Luckfield LaNe update:
The lane improvements are almost complete 👍
Arrival & Departure restrictions are no longer in place 👏🏼…, however, you may still get stuck behind a digger or roller tomorrow (Wednesday) at times.
PLEASE continue to drive SLOWLY on the lane, we’d like it to last a while & it also reduces the dust clouds for our neighbours who live along it (just imagine if you did 😉).
The tarmac section at the start of the lane is not DDASs responsibility, however, we have offered to financially support repairs to that part… all being well, something will be done to improve it later this month. Expect further ‘minor’ disruption at some point.
Thank you for your patience recently 🙏

~~~Important information~~~

The major repairs to the lane leading to Luckfield Lake will commence at 8am Monday 27th July.
Because of this, the lake will be CLOSED from then until at least 5pm on Friday 31st July.
The work will continue into the following week, however, access to the lake will be permitted, arriving BEFORE 8am & ONLY leaving after 4pm, except for emergencies.
An update will be posted when we know how things are going.
Apologies for this but it is for your benefit in the long run.
Thank you 🙏

Where quality(🤔) not quantity counts!

The DDAS Carp Competitions for 2026 was held over the weekend 17-19 Jul at Orchard Lakes New Milton. With temperatures remaining high, these unfavourable conditions did not seem to put the fish off as all anglers caught from the first to the last minute. With a format of your three heaviest fish to count, it was not a case of catching but trying to entice the lakes bigger residents. The Saturday morning break allowed competitors an onsite café visit and replenished with a hearty breakfast, all resumed trying to upgrade their three fish total. Come the final whistle 1600 Sunday, it was new to the DDAS Carp scene Damien Thomas that recorded the heaviest weight and was crowned the 2026 Carp Champion. Congratulations to Damien and what was his winning tactics? He would say resting his swim, but we would say maximising the onsite café/shower facilities.

1st Damien Thomas 65.05 lb 

2nd Tim Broughton 59.02 lb

3rd Chris Brown 57.01 lb

Biggest fish Tim Broughton 26.02 lb Mirror

                         Lloyd Richards 24.10 lb Common

With eight 20 lb plus fish caught and many to high teens, the venue proved a great success, and all now look forward to next year’s event.

A big thank you must go to the competitors, Paul Haigh as 2 I/C, Shane the fishery manager and all the café staff.

Our river bailiffs have been out doing a great job on our beats of the Stour close to Shillingstone & Hanford. At the same time, they have banked some lovely Chevins (Chub) between them. Best recorded so far is 5lb 4oz (see image). It looks likely that will be broken soon... a pleasant little friendly battle they are having 👍.

If you need any tips, they will be more than happy to point you in the right direction (but it might cost you a pint or 2 😉).

Go light, with a long landing net handle, a flask of tea & a smile... there are some beautiful spots to sit and fish.  Enjoy!