Les Ravalières lake is a 60 year old stream and spring fed lake, containing mirror carp, common carp, and grass carp, together with silver and gold ghost koi and some young mirror/koi growing on. The lake has proven to be challenging angling at times, as the carp have a good supply of natural food such as bloodworm and small crustacea to feed on, but it’s well worth the effort to get them on your bait!
The Lake & Features
Set on a clay subsoil, our 3-acre lake reaches depths of up to 5 feet and maintains excellent water quality year-round. Featuring two central islands, the lake bed offers a mix of hard spots and silt beds—providing an exciting, tactical challenge for anglers.
The venue is beautifully planted with reeds, irises, ragged robin, marsh marigolds, and pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), creating a thriving habitat for aquatic life. You’ll also find lily patches and light early-summer weed cover to target. Best of all, you can enjoy hassle-free angling with zero catfish, poisson chat, or crayfish to contend with.
Swims & Availability
We limit the lake to a maximum of 4 anglers (9 rods total) across 5 well-spaced swims, ensuring plenty of water for everyone.
- Flexible Fishing: While there are 5 designated swims, you are welcome to fish anywhere around the lake, provided it is safe to land a fish.
- Social & Family Friendly: Most swims easily accommodate two bivvies, including two double swims along the home bank—perfect for fishing with a mate or staying close to family.
Fish Stock & Coarse Fishing
The lake is home to impressive mirror carp reaching up to 50lb (22.7kg), including three prime fish over 45lb (20.4kg) that are rapidly pushing toward the 50lb mark. Supporting these headliners is a booming stock: at least four mirrors and commons in the 40–45lb bracket, at least five between 35–40lb, and at least eight in the 30–35lb range—plus a strong population of upper-20s ready to join them.
Beyond our main carp stock, it’s well worth bringing a float rod! The lake holds a fantastic variety of coarse species, including:
- Tench, Pike, Perch, & Zander (Note: Please check our rules for seasonal pike fishing dates).
- Roach & Rudd reaching up to 2lb.
Equipment Provided On-Site
To protect our stock and lower your travel load, we provide all essential fish-care gear:
- Landing nets, unhooking cradles, and weigh slings (strictly no personal gear permitted).
- Weighing tripods and scales
- Excellent carp care for body wounds (Cicavet’eau), though please bring your usual carp care kit with you for hook wounds.
Everything You Need for Your Trip
To make your stay as seamless and comfortable as possible, we offer a range of hassle-free options designed to let you focus on relaxing and fishing. Please note that all options must be booked prior to your arrival:
- Bait & Bait Packages: Fresh, high-quality bait prepared and ready for your session.
- Food Packages: Delicious, hassle-free meal options so you don’t have to worry about cooking.
- Tackle & Kit Hire: A selection of fishing gear and essential tackle items available to hire on-site.
- Massage Services: Relax off the bank with a professional massage service.
21kg – 46lb (Bertha) July 2020
The Swims
See our Gallery page for more fish caught since opening in late July 2020
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This water had never been fished (except by family) and there were only a few mirror and common carp in the lake when we arrived in December 2018. We added stock in February 2019 after netting the lake the day after our arrival to remove excess silver fish.
We increased our stock again in January, February, May and November 2020, January 2021, November 2023, and December 2025. Over 90 carp have been added ranging from 6kg (14lb) to 18kg (40lb), with the average weight now around 11.34kg (25lb). We also added some young ghost koi in May 2020 to grow on, some of their growth rates have been amazing, with one having been caught at 13.38kg (29lb8oz)!.
We net our lake every two years to remove the silver fish and decrease the biomass, which in turn allows our carp to feed and grow. Happily they are growing really well, maintaining good health and nice proportions. We don’t get a full stock take with the netting but all carp that were in the net, have been in fantastic condition and are growing well. There are also zander, pike, perch, tench, roach and rudd in the lake.
The fish spawned in May 2019, April 2020, April 2021, April 2022, May 2023, May 2024, June 2025, end May/beginning June 2026 and have been feeding well since.
Over the winter of 2020 into 2021 Jon began the process of removing silt from the lake to provide increased water depth and quality. In the process finding the original river course. We have also been planting reeds, lilies and other aquatic plants to enhance the bio-diversity within the lake.
During the winter months we add calcium carbonate to the lake, which is highly porous and settles down on to the silt at the bottom of the lake. It helps to break down the organic matter and balance the pH, helping to prevent the water being too acidic. This in turn helps the shell based invertibrates and all other aquatic life.
See also our Fishery Rules for important information
