished this venue. Lots of carp in here in the 7 to 15 lb range, plus several other species such as roach and tench. Usual methods will catch. I do get a bit peed off by those folks who fish this water with the sort of gear that a) costs a fortune b) makes a lot of beeping noises and c) isn't necessary at a venue like this one. The Italians have a habit called promenading, which comprises largely of walking about, being seen. By that definition, this pond is where Exeter fisherman promenade. Take my advice - go early, fish the margins, and go home before the posers get here. I know that the bottom pond (the one with a fountain in it) contains carp, roach, rudd and gudgeon, 'cos I've caught them. I also know that the majority of those fish are small. Although there are some bigger ones about - carp to double figures lurk somewhere in here. So if you have young kids, this is the pond for you. If you have a 14 / 15 year old grunt, take him to the middle pond. GETTING THERE The ponds lie at Shillingford, near Alphington, to the south west of Exeter city centre. If you fancy fishing here, follow the directions given in the owners web site - there is a link at the top of this page. FACILITIES, etc. Car park. Lifebouys in all the right places. No chance whatsoever of meeting cattle. If you like this style of fishing, I do recommend this venue.