Blenheim Palace Lake - all tips appreciated please!

[Tengisgol]

We are fishing at Blenheim next week and have never been before. If anyone has any tips whatsoever, it would be really appreciated, for example:

- is it easy to find?
- do we need to get there early to be ahead of the queue?
- do we need to take our own life jackets?
- when we get in the punt, where do we go? Left, right or straight ahead?
- presumably it is all float fishing, any tips?
- what baits?
- etc. etc.

...that kind of thing or anything else that your think might help us enjoy our day, many thanks in anticipation!

[Santiago]

I've never been fishing there, but I know it's very easy to find, we took the kids there years ago and went rowing on the lake. If you have life jackets take them!

[Pepsi]

Hi I have fished for pike there I blanked but my friend had two,one sink and draw and one on a lure very early in the day,very shallow around the bridge you drive over to get into palace,all I know is if you fish till dark head back to where you get boat as its good for pike and also ppl tend to throw left over bait there at end of day,but very lovely lake,tight lines

[Mario]

I've never been but mate of mine has and he said take plenty go ground bait

[Olly]

**Ground baiting, live baiting and lead weights are all prohibited. This is to prevent the spread of non-active species and disease. See E.A Bylaws for the Thames Region for more information.**

I think someone better read the Rules first! There is also a depth map somewhere in their vaults!

Light spinning for the perch or worms. Float fishing for the tench & bream. Sometimes fish at the lilies or sitting in them fishing just on the edge! Can be very hit & miss tho' when it's on huge bags can be made. Don't be afraid to move!! Loose fed maggots & corn - no bites after XX time = move.

[Snape]

It depends what you are fishing for.
Pike: deadbaits near the bridge or fish with plugs are good.
Tench: Take the boat into the margin and anchor it then fish outwards as it you were on the bank.
Perch: roving is good. The overhanging trees between the boathouse and bridge are good, around the bridge and up the channel.

[Trevor]

They can provide life jackets, but you need to request them in advance.
Queues aren't normally a problem, unless they have a big event on.

[Tengisgol]

We will be trying for tench and bream. Which way do we turn when we leave the pontoon?

[Olly]

Try & find their depth map - 6ft to 16 ft in places!

Left goes to the dam - right to the bridge which is the shallower area I believe?

[OrangeJonny]

Don't forget to make a note of the gate code!

You drive into the stable car park, then follow the fisherman sign on the right hand side.
You park outside the black gate that requires a code to be opened - the code is on your email receipt.
Then walk down to the boat house and help yourself to a punt.

The only reason I say all this is that we wasted a good 30 minutes messing around trying to get in and finding the boat house!

I went last year with a good friend and we caught nothing. Anywhere else we might have been a little disappointed. However playing around in a rowing boat for the day and sitting in the sun was actually quite nice.