“It’s called fishing, not catching”, suggested one of the lads
‘Buzz, Buzz’ – it’s 5am and so off I go to Makins for 10 hours fishing with fishing legend Lee Le Tree in Nuneaton. “We’ll get you a bend in the rod no worries”, he promised.
And so armed with bags, trollies, poles, bags, more bags, bait, some extra bags and holdalls, we walked the 50 yards from the gravel parking to the lake, pushing the trolly as we past the chickens, goats and other fisherman – in silence.
I felt nervous, mostly because I was the only one dressed to catch Carpzilla!! See pic
The scene by ‘the peg’ was serene.
Makins is an enormous fishery. The Disneyland of fishing with imaginatively named lakes like Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. Like a government site, you feel obliged to remain silent and the atmosphere forces you into a whisper, and for good reason, this is a place for serious fishing. The peaceful waters glistened in the sunshine as Lee showed me the ropes.
“Get ready”, Lee said, so I did.
But everything was different. The rigs were different, there were no maggots, sweetcorn, no weed smoking, no beers in the keepnet and no snoozing.
I was a fish out of water.
But after maybe 8 minutes, a bite!
“Not yet!” said Lee …
“You’ll know when you get a bite”…. and boy did I.
I’ve never been so excited and silent at the same time, and then the endorphins get a hit and I’m zoomed 40 back to when I caught my first proper Roach at 12.
Carpzilla – Snatched and snapped for eternity!
Fishing is brilliant, and for so many reasons.
It was relaxing, but action packed, there was silence, but also deep meaningful chats, and there was hunger, but also man-food that the wife didn’t moan about. It was brilliant.
I’d forgotten how much I loved fishing, and I don’t think I looked at my phone more than half a dozen times all day.
I also once again experienced that LSD like hit as the ripples and rod tip play tricks on your mind and vision. The hypnotic effect of fishing is something to be experienced, I literally lost all sense of time.
Sooo relaxing.
The Scene and summary:
Makins is a melting pot of anglers. On our side we had the pros, rocking £1,000 pole setups, fancy chairs, trays of banoffee pie bait (true) and over the pond I caught sight of toothless men in vests sharing their sarnies with the rats, and one poor bloke stuck with his wife trying to enjoy himself.
But we all had that same satisfied look, and that’s all that matters when it comes to fishing.
The Verdict: Fish, Banter, and a Proper Feed
Makins Fishery is an absolute gem. Great lakes, solid facilities, and a cast of characters that’ll keep you entertained as much as the fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or still Googling how to tie a fishing knot (no judgment), this place is a must-visit, get there early and grab the peg nearest the sunrise – it seems to hold all the gold, and don’t skip the burger and cheesy chips.
Thompsonator; Still working on those Jedi fishing skills
10 hours – 11 Carp, one tiny Snotty (Bream)
Much kudos to Lee Le Tree.
I thought I was a good fisherman, with 11 fish in 10 hours, but in the last hour of the day Lee decided to ‘drop a rod’ and caught 8, two at a time on some occasions… I don’t know how he does it – Amazing.
I’m so lucky to have Lee in my life, what a legend and experience.
Below Lees Coy Carp.
Contact & Links:
- Makins Fishery Website: www.makinsfishery.co.uk
- Location: Bazzard Road, Bramcote, Nuneaton CV11 6QJ
- Phone: +44 24 7635 1885
- For booking and more details, check out their Facebook page or give them a call.
- You can also find the latest news and fishing reports right on their website!
camping jedi 
love your posts!! That one made me want to try fishing… never done it in my life!!
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