Rediscovering Tranquility: A Return to Wild Fishing at Horam Manor Fishery

When I think back to fishing in my childhood, I am always reminded of how undisturbed and wild it used to be. Today, while I still absolutely love my time on the bank, it doesn't feel quite the same.

Whether it's the rush of cars heard in the distance due to newly built roads or the general commercialisation of fishing, the establishments I've visited are too busy and noisy for my liking.

Now, don't get me wrong, the commercialisation of coarse fishing has brought considerable benefits to the hobby, generating substantial cash to fuel a fast-growing industry. But despite this, something is missing bankside of most fisheries—a lack of calm and serenity.

In short, commercialisation is breeding busyness and stripping back the natural surroundings of our lakes and rivers to make room for more people around the water.

It is a sad affair that has seen many fisheries become increasingly less areas of tranquillity and greenery—a place you can go to escape the stresses of life. Of course, if you know your stuff, you could always find a hidden gem of a lake or river to fish—but this is hard to find amidst the forces of civilisation encroaching on our precious waterways.

While this is true for many coarse fishing establishments, some still manage to retain their quietude and undisturbed environmental spaces. Horam Manor Fishery is one of these. I recently went to the establishment for a short carp fishing session on one of their many lakes, deep in the heart of the East Sussex countryside, and was amazed by how rural and peaceful it was.

Plodding about 15 minutes from the fisheries entrance to my lake of choice, Lagoon Lake (the one with the biggest fish), I was instantly transported back to my fishing years as a young child. Surrounded by rich green foliage, so little noise you could hear a pin drop, and a stunning lake that had only been touched by Mother Nature, I was in my own little bit of paradise.

I was too used to overfished commercial lakes; I had forgotten what it was like to be immersed in nature within a proper rural setting. While I caught nothing during my session at Horam Manor Fishery, I was blown away by the beauty of the fishery and the wildlife nestled around its many lakes. I even witnessed a large male deer bound past me as I departed that evening, a testament to how rustic my short fish had been.

Everything from the friendly staff to the beauty of the setting makes Horam Manor Fishery a must for anglers who want a bit of peace, away from the hustle and bustle associated with most coarse fishing lakes. Fishing felt like what it did twenty years ago, the old times - wild and undisturbed.