Summer Holidays Fun: Fishing Lessons at Mill Meadow, Somerset

Whether you’re a complete beginner or a keen angler looking to fine-tune your skills, Mill Meadow offers a unique opportunity to all our guests to learn coarse fishing in a peaceful environment on our private lake, all free of charge! (Subject to availability) Guided by a local expert Martin who lives and breathes the sport.

Learn to Fish with our Instructor Martin

Meet Martin our visiting Fishing Coach

Meet Martin Baldock, our resident visiting fishing coach and long-time friend of Mill Meadow. A well-known local football referee and cricketer (just ask him about his 2,000 career wickets!), Martin is also a passionate and experienced fisherman with decades of knowledge he’s eager to share. Martin’s friendly nature, deep respect for fish welfare, and natural ability to teach make him the perfect guide for anyone hoping to enjoy a relaxing and educational fishing experience at Mill Meadow.

Over the years I have learned an immeasurable number of tips essential to the art of fishing and my passion now is to share information to ensure that the fish are well looked after. I have helped many young people to fish in an appropriate manner, looking after the fish at all times. Martin Baldock

What to Expect From Your Fishing Lesson

Martin offers personalised, one-on-one lessons for Mill Meadow guests of all experience levels. His sessions are calm, informal, and packed with practical advice.

You’ll learn:

• How to set up your rod, reel, line, and bait correctly

• Tying and using barbless hooks effectively

• Catch-and-release handling techniques

• Identifying fish species and understanding their behaviour

• Ethical and eco-friendly fishing practices

• Where and how to fish the Mill Meadow lake

He also enjoys chatting with seasoned anglers and exchanging new ideas, so experienced guests are welcome to book time with Martin for a skills refresh, new methods, or simply a great conversation about all things fishing.

Our Private Fishing Lake

Our private lake here at Mill Meadow offers an ideal environment for learning. It’s exclusive to guests, which means no crowds and no pressure, just the sound of the water, the wind in the reeds, and the thrill of your first bite. The lake is stocked with a healthy variety of coarse fish, including tench, perch, roach, rudd, and several impressive carp that provide a real challenge for those ready to take it on. There’s even a purpose-built accessible fishing platform, so guests with limited mobility can enjoy the experience just as fully.

You don’t need to bring your own fishing gear to take a lesson as rods and landing nets are available to hire on-site. Martin can also guide you through the process of getting a UK fishing licence, and he’s happy to offer your first session before you buy one, so you can see how you like it with no pressure.

Booking a lesson with Martin is easy. Once you’ve reserved your stay at Mill Meadow, just let the team know you’d like to arrange a session. Martin’s availability can vary, so early notice is encouraged, especially during school holidays and peak fishing season. Sessions are flexible and can be scheduled to suit your holiday, whether you prefer a quiet morning by the water or a relaxing evening cast at sunset.

Contact us to arrange your fishing lessons today!