Horseshoe Lake - The Carp Society

Horseshoe Lake is a landmark venue in UK carp fishing history, intrinsically linked with The Carp Society, which has managed the site since 1981. Located in the Cotswold Water Park near Lechlade, Gloucestershire, this 62-acre former gravel pit is renowned for its rich heritage, challenging angling, and significant stock of large, characterful carp. The lake’s name is derived from its distinct U-shape, which creates a vast and varied aquatic environment for both fish and anglers. The topography is classic gravel pit, featuring a complex underwater landscape of gravel bars, plateaus, deep silty channels, and shallow, weedy bays. Depths fluctuate significantly, from as little as 2-3 feet in the margins and on top of the bars to over 14 feet in the deeper central areas, with an average depth of around 8-10 feet. This variation provides a multitude of angling situations, from close-in margin stalking to extreme-range casting.