Thinking about your first trip to Clearwater Fisheries? It quickly became one of Wayne and Foxy’s favourite venues: secure access, tidy swims, useful facilities and a choice of waters that offer very different sessions. This guide brings together their experience on Kellet Lake and Penners Pool with the practical details you need before loading the car.

The original venue insight was requested by subscriber Ian. It answers the questions that matter on a first visit: how do you book, is your swim reserved, where do you check in and what equipment do you need?

Where is Clearwater Fisheries?

Clear Water Fisheries is on Kellet Lane, Borwick, near Carnforth in Lancashire. Its current official listing gives the postcode as LA6 1FQ. It is a good option if you want a managed carp venue with proper facilities rather than a completely stripped-back session.

This guide focuses on the four waters discussed in our video: Kellet, Penners Pool, Kents Bank and Scrape. The current booking page lists additional waters and ticket options too, so check the exact lake name before reserving your session.

How to book your fishing

1. Open Clearwater’s official Catch profile and choose your lake.
2. Check the available dates, session length and start time. Several carp tickets offer a 10am or 4pm start.
3. Read the rules and the ticket description, particularly whether it is an individual ticket or an exclusive lake booking.
4. Keep your booking confirmation handy and contact the fishery on 01524 745848 if anything needs clarifying.

Current advertised ticket prices

Prices checked on 27 September 2026. Confirm the total, availability, guest charges and start/end times for your chosen booking. A shorter night ticket is different from a full 24-hour ticket.

Arrival, check-in and choosing a swim

During our visits, the entrance gate had a contact number displayed for access. Once inside, we parked and checked in at the tackle shop. Follow the instructions in your current confirmation and the signs on arrival; the fishery’s published rules say to arrive no more than one hour before your booking starts.

A lake booking did not reserve a particular peg on our visits. We chose from the available swims when we arrived. On the winter Kellet session, we waited for anglers to leave the area we wanted to fish. Check today’s allocation arrangements with the fishery rather than assuming a favourite swim is included.

Penners Pool needs a little extra attention when booking. The current page lists both individual and lake-exclusive tickets. If you and a mate want the whole water to yourselves, make sure you select the exclusive option.

Which lake should you choose?

The video also mentions the separate Keer syndicate. Treat membership availability and stock figures from that discussion as historical; contact the fishery directly if the syndicate interests you.

Tackle shop, showers and fish-care kit

The tackle shop was a real plus for us. It had useful bits for a session, along with information about the fish in the different lakes. The current official profile continues to list a tackle shop, bait availability, parking, toilets and showers.

Another welcome feature is the fish-care equipment. The rules require Clearwater’s own landing nets, unhooking mats and slings to be used. Collect the correct kit and follow the staff’s instructions. It also means fewer wet, fishy items to put back in the car after your session.

Bait and tackle rules to check before packing

Wayne and Foxy were unsure about the precise plastic-bait rule in the video. We have checked the current published rules: plastic and imitation baits are banned, but zig foam is allowed. The main carp-water rules also include:

These are selected rules, not the complete rulebook. The profile also contains separate rules for other waters, so check the requirements attached to your exact ticket.

On our sessions, both bottom baits and pop-ups produced fish. We did not encounter crayfish problems, but that is an account of those visits rather than a guarantee about every swim or future session. Start with a permitted presentation you trust and adapt to the fish you find.

Our first-visit advice

Give yourself time to look before setting up. On a small water such as Penners, quieter movement and accurate placement can matter as much as the amount of tackle you bring. On Kellet, consider casting distances and have more than one area in mind if your preferred swim is occupied.

We also liked Clearwater’s catch updates on social media. They can help you understand how the different lakes have been fishing, although a good report is never a promise of the same result on your dates. Check the fishery’s Facebook page for recent notices as well as catches.

If you plan to order a takeaway, ask staff about delivery and gate access first. In the video we discussed meeting a driver at the gate; do not assume they can drive directly to your swim.

The Fresh Fishing verdict

For Wayne and Foxy, Clearwater’s appeal was the whole experience: a secure, well-maintained venue, comfortable pegs and the facilities that make a longer session easier. Kellet offered more water to work with, while Penners provided the intimate fishing we particularly enjoy.

If you are planning a first trip, choose the water that matches the session you want, read the current rules and get the booking details straight before travelling. We were keen to return, and Kents Bank was firmly on the list.

Quick questions