Road Lake

[@cliffordhatton4444]

My pal, Martin Gay, had a 30lb 4oz pike more or less where that boater is paddling about. The water was much lower back then in the early 70s so it's something of a shock to see the ol' road lake completely 'free' of bars and islands; these used to be a major feature of the lake. Anglers on the north bank fished parallel to these bars and fingers for the tench, carp and pike. As a general rule of thumb, waters deteriorate, but I think Johnson's has improved no end since Mid-Kent got hold of it and, apparently, sorted out the unspeakable scumbags who habitually left their swims looking like a gippo camp. I came off Johnson's in '92, unable to tolerate the rubbish and those who left it there. I was spending too much time arguing rather than fishing and I'd had a good share of the fantastic tench-fishing so I moved-on after virtually living on its banks for 17 years. Best tench was 8lb 9oz from the Railway. Best carp 27lb 6oz also from the Railway. I was with Martin in '75 when he caught his first tench at 5lb 9oz, the first of a great many. Martin had over 100 6lb+ tench from Johnsons - mainly from the Boat Lake - when everyone else was gloriously blanking!