An Introduction to Redesmere - By Mark Normanton (Coffindodger)

Where to start, well Redesmere is located in the hart of Cheshire , a typical mere of about 45 acres what is not typical though is the size of the fish in it and the fact that they all originate from the lenney strain with some of the best looking fish in Cheshire the fishery management on there have an ongoing stocking policy and all the fish are brought on from the original brood stock. The mere is quite silty in places and has an average depth of about 8-10ft and although 45acers may sound like a big water  when you have fished it for any length of time it seems to shrink and at times it looks quite small

The photo above was taken from the stream looking down towards the duck pond basicly this is the main body of the lake.

After many years fishing waters around my local area I decided it was time to move on and try to get myself a thirty,  well that was the aim anyway as very few waters around here have fish of that size with the only water I had fished with any real conviction with a single 30 was top flash and I was never fortunate enough to have that fish.

So with a heavy heart I moved on and left behind the good friends I had made over the years  although I was to make many new friends and was joined in my quest for a thirty by my mate Nibby  who had been fortunate enough to have the big common from the flash at 35+, we had heard many things about the mere but decided to go for it with an open mind and use the same approach as we had on other waters and had our share of success ,

When I first saw the mere the first thing that came into my mind was bugger me this is a big water ,then I thought it is also very clear  with quite shallow margins .

The photo above was taken looking down the shallow’s  which have a max depth of three and a half foot but when the weed is on it then that’s the place to be as there is always fish down there . I think at some stage every 30 in the mere has come from this area if you can get a swim in the summer then you should be in with a shout  so its not all about the big casters on there no matter what you hear. Although there will be times that you will need to be able to launch a lead 120 yards +.

This is just an in-site into the mere so purely for the purpose of wetting your apeitite here is a picture of the biggest fish in the lake  at the time very near to its highest ever waight  At 38lb 6oz its higest ever waight was 38lb 12oz

In a follow up article I will be adding a sketch of the lake and naming the swims , and a more in depth story of  my quest for my first thirty on this very busy and frustrating lake.

Good luck to all who venture onto her banks. Cheers Mark.