Regarded as Arden Fisheries' big carp water, The Orchard was the original lake at the venue. Dating back to the 1940s when it was used as an irrigation reservoir for the fruit farm, it is now well established with some cracking pegs and swims and some lovely old 'warhorse' fish which have been in the lake for many years and now run to over 30lbs. The Orchard is the biggest of the Arden waters at just over three acres in size and has gently sloping banks which run to about 16 feet deep along the centre of the lake, although it is much shallower around the edges and at both ends where about five feet of water can generally be found.

A typical old carp pool, it is virtually surrounded by trees and bushes whilst the 20 platform pegs give anglers a solid base from which to fish. In addition to the bigger fish, The Orchard holds a good head of double figure commons and mirrors as well as plenty in the 5lbs to 10lbs range. Biggest to come out in 2006 was a 26lbs 3oz common carp taken from Peg 20 in the right hand corner by the entrance.

There are good stocks of bream which run to about 4lbs, roach and perch to 2lbs 8ozs, plus a few tench to about 4lbs and some crucians, although the latter are rarely caught. Although many anglers who fish for carp normally tend to use two rods or a rod and a pole, this can be dangerous on The Orchard as the fish have a habit of bolting once they take a bait. As a result, they can have a second rod in the water before an angler realises he has a bite. In 2006 alone anglers reported the loss of 12 poles and 13 rods, most of which were never recovered.

The most popular pegs tend to be at the corners, particularly Kamakazi Corner at the far end of the lake from the car park where the trees overhang the water giving plenty of cover for both anglers and fish. Unfortunately this means that many inexperienced anglers loose four to five times the number of fish they land.

However, for alert and more experienced anglers these pegs can give some cracking results, especially when hooked fish are turned away from the lilies and trees and played in open water before being brought to the net.

Whilst many anglers ledger fish the deeper open water on a baitrunner, it often pays to fish much closer in with a waggler or pole, particularly next to features, weeds or under overhanging branches where the fish tend to hold up or patrol near the edges.

Again the secret is not to overfeed but to introduce a small amount of groundbait, feeder pellets or hook samples when starting to fish and then top up with a few free offering at intervals during the sesion.

Although The Orchard is a popular carp venue, it is also popular with match anglers - and with the match record currently standing at an impressive 350lbs it is easy to see why. This was set in summer 2011 with a mainly carp bag taken from the left hand corner peg as you approach the lake from the car park by Danny.

Once again the most productive baits tend to be luncheon meat, sweetcorn, pellets and paste but anglers should remember that boilies are not allowed.