welcome to

Dorchester
Lake

Dorchester Lake is situated just off the A4047 and is accessible through Dorchester Villiage via Drayton Road. Historical for its Carp and Tench fishing the lake contains a variety of species and will test the best of anglers. The lake is approximately 10 acres in size with 8 Acres of accessible water to aim at.

CURRENT RECORD

33LB CARP

Unconfirmed historic record, estimated 35lb Carp

venue size

10+ acres

8 Acres of accessible water

common species

tench + pike

High Stock of Silvers with around 80 Carp

Dorchester Lake is situated just off the A4047 and is accessible through Dorchester Villiage via Drayton Road. Historical for its Carp and Tench fishing the lake contains a variety of species and will test the best of anglers. The lake is approximately 10 acres in size with 8 Acres of accessible water to aim at.

Dorchester Lake,
Dorchester

Dorchester lake is set on the outskirts of Dorchester Village, Oxfordshire.

Oxford Angling and Preservation rented Dorchester lake in the late ’60s until the question was asked in 1985 if the owners would be interested in selling the lake. The sale went through in 1986 and the land registry was in the name of the Alliance as the constitution says any purchase after the 1964 formation would go into the AOAA the idea being to ensure we could own the lake and safeguard our stocks.

Originally there were few Carp in Dorchester Lake and it was well known for its Tench stocks. In 1985 19 carp were introduced. The NRA also added a few Carp and Crucian’s the same year. These Carp grew to upper 30’s and some hit 40lb at certain times of the year and a handful became famously known around the country. In 2011 the lake received 24 Common Carp from the Serpentine Lake that was being used for the Olympic Games which are certainly stunning characters.

The lake became well known for its massive Oxfordshire Carp and the handful of old Carp that still remain are now known as the originals. In recent years like many waters since the release of Otters into the wild, we suffered severe predation and sadly lost some gems in the lake. Due to the love for the water, a few members put a good word in the direction of Korda Tackle owner Danny Fairbrass who at the time had just formed the early stages of Embryo Angling Habitats, a charity to help waters like ourselves who were not in a financial position at the time to protect our water.

After several years of hard work battling with the local council we eventually got planning permission to have a new fence erected around the lake to prevent predation, which was funded by Embryo Angling Habitats. The fence was started in the early summer of 2018 and finished by October of that year. Along with the fence Embryo also introduced 5 Carp to the lake between 13lb and 19lb. We will forever be grateful for what we were given.

Since the erection of the fence the Alliance has committed to putting as much funding as possible into the lake. We have now stocked an additional 60 Carp to complement the existing stock. These fish weighed from 4lb right through to 17lb.

We have also stocked 125 8-10 inch Tench in order to bring a new bloodline into the Tench numbers. The Tench stock will remain a future priority. We now estimate the lake stock as a whole to have a healthy number of Silvers, Tench, and Pike with around 85 Carp. The Tench go to 10lb+ with a healthy number of 5-7lb fish, Pike well into double figures and the Carp we believe run to possibly mid 30lb with the majority between 15-25lb but growing quick if early signs are anything to go by.

Dorchester Lake is capable of great things and we plan to keep working hard in order to make it a great water with many plans for the future in the pipeline. We take pride in the lake being a great mixed Carp and Course water with a good balance of species and open to all skill levels.

Due to the weed growth and gin clear water that the lake is known for it can be a testing water but it’s certainly not impossible and will always leave you wanting more. Traditional tactics work for both Silver fish and Tench and they are not shy of bait at the right time of year.

The Pike fishing always depends on the day, so always wise to arrive with multiple options. Live baits work very well but these must be caught from the lake. The Carp fishing on Dorchester lake is renowned for being very tough and the weed makes this even more difficult in the summer, which is why we have bolstered the numbers more than planned, however, it’s still by no means an easy water. Boilies and pellet are always a winning tactic through most of the year when targeting Carp however when the water temp drops, a little thought is required.

The Carp also often slip up to Tench anglers so it’s wise to tackle up heavier when targetting the smaller species.

Dorchester Lake - Blair Witch
Dorchester lake as seen from the Blair Witch Swim

Funds raised from the 2017 Embryo Angling calendar have helped to secure the future of the historic Dorchester Lake by paying for a fence to be installed around it.

Parking

There are several areas for members parking on the outside of the fence line along the track between Drayton Road and Pratties Bungalow. We also have parking within the fence which is accessible through the big gate near Pratties Bungalow.

How to find us

The entrance to Dorchester Lake is located opposite the cemetary on Drayton Road. View it on Google Maps. What3words – /// reason.opened.sparkle

Venue rules

Venue photos

Species

The carp (Cyprinus carpio) comes in many different guises; The wildie, the leather, the mirror and the common carp.
Tench is a freshwater fish native to Europe. Thick and heavy, the tench has an olive green or darker back
The bream lives in schools and eats worms, mollusks, and other small animals. It is deep bodied, with flat sides and a small head, and is silvery with a bluish or brown back.
The northern pike gets its name from its resemblance to the pole-weapon known as the pike. Pike can grow to a relatively large size; with maximum recorded weights of 63 lb.
Perch are carnivorous fish found in small ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers. These fish feed on smaller fish, shellfish, or insect larvae, but can be caught with nearly any bait
The Rudd is richly coloured, with a green to Brassy-bronze upper back, burnished golden flanks becoming silver-white on the belly and have crimson red fins.
A high-backed, yellowish green fish with red eyes and reddish fins. It lives in small schools and eats aquatic plants, insects, and other small animals.

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Swimfinder

Swim Finder

Click on the swim to see more information. Please note Information may be adjusted at anytime, so please check for any updates before fishing.

Swim Finder

Swim 1 - Stu's

Maximum 7 wrap limit so not to encroach on swim 26.

Swim 2 - Steps

Maximum 7 wrap limit so not to encroach on swim 26.

Swim 3 - Bungalow

Maximum 12 wrap limit

Swims 4 & 5 - Party Swims

Swim 4 maximum 12 wrap limit. Swim 5 has a maximum of 10 wrap limit unless swim 7 is unoccupied. If swim 7 is unoccupied then swim 5 maximum limit can be extended to 14 wraps. Please note if swim 7 becomes occupied then you MUST reset your limit to 10 wraps.

Swim Closure Notice: Swims will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 7 - Pads

Maximum 10 wrap limit and has shared rights to the island with swim 10

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 8

Limited to half way and near margins. If swim 11 is unoccupied then swim 8 can extend area into swim 11. Please note if swim 11 becomes occupied you MUST reset your spots.

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 9

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 10

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 11

Limited to half way and near margins. If swim 8 is unoccupied then swim 11 can extend area into swim 8. Please note if swim 8 becomes occupied you MUST reset your spots to the area indicated.

Swim 12

Swim 13 - Blair Witch

Swim 14 - Bus Stop

Swim 15

Swim 16

Swim 17 - Pokey

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Saturday 16th October and Saturday 23rd October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 18

Does not have rights to fish the island, this belongs to swim 16 and swim 20 (Bummers). When fishing swim 18 you should be a wrap (4 yards / 12ft) short of the island.

Discretion can be used if swim 16 or swim 20 is unoccupied,  however you must reset your spots if swim 16 or 20 becomes occupied and fishing to the island.

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Saturday 16th October and Saturday 23rd October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 19

Swim 20 - Bummers

Swim 21 - Pratties

Swim 23 - Boyce's

Swim 24 Bunker

Maximum 12 wrap limit

Swim 25 - Car Park Left

Maximum of 12 wrap limit

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Swim 26 - Car Park Right

Maximum of 11 wrap limit

Swim Closure Notice: This swim will be closed on Monday 25th October 2021 due to essential work being carried out.

Dorchester Lake - Numbered Swims
  • Stu's

  • Steps

  • Bungalow

  • Party Left

  • Party Right

  • Tyres

  • No. 8

  • No. 9

  • No. 10

  • No. 11

  • No. 12

  • Blair Witch

  • Bus Stop

  • No.15

  • No.16

  • Pokey

  • No.18

  • No.19

  • Bummers

  • Pratties

  • Boyce's

  • Tennis Court

  • Car Park 1

  • Car Park 2

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AGM – 2024

This years Annual General Meeting was held at Farmoor village...

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Dorchester Lake on google maps

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