Creedy Lakes

Creedy Lakes stands as a dedicated carp fishing lake in Devon, drawing anglers keen on targeting substantial specimens from its spring-fed waters. The site features a main lake covering around 4.5 acres, primarily stocked with common carp reaching impressive sizes up to 36 pounds, alongside mirrors up to nearly 30 pounds, koi carp, tench including green and golden varieties over 7 pounds, and occasional eels around 8 pounds. These stocks position it as a venue where specimen carp fishing thrives, particularly for those pursuing twenties and thirties amid challenging conditions.

Main Lake Features

The main lake offers a triangular layout with depths varying from 3 feet to 11 or 12 feet near the weir and old boathouse, complemented by corner islands and a central one with overhanging willows and shrubs that create natural features for bait placement. Gravel paths provide level access around the entire bank, screened by shrubs and trees between swims, ensuring privacy despite popularity. Anglers report clean banks and well-maintained pegs, making it suitable for extended sessions targeting hard-fighting carp known for their quality.

Bookings are mandatory through an online system for 12-hour day tickets from 8am to 8pm or multiples of 24 hours up to several days, accommodating up to two anglers per transaction but reserving space rather than specific swims. This setup appeals to dedicated fishing lake enthusiasts planning ahead, with night fishing available since 2021, allowing pursuits of larger commons under cover of darkness.

Facilities and Access

A spacious level car park sits just 20 metres from the water, with a retreat building offering information, photographs, and rules display; toilets with cold water and shaver points are located at the rear. Wheelchair users benefit from priority access to the first swim on the right bank, reservable in advance, and assistance for disabled anglers including vehicular unloading, though vehicles must return to the car park during sessions. These provisions make it one of the more accessible Devon fishing lakes for varied abilities.

Electric gates control entry, locked overnight and periodically during the day, requiring anglers to phone for access outside narrow windows like 7:30 to 8am and evenings, which some find restrictive for spontaneous arrivals or extensions. Bailiffs enforce strict rules such as barbless hooks only, minimum 10lb line, no keepnets, no fixed leads, maximum two rods per peg, and no dogs, poles, or beach casters, prioritising fish welfare with requirements for large landing nets, unhooking mats, and antiseptic treatment.

Angling Experiences

Many visitors praise the abundance of 20lb-plus carp, describing every swim as viable for quality catches, with reports of successful 48-hour trips yielding fish to 25 pounds or more. The venue attracts travellers from afar due to its reputation for immaculate, hard-fighting specimens in a scenic woodland setting, well-suited for night ticket fishing. Tench provide additional sport, with plump examples responding to appropriate tactics.

However, crowding emerges as a frequent issue, especially on busy days when choices narrow to few pegs, diminishing the solitude some seek in a specimen lake. The online booking system's inflexibility frustrates, as tickets are non-transferable and late cancellations yield partial or no refunds, while failing to arrive by 11am risks reallocation of space.

Challenges and Criticisms

Family outings face hurdles, with a policy limiting guests to one per angler—partner or child only, for a fee—and prohibiting infants like a 6-month-old, leading to ejections that sour days out. Pegs prove hard for bivvies due to firm banks, and some note unkempt areas or excessive silt turning water chocolate-coloured, alongside constant aerators questioning maintenance standards.

Rules extend to bait restrictions—no nuts, pure seeds, rubber, or artificials beyond hemp in mixes—and mandates like returning fish swiftly via net or sling, no litter, and considerate bait boat use. While aimed at sustainability, these can feel overly prescriptive for casual carp anglers, compounded by no-refund ejections for breaches and seasonal closures, such as the top lake for 2025 and overall from January to end-February.

Fish Stocks and Tactics

The emphasis on commons in the main lake suits experienced anglers, with mid to upper doubles plentiful and sprinklings of thirties amid the stock. Depths and features demand solid rigs, often with 42-inch-plus nets and cradles to handle powerful runs. Videos and reports highlight pressured fish wary of noise or casts, yet responsive during booked events yielding over 120 captures in weekends.

Smaller top lake, now closed for the year, catered to novices with low to mid-double commons and upper doubles, oval-shaped with gravel bar and lilies. Its absence limits options for beginners, concentrating pressure on the main water and potentially impacting bite rates for big carp fishing seekers.

Practical Considerations

Anglers must hold valid EA rod licences, conduct safety assessments noting lifebuoys and wind risks, and adhere to 5mph car park speeds. No wading, swimming, fires, or heavy drinking ensures safety, while litter removal upholds the site's cleanliness praised by many. These measures support a venue open March to December, managed by the Turner family for consistent standards.

For those eyeing Devon carp lakes, Creedy Lakes delivers on specimen potential but demands preparation for rules, bookings, and potential crowds. Success stories of twenties abound, balanced against access quirks and family limitations, offering a realistic prospect for committed visitors weighing pros against constraints.