SWIM NAMES.
EACH SWIM NAME IS NAMED AFTER A CATFISH LEGEND.
ANGLERS THAT HAVE INSPIRED MANY AND GIVE SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE TO GET CAT FISHING WHERE IT IS TODAY.
WORKING TOGETHER
CAT FISH GEAR HIRE.
1 NIGHT £30
2 NIGHTS £40
3 NIGHTS £50
4 NIGHTS £60
5 NIGHTS £70
ONE SET OF GEAR HIRE CONSISTS OF 3 RODS, 3 REELS, ALL UNHOOKING MATS AND ALL YOU NEED TO SAFELY UNHOOK AND WEIGH THE BIGGEST OF CATS. SUPPLIED WITH A SUITABLE RIG.
FOR HIRE AT HOUCHINS ONLY.
4 SETS OF HIRE GEAR AVAILABLE.
CUSTOM CAT BAIT
NEW FOR 2025.
POSH CAT FOOD.
MADE BY THE BEST....
MAINLINE BAITS.
THE EXACT OILS, TEXTURE, SIZE AND FLAVOUR THAT I WANT IN A CAT BOILEY.
20MM BOILEYS.
£12.00 1KG.
£55 5KG.
SHELFLIFE.
BULK 5KG AND 1KG BAGS.
A SPECIAL BAIT FOR SPECIAL FISH.
A SPONGY TEXTURE FULL OF OILS AND FLAVOUR. (INCREDIBLE SMELL)
AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A STINKY BOILEY DESIGNED TO ATTRACK CATS. ORDER BY PHONE BEFORE YOUR VISIT TO HOUCHINS AND I'LL BRING THEM TO YOU.
07927008842
ALSO AVAILABLE TO BUY AT ESSEX COUNTY ANGLING.
FISHABLE LAKES LTD
This home page is about our cat lakes at Houchins (book on only) 2 lakes both one and a half acres called catlake1 and catlake2. both lakes are lake hires only between april 1st to october 1st. october-april day/night ticket 12h 24h 48h (as long as you like)
Info on either Carpreserve syndicate, Catreserve syndicate or the new Reserve Lake hire (lake hire only) have there own section within this website.... follow the top left tab above.
For the last 25 years I've been running syndicates and fished for all species in my 40 years of angling but mostly cats.
One of my syndicates is called Carp Reserve (carp only) and the other is called Cat Reserve (catfish only) co57dn.
When i got the Houchins lakes (co61rt) I decided to give something to the public and not have just another private syndicate.
All the carp in Houchins are from my syndicates stock pond, Gary Bayes Chatteris stock pond and from Chilston carp farm.
CATLAKE 1...
There are a few named targets in lake 1, ADAM PEACAT PUG WILLY JIMMY AND DONKEY.
There are over 100 Cats, 70 Carp and 50 zander in the Cat lake1 including a few cats around and over 100lb the biggest being a massive 127lb named after a good pal who lost his life. Adam Jones. all the bigger cats around 100lb have been named, all with different markings and patterns so with a clear pic i can tell which one you were lucky enough to catch. The newest cat to come to catlake1 is a whopping 128LB called Donkey. catlake1 or 2 will never be a runs water because that's not what i want, i want it to be a healthy cat water with a chance of a 100lb cat caught on any method you like to use so not all about lots of kgs of pellets and boileys its about a variety of all baits to give cats a choice to eat whatever they want meat, live bait, squid or a stinky sea bait all baits all methods welcome on both lakes.
CATLAKE 2...
There are a few named targets in lake2, HELGA, BIGHEAD, BEAST, SPLITSCAB. ONE WHISKER, LITTLE WHISKERS AND WONKEY JAMES.
Total number of cats is setting at about 70.
A big change for 2024 is that Houchins carp lake is being changed to catlake2. catlake2 has 3 x 100 plus cats, the first catlake2 resident is our very bank friendly Helga which is no stranger to the bank making many anglers a 100 plus PB the other is very large cat perfectly named beast. beast is the largest lake 2 resident at the moment. Then we have the newest cat called Bighead put in at 110LB. catlake2 has also got about 70-80 carp up to around 30LB. There are 50 zander with the biggest stocked in at 8lb with lots around 3-6lb and growing well. More cats will trickle in during 2025-2026.
Hope you get to meet one of the bigguns and i hope you enjoy the lakes. Thanks, Tony Wignall.
NEW CATS STOCKED ACROSS BOTH LAKES BETWEEN OCTOBER 2023 TO NOW.... 6X80S 2X70S 1X144(lake2) 1X128(lake1) 1X90(lake2) 1x110(lake2) (LIST IS GROWING)
If you want to book on the catlake1 or catlake2 give me a call...
¬whole lake hire info...
After paying your half deposit, if you can not go for a credible reason an alternative date can be arranged. If you do not contact me before your arrival date you can not change your fishing date and deposit lost.
The big black security gate will be locked every night at 19.30 it will open at 08.00 so all vehicles must be left outside gate in the main carpark.
Lake hire times are midday to midday.
Half non-refundable deposit to be made on booking, the rest to be made by bank transfer before your arrival date or cash on arrival.
¬ Lakes info
The catlake1 has 5 swims, 1 single size swim and 4 large swims.
The catlake2 has 5 swims, one double and four single size.
Both lakes are fully fenced with one electric wire around the outside 40cm off the ground to stop our furry friend the otter coming in.
There is one slope suitable for a barrow on cat lake 1, steps going up to the middle of both lakes and steps to catlake2
There is a car park next to the cat lake 1, at the bottom of the middle steps between both lakes you can unload your fishing gear then take your car back to the main carpark. you must not park on the track because there are farm vehicles using it often. park in the carpark at main entrance, we dont want cars left inside electric gates over night just incase of emergencys.
We work alongside the catfish conservation group and the environment agency to re-home unwanted catfish.
There is a flushing toilet cleaned regularly.
The catfish conservation group has a 10% off on whole lake hires only..
View more
5 cats over a 100, Houchins has given more anglers a 100 plus PB than ever.......
A FEW PB A FEW PB PHOTOS BELOW.
¬Monthly Competition
BETWEEN APRIL TO SEPTEMBER THERE IS A PRIZE FOR THE BEST PHOTO OF YOUR BEST CAT CATCH FROM HOUCHINS CAT LAKES.
A REALY GOOD QUALITY PICTURE IS ALL YOU NEED WITH A CLEAN BACKGROUND, OVER A SUITABLE MAT AND A VERY CLEAN CAT WHICH MEANS NO WOODCHIP ON IT.
PRIZES FOR THE CAT PICTURE OF THE MONTH IS A FISHABLE T-SHIRT, CATPRO TACKLE, HOLY MACKEREL, CATFISH EXTREME, CARTEL BAITS, TAYLORS LEAD LOUNGE, TUGGIN TACKLE, BOBBYS BOBBINS, CCG AND A £20 VOUCHER TO SPEND COPFORD ANGLING. ESSEX COUNTY ANGLING
THINGS I LOOK FOR.... FISH OVER A MAT. HELD SAFELY. NO BAGS OF RUBBISH, BUCKETS OR CRAP IN THE BACKGROUND. A REALLY CLEAR PICTURE.
ANY SIZE CATCH CAN WIN AND A SMILE HELPS.
2025 INFO

APRIL 1ST - OCTOBER 1ST BOTH CATLAKE1 AND CATLAKE2 WILL BE WHOLE LAKE BOOKINGS ONLY..... LAKE EXCLUSIVE ONLY.
NO SINGLE ANGLER TO BE FISHING ON THERE OWN ON EITHER LAKE. DEALING WITH 100LB CATS CANNOT BE SAFELY DONE ON YOUR OWN ESPECIALY IF THE WATER LEVEL IS DOWN.
ANY CAT OVER 70LB WILL ONLY BE PHOTOGRAPHED ON A SUITABLE MAT, NOT TO BE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND FOR A PHOTO.
BETWEEN 1ST APRIL TO 1ST OCTOBER NO BRAIDED MAINLINE UNDER 80LB CAN BE USED ON THESE LAKES, ANY THINNER THAN 80LB CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE CATS. BRAID THINNER THAN 80LB IS ALLOWED BETWEEN 1S OCTOBER TO 1ST APRIL.
50% OF TOTAL COST FOR EXCLUSIVE LAKE HIRE TO BE PAID ON BOOKING.
1ST APRIL-1ST OCTOBER ALL EXCLUSIVE LAKE HIRES ARE ALL MIDDAY TO MIDDAY ONLY....
NO 12H HIRES.
NO 36H HIRES. ALL HIRES ARE NOW MINIMUM OF 24H MIDDAY TO MIDDAY.
1ST OCTOBER-1ST APRIL
WE ARE MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE WITH TIMES, 12H DAYS, 36H OR ANY TIME THAT CAN FIT IN.
PRICES FOR 2025 TO START FROM 1ST APRIL.
LAKE EXCLUSIVE ONLY.
£150 FOR EACH 24H PER LAKE
¬SOME OF THE HOUCHINS CATS...........
¬Houchins rules....
1. You must have a suitable landing net and unhooking may. All slings, mats and nets must be completely dry.
2. Safe rigs only, if your not sure ask.
3. No guns. No fires.
4. Leave no litter, take it home with you.
5. Any person deemed making a nuisance of them selves will be subject to expulsion and will not be welcome back. Please respect each other and the fishing space of other anglers.
6. All anglers fish at there own risk, No responsibility will be taken for any loss or damage to equipment, vehicles or injury to persons.
7. Dogs are welcome but must be controlled and kept in your own swim. Keep your dog with you at all times and must not be allowed to run around the lake at any time.
8. Park in the car park provided. Unload your gear at the bottom of the steps then park in the car park. NO PARKING ON THE TRACK.
9. No fish are to be moved in or out of any of the lakes.
10. Max 3 rods per angler, 4 if you hire the whole lake if your rod licence covers you. We all must have a rod licence before we fish.
11. Carp sacks are not allowed on any of these lakes.
12. The use of the rowing boat is allowed when you hire the whole lake and you must where a life jacket. Bait boats are only allowed to be used when you hire the whole lake.
CAT RULES..
NO TREBLE HOOKS. NO WIRE TRACE. NO DOUBLE HOOK RIGS. ONLY USE LIVE BAIT CAUGHT ON SITE OR BROUGHT FROM MANAGEMENT. ALL HOOKS BIGGER THAN A SIZE 4 MUST BE BARBLESS (NO NEED FOR A BARBED HOOK IN CAT FISHING) NO MEAT SPRINGS OF ANY SIZE CAN BE USED.
NO ARMA MESH ALLOWED.
MINIMUM MAINLINE BRAID 80LB
MINIMUM MAINLINE MONO 20LB
IF YOU TARGET FOR CATS THEN YOU MUST HAVE A PROPER CAT UNHOOKING MAT AND LANDING NET.
NO RETAINING CATFISH...... WEIGH IT, GET A PHOTO THEN PUT IT STRAIGHT BACK.
RETAINING OR RESTING CATS IN A RECOVERY SLING DOES NOT HELP STRESS BEFORE RELEASE IT MAKES IT WORSE, ITS BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH STRESS THROUGH THE FIGHT, WEIGHING AND PHOTOS SO LET IT GO SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ZANDER RULES...
NO WIRE TRACE. NO DOUBLE HOOK RIGS. NO TREBLES. ZANDER FISHING IS STRICTLY BETWEEN OCTOBER 1ST TO MARCH 31ST.
DAY/NIGHT TICKETS OCTOBER TO APRIL.
price list:
SINGLE ANGLER.
12H £15 24H £25
48H £45
whole lake booking:
12H £70
24H £120
48H £240
