Tees Valley Lakes
Frequently Asked Question's
Do I need to be a member to fish these lakes.
YES, membership is required to fish all our Lakes
How do I Join
We have a waiting list in operation and we review memberships monthly,
During Busy times we close the membership and re-assess it at not so busy times.
Why do you charge a membership.
To ensure specimen carp anglers with the correct tackle join these lakes. All money raised from memberships is invested in stock fish and constant improvements to the fishery.
Are unhooking mats / landing nets provided.
Yes, We provide large cradle style unhooking mat, safety weigh sling, landing net and water bucket on each swim which must be used (Do not bring your own on to site for bio security), Weigh hooks are also provided in each swim.
Is membership payable every year.
No, Membership is a one off payment and does not have to be paid again as we do not charge yearly.
Do you have toilets & shower on site.
Yes, We have separate ladies & gents toilets and a shower room, Ladies toilets have a coded entry lock, the code is available by texting fishery when fishing.
Do the lakes get busy
As with any good venue there are peak times mainly summer weekends when you may need to plan ahead, However as we operate on a booking system you are always guaranteed a place once booked on, Our booking system allows you to reschedule any booking within 48 hours of your booking should you wish to change your date on short notice places do arise during busy times. As you would expect bookings run up to 2 weeks ahead during Summer for weekends but swims are usually available midweek at short notice during busy times.
Can I turn up anytime to view the lakes.
No. our venues are not open access so turning up to view is not possible. Our automated gate system allows anglers to fish safely and in peace without being disturbed. A No viewing policy is in place with a view of security to our venues and with the anglers best interests in mind.
What fish are in the lakes.
We stock specimen carp only in our lakes, Perch were added to control fry.
What size carp are in the lakes.
See each lake page for current stock & lake records.
What are the best tactics & swims.
All swims produce fish but some are fished far more than others, Boilie and pellet works very well, Far margins fish well on sunny days, Beds of bait can be good on longer sessions and Pva bags cast at showing fish can always produce a bonus catch. Always remember the carp you are trying to catch do not want to get caught? If your’e not catching then change your approach with different rigs or bait.
Are the lakes difficult.
Our Lakes vary in difficulty due to fish size, stocking ratio and the anglers abilities, Alpha is stocked with big carp only so its never going to be a walk in the park but every fish caught is a real gem and rewarding, Eagle is moderate with a bigger head of fish and suited to experienced and beginner carp anglers, Yarm has a good stock of fish and most tactics will catch, Hilltop has a good selection of carp, Always remember the fish you are trying to catch do not want to get caught, if your not catching maybe you need to change your approach?
Do TVL Bailiffs fish the lakes.
Of course they do, Our bailiffs work very hard ensuring our venues are in great shape, That being said bailiffs only occasionally get to fish as most of the time you will see them on the bank doing checks and helping members out along with helping out with all the maintenance the fishery requires. The owner & Bailiffs book on the diary and follow the same rules members do, They receive no special privileges and cannot reserve swims, This is something the owner feels strongly about, EVERYONE follows the same procedures.
What time can I arrive and leave.
There is no limit to when you arrive but Day/24hr sessions start from 10am once gate code is received by text message, Early bird add on tickets start from 6am once gate text is received, 24hr sessions finish at 10am and day tickets at 9pm by which time swims must be vacated.
How do I get Early Bird tickets.
Early birds are only available by texting the fishery the day before your session on 07980 179585 from 8am to 8pm as they are subject to availability.
Do you have bait restrictions.
Yes we do, Boilie & pellet only during Summer months, any restrictions are set out in our lake rules, We do not allow any type of nuts, particles or maggots, However we do allow particle and maggots from November to February only, We do this to ensure our fish receive a higher quality balanced diet to aid growth rates.
Are there any lake features.
Definitely, The Lakes are man made so during construction bars, plateau’s and gullies were incorporated, We do have a map on our website showing some features but carp in nature change the contour of lakes beds over time so the layout is ever changing, Since 2017 we have carried out extensive planting with thousands of reeds and over 700 trees from Poplar, Laylandii, hawthorn and willows, Due to this our lakes have matured quickly and are now all reed lined creating a wildlife haven and plenty of features to fish to.
Have you thought of making one big lake.
Yes, it was certainly considered, However the lakes being built in an actual valley creates limitations, one being that we had to keep each lake at a maximum of 10,000 cubic metres of water due to legislation for the dam walls required to construct each lake, Our Lakes may not be oceans at 2.5 acre and 2 acre but we more than make up for this with the quality of carp we have.
Are the lakes clicky like some others.
No definitely not, Good friendships are often found on our venue, Being a members lake you will find the majority of people open and friendly and happy to help other members, Bailiffs are always willing to listen and answer any questions and help out with your angling should you wish.
What is the lake bed made of.
The Lake bed is mostly sand & clay, small silt deposits will be found in the deeper area’s.
Will you be moving 30lb fish from the Lakes.
No, we will not, These carp are well established and will be staying in the lake they reside
Why do new members have to fish other lakes first before Alpha.
We care about our fish and as Alpha residents are all 20’s and 30’s we want to be sure everyone on Alpha can handle big fish safely, With new members fishing and catching on our 4 other lakes we can see first hand how fish are dealt with, If in doubt we are happy to give advice and even have a carp care video on our YouTube channel, That being said all lakes are now producing some fantastic North East chunks with more new 30’s each year.
Do you have CCTV.
Yes, We have always had CCTV to protect our fishery, fish stocks and members fishing since the beginning which is clearly sign marked at gate and cabin, We do not have any camera’s aimed at swims as we honestly have better things to do than watch people fishing lol.