Dixon's Mere

Dixon's Mere is the smallest lake on the Widmead named after Bill Dixon, one of our long serving stalwart trustees. It has a variety of swims at its 30 pegs and about 2 acres and is approximately triangular in shape. It sits between the Middle Ditch, the public footpath and the Kennet and Avon Navigation.

The western corner is quite shallow and has had woody material placed in the water for fish refuge but as you move towards the other banks the water gets deeper, with depths of over 3m (9 feet) in places. The lake has a smooth bed and no particular features. The water is usually turbid in the summer and is generally weed free.

In recent years it has been stocked with crucian carp and other silver fish. There are also some carp which have grown quite large and can catch you out if fishing with light tackle. It is a splendid mixed fishery, very peaceful, and is the favourite of many club members, despite the long distance from the car park.

There is a large car park which serves all the Widmead lakes at the western end of the complex, and there is some other parking in Muddy Lane if you wish to approach over the railway foot crossing. There is no toilet provided because the site is a SSSI.

Knotts Lake

Knotts Lake is one of the larger lakes on the Widmead named after Jim Knott, one of our long serving stalwart trustees. It has a variety of swims at its 50 pegs and about 5 acres. It sits between the Middle Ditch and the Kennet and Avon Navigation.

The western end is quite narrow and shallow, but as you move away from the car park the water gets deeper and wider, with depths of over 4m (12 feet) in places. The lake has a smooth bed and the main feature is the long island which is a favourite target to fish against. The water is usually turbid in the summer and is generally weed free.

In recent years it has been stocked with large tench and some bream. There are also some carp and other species present to enable mixed bags to be caught.

There is a large car park which serves all the Widmead lakes at the western end of the lake, and there is some other parking in Muddy Lane if you wish to approach over the railway foot crossing however this is a long walk. There is no toilet provided because the site is a SSSI.

Collins Lake

Collins' is the largest lake on the Widmead complex at nearly 8 acres, named after Terry Collins our long serving vice president. Because it is regarded as a specimen water the pegs are spaced wider and built larger for bivvy anglers, there are only 20 pegs.The water tends to be clearer than the other lakes due to the light stocking density.

The stock is mostly carp, tench and roach. The water has not been stocked in recent years, because it is regarded to be fine as it is, and the strain of carp is not the biggest but considered to be good looking and hence the risk of hybridisation with a less aesthetic strain has been avoided.

Parking is provided at the main Widmead car park, and the approach is by foot alongside Knott's lake.