In the wilds of Cumbria, on the Eastern edge of the English Lake District, sits Haweswater. Originally a natural lake, damming construction began at Haweswater in 1929 after the Government passed an Act allowing the work to take place in order that a water supply for Manchester be established. Despite significant opposition, work was completed …
Tucked into the north Devon coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel is the small village of Clovelly. Though no longer supported by the fishing upon which it became established, Clovelly is a magnet for tourists, drawn by the steep cobbled streets and chocolate box cottages. Clovelly is privately owned, and the houses, many of them wattle …
The rivers of Cornwall have long had an association with the Atlantic salmon. Spate rivers such as the Taw, Torridge and Camel have drawn anglers from all over the country, and despite the decline on salmon numbers, produce good fish every season. In south-east Cornwall another salmon river flows unnoticed by many. The Tiddy is …
A city steeped in naval history, more than a quarter of a million people live in and around Plymouth. Situated between the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar, Plymouth has an enduring association with the Sea. This is from where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America in 1620, where many global trade links …
Fishpool doesn’t like to speculate upon the whereabouts of other anglers’ oases. After all, there is nothing worse than when one’s own slice of nirvana or secret swim is suddenly fished to a foam by others and ruined forever… However, when reading the blogs of North West Fisherman (aka Vincent Coulson), Fishpool couldn’t help but …
Fishpool popped into the local library last week – a couple of books to pick up and a wallet-crippling fine of 60p to pay. There was a kids’ club event going on, with toddlers singing and celebrating, while the lazy chairs were filled with pensioners perusing the daily papers. It was busy. And that, sadly, …
Nestled into the rolling hills of West Devon, near the village of Beaworthy, is one of the most popular man-made fisheries in the country. The vision of Zyg Gregorek Anglers’s Paradise began life in 1981 as a single, empty and neglected lake. The site now covers more than 250 acres, with a variety of lodges …
At 100miles, the Nene is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom – not bad for a stream that many cannot even pronounce. Though its etymology is uncertain (Celtic roots seem to be most likely) the river was, until the start of the 20th Century, spelt either Nyn or Nenn, and it is the …
A couple of miles to the south east of the market town of Stalham lies Hickling Broad. Covering some 400 acres of open water, Hickling is the largest of Norfolk’s Broads. A further 1200 acres of reeds make it the largest single area of reed bed in Britain and it is unsurprisingly a haven for …
Being landlocked, Wiltshire gets a bit of a raw deal when it comes to river names. The ‘Hampshire’ Avon spends far more time in Wiltshire than Hampshire, while the Bristol Avon also loiters for a good deal within the county. Wiltshire also gives the Blackwater to Hampshire and the Kennet to Berkshire, but one river …
The Derbyshire and Staffordshire Dove flows for 45 miles from its source at Dove Head, in the moors of the Peak District, to the village of Newton Solney (definitely not to be confused with Newton Tony (see People we Like)) where it meets the River Trent. It was on the Dove where Izaak Walton and …
Just as there are plenty of farms across Britain that are prefixed by ‘Mill’, so there are a good few fisheries sharing the same name. This particular ‘Mill Farm’ is near the village of Bury, a few miles to the south of Pulborough. Though many anglers may visit this part of Sussex to fish the …
As a child, Fishpool used to regularly visit the Dorset town of Swanage, where many relations still reside. In the summer, the town was abuzz. The bay was always full of sails, the beach a mass of splashing children and sun-bathing parents. In the evening, the lights of the pier would shimmer in the waves …
Flowing for forty miles through Powys and Shropshire before meeting the Severn at Melverley, the Vrynwy is a river popular with walkers, kayakers and, of course, anglers. In the 1880’s a stone dam was built in order to create a reservoir from the clutch of streams that formed the headwaters of the Vrynwy. The resulting …
The very best pools are those with a touch of mystery about them. Pieces of water that are tucked deep within the folds of the landscape – with no passing traffic and no paths to bring dog walkers or walkers. Instead, they are shrouded by trees and bulge with enigmatic possibility – and no-one knows …
Fishpool was struck with indignation recently when asked his or her opinion as to which is the world’s greatest batholith. Having rolled my eyes, I snorted my answer – it is the Cornubian, obviously, how could it be any other? Some 300 million years ago a vast granite intrusion formed in the area that is …
If we ignore the coastline paradox (which isn’t easy because Fishpool does enjoy pondering a paradox), then Norway has the seventh longest coastline of all the countries in the world – only a smidgeon shorter than that of Australia. And if more than 16,000 miles of coast wasn’t enough for the angler, Norway’s rivers also …
Aaahhhh – all together now! – ‘Zambezi, Zambezi, Zambezi, Zam, I’m on me way,’ – who could forget such timeless lyrics? Written by Nico Carstons and covered by a host of artists such as Acker Bilk, Chet Atkins and (most memorably for Fishpool, at least) The Piranhas, ‘Zambezi’ must be one of the most infuriatingly catchy …
Rising on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, not far from Luton, is one of the most famous angling rivers in the world. Many anglers have set foot on the banks of the Lea, many inspired, in part at least, by the writings of Izaak Walton – who cast here himself back in the 17th …
In the south-east corner of Scotland, some fifteen miles north of Berwick upon Tweed, is the rocky promontory of St Abb’s Head. Located beside the village from where it takes its name, this is a spot revered for its beauty, wildlife and fishing. The Head itself is a National Nature Reserve – designated in part …
Walk a well-fished stretch of river and the popular swims are soon evident. Bare, muddy banks along with a noticeable lack of marginal vegetation. It is rare that the water itself will not hold a clue or two, while the proximity of the car park is also a factor, but generally, anglers are happier retreading …
On the southern curve of Torbay in Devon sits the fishing town of Brixham. Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 there is evidence to suggest that a settlement existed here many centuries earlier. Its situation, being protected from the prevailing south westerly winds, made it an ideal spot for a harbour, and while Brixham …
Rising near the village of Evershot in the Dorset Downs, the Frome flows for thirty miles before emptying into Poole harbour below Wareham. A chalkstream, the Frome is rich in invertebrate life and supports a large population of brown trout, along with a migrant population of sea trout and salmon. For many years, the fish …
I once found myself in Brecon, deep within the Mountains of South Wales, when I got knocked of my feet by the most perfectly intense smell. It was a warm, autumn day and I was on an urgent search for supplies when I passed the doorway of an otherwise non-descript shop. Wham! The glorious must …
It could be argued that the Wye currently offers better fishing than any other river in the British Isles. Measuring 134 miles, the Wye is the fifth longest river in the UK, and flows from its source at Plynlimon, high in the Cambrian Mountains, through towns such as Builth Wells, Rhayader, Ross, Hay and Monnow …
Formed in the 1940’s and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in 1953, Blithfield Reservoir covers nearly 800 acres and nestles neatly into the Staffordshire landscape. It was built as a source of freshwater, but also offers opportunities for anglers, walkers and birders. Some of the shoreline and surrounding woodland are only accessible …
The etymology of our rivers is a fascinating subject. The names of many of our waterways recur across the country, and the ‘Ouse’ is no exception. There is the Great Ouse (see Bits and Pieces Issue 26) of course, alongside rivers suffixed by Sussex, Little and this Issue’s focus, the Yorkshire Ouse. This particular stream …
Measuring over 38 miles from east to west, the Humber Estuary is the second largest coastal plain estuary in the United Kingdom (After the Severn Estuary). Around 20% of England’s landmass drains into the North Sea through the estuary, via rivers such as the Trent (see Bits and Pieces Issue 16) and the Yorkshire Ouse …
There is an awful lot of tripe and waffle on the internet, but every now and again we stumble our way into a quiet, dignified little corner. Sadly, Fishpool will never know the joy of discovering Bits and Pieces for the first time, but he or she does have a special place or two to …
Many people suggest that the popularity if Commercial Fisheries – waters carefully managed and stocked specifically for angling – is a sad reflection of our modern Society. We are impatient, and have gotten too used to convenience. We don’t want to work hard and wait – to be forced to creep through dense undergrowth or …
Rising on the Woolley Moors near Bradworthy (not far from the source of the River Tamar), the River Torridge spends much of the first half of its existence flowing east. Then, having picked up a handful of tributaries including the Rivers Lew and Okement, the Torridge veers north, cutting a path deep into the bedrock …
Tucked away on the south-east coast of Cornwall, straddling the estuary of the river with which it shares a name, is the picturesque town of Looe. A derivation of the Cornish word Logh – meaning deep water inlet – Looe is renowned for the quality of its fish and the boisterousness of its New Year’s …
The Grand Union really is the daddy of Britain’s canal network. Created to link London and Birmingham, its main body measures 137 miles and it has various arms linking it to towns that it does not visit for itself. As its name suggests, the Grand Union was not built as a single body but instead …
Anyone who watched (or read) Charles Rangeley-Wilson’s The Accidental Angler may have been inspired to look for fish in places where they really shouldn’t be. As Rangeley-Wilson demonstrated, even in a City such as London, there are small streams and waterways tucked and tidied away in spots where we simply walk past without knowing their …
Rising at Syresham, in Northamptonshire, and flowing for 143 miles before entering the sea at Kings Lynn on The Wash, the Great Ouse is the fourth longest river in the United Kingdom. The upper reaches are narrow and twisting and despite the lack of size, home to some monster fish. Though not present in the …
Hampshire is renowned for its chalk-streams and one of the finest, and most famous, is the Itchen. Rising near the village of Cheriton (scene of a battle in the Civil War) the river skirts the market town of Alresford where it is fed by tributaries the Arle and the Candover Stream, before heading west to …
For many years South Africa was regarded as one of the premier spots in the world for shark fishing, with anglers coming from across the globe, many hoping to hook a great white shark. As the great white became increasingly threatened throughout its range, many countries, South Africa included, banned the fishing for them. This …
Way back in Issue 13 of Bits and Pieces, Fishpool sang the praises of the Royalty Fishery – but there is more to the Hampshire Avon than those hallowed banks. The river around Ringwood is renowned for barbel and chub, while a little further upstream, at Ibsley, huge roach used to ghost across the gravel …
In 1752, the buildings that made up Milton Abbey came into the possession of the Damer family, who had great visions for this part of North Dorset. Joseph Damer, (head of the family and 1st Earl of Dorchester) rebuilt much of the Abbey but still wasn’t content. He disliked the view, especially the small market …
Fishpool once spent a rather pleasant afternoon in Taunton, tucking into the scrumpy from the bars of the County Ground as I enjoyed a complimentary ticket to the cricket. The only thing lacking was the presence of a seriously destructive batsman. This was long before Chris Gayle’s fireworks and the days of Viv Richards and …
Aaahhh, the wonderful Lake District. Inspiration to authors such as Arthur Ransome and poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. It was also home to Beatrix Potter, whose former cottage is now a museum close to Esthwaite Water. Esthwaite is one of the smaller lakes of the Lake District – though at 280 acres size is relative. …
In North-west England, overlooked by the Cumbrian Fells to the north, and sandwiched between the towns of Barrow in Furness to the west and Lancaster and Morecambe to the east, is the largest expanse of inter-tidal mudflats in Britain. Morecambe Bay covers more than 120 square miles and is world renowned for its cockle beds …
Rising close to the village of Whissonsett, in north central Norfolk, the River Wensum is a river with a fine angling pedigree and a diverse cross section of wildlife. A nationally important chalk water habitat, the Wensum is home to more than 100 plant species and was designated a Special Area of Conservation in 2001. …
Ahhhh – 1998… Beckham’s red card – that goal by Michael Owen – B*Witched and Boyzone dominating the singles charts….and some floppy haired bloke moved to a cottage beside a river. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall tends to divide opinion, but his efforts to publicise sustainable fishing should be applauded. His ‘move’ to River Cottage, a small-holding on …
Rising in Germany’s Black Forest, the Danube is one of the world’s great rivers. At 1,189 miles it is Europe’s second longest to the Volga, and flows through ten countries before emptying into the Black Sea. Once the long standing frontier of the Roman Empire, the Danube flows through four modern day Capital Cities – …
Dating back to the early 10th Century, the south Devon town of Totnes is a noted centre for the arts – a Market Town with a modern day, Bohemian feel. It sits at the top of the tidal reaches of the Dart, the river that flows from deep within the Moor which takes its name. …
Eight miles north of Newport, and neatly situated between the towns of Pontypool, Cwmbran and Usk, the reservoir of Llandegfedd is a popular location for birdwatching, water sports and, of course, angling. The reservoir was opened in 1965 and covers 434 acres. Stocked with rainbow and brown trout, Llandegfedd offers superb fly fishing, with fish …
Oh, ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road, And I’ll be in Scotland afore ye; But me and my true love will never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond. The mighty Loch Lomond. In area, the largest piece of freshwater in Great Britain, with depths of over …
An urban chalk stream? In South London? No fooling? It’s true, and the River Wandle isn’t alone, though it probably offers anglers the greatest variety of fishing. Fed by water cleansed by the chalk aquifers of the North Downs, the Wandle first shows itself in Croydon, before slipping its way through Merton and Sutton and …
At the north end of Lough Ree, on the River Shannon system, sits the small town of Lanesborough. The river actually splits the town in two so the western side is in Connacht and the east Leinster. Dominating the landscape is the Power Station, and it is here, or at least, just downstream from here, …
Anyone looking for a holiday destination, steeped in angling history, might do worse than spending a week at Miss Ballantine’s Cottage on the banks of the River Tay (see Places we Like). For anyone who may not know (in which case you have a very short attention span or are reading ‘Bits and Pieces’ in …
From a small lochan on the sloped of Ben Lui, a Munroe peak in the southern Highlands, flows one of the most famous salmon rivers in the world. The River Tay is the longest river found wholly in Scotland and flows for nearly 120 miles from west to east before meeting the North Sea. The …
Way up in the northeast of Scotland flows the River Deveron. Rising in the Ladder Hills on the edge of the Grampian Mountain range, the Deveron flows unnoticed to many, overshadowed in some eyes by the nearby Spey. Yet the Deveron has a history to match any river in Scotland, particularly when it comes to …
Every winter, anglers flock to the east coast of Devon with a packet of worm, a bucket of peelers and a pocketful of beads. The quarry is flounder, and the location is the estuary of the River Teign—one of the finest marks for specimen flounder in the British Isles. The Teign is a classic Devonian …
The Mighty Trent – it is an apt moniker. The Trent is the UK’s third longest river and drains a vast area of central England. From its source at Biddulph Moor in Staffordshire, the river works its way north-east, picking up tributaries such as the Derbyshire Derwent, Dove, Idle, Mease and Soar, before emptying into …
Deep in the folds of southwest Herefordshire, just a few miles from the Welsh border, sits the most famous pond of them all. The waters of Bernithan Court, or Redmire Pool as it is more widely known, swirl through the dreams of every carp angler. It was here that Donald Leney (see People we Like) …
On the coast of Scotland, to the north west of Oban, between the mainland and the Isle of Mull, lies the Sound of Mull. This is a narrow, deep stretch of water, with strong tides and a wealth of marine life, making it popular with divers, naturalists and anglers. The fishermen mainly come here for …
Hampshire is renowned throughout the world for its chalkstreams. Fly anglers travel miles and pay extraordinary amounts of money to cast for the trout and salmon of the Test and Itchen, but to some, the real treasure flows a few miles further east. The River Meon is a little over twenty miles long and meanders …
In the Berkshire village of Aldermaston, is one the most well known day ticket river venues in the country. The Old Mill offers anglers the chance to fish the River Kennet, and it is likely that more people have caught their first ever barbel (see Fish we Like) here than anywhere else. There is a …
At the end of a terrace in the small market town of Usk, upon the river of the same name, sits the most extraordinary fishing tackle shop in Britain. Sweets Fishing Tackle has been trading on Porthycarne Street for nearly a century, and little has changed in that time. Originally founded by Harry Powell, inventor …
In north Ceredigion, in the Cambrian Mountains, lie a series of glacially carved ponds. Known as the Teifi Pools, these provide the source for the longest river to be found wholly in Wales. Afon Teifi is 76 miles from source to sea and is oft regarded as one of the most beautiful river courses in …
The Hampshire Avon slips through some of the most stunning and historic land in the country. Sprung from the chalk aquifers of Salisbury Plain, the upper river sparkles through archaeological heaven. Stonehenge, Woodhenge, the ancient metropolis of Durrington Walls, then, of course, through Salisbury whereafter it is alternatively named. Having watered Ringwood and skirted the …
A place of refuge needn’t always be real. Much as we dream and find peace within our subconscious, so there are those special spots that exist symbolically yet where we are never alone. Fennel’s Priory (www.fennelspriory.com) is a ‘quiet place for those seeking to escape the pressures of modern living. It’s where time moves slowly …
In an era of Commercial Fisheries, there are one or two places that break the mould of a typical ‘hole-in-the-ground’. One such fishery is Old Bury Hill, near Dorking in Surrey, where the Old lake is one of the most stunning day ticket waters in the country. Created 200 years ago , the main lake …
Rising at Thames Head, near the Cotswold village of Kemble, the Thames meanders across southern England for 215 miles, providing anglers with an array of angling opportunity. Some of our most revered anglers have cut their teeth on the Thames (such as Peter Stone – People we Like) and every season some extraordinary fish are …
For those of us uninspired by local ‘commercial’ fisheries, there is a lake in Wales that is as far removed from a typical day ticket water than could be considered possible. Currently run by the Wye and Usk Foundation, Pant y Llyn is a weed choked, 8 acre lake, 1400 feet above sea level in …
Deep in the wetlands of Somerset sits fourteen acres of angling paradise. Since 2006, Ashmead Fishery has been under the ownership of Mark and Shona Walsingham (see People we Like) – a poignant homecoming for Mark who had fished the lake since childhood. The site has been developed to embrace the stunning habitat that surrounds …
Some 80 miles north-west of Glasgow sits Scotland’s longest freshwater loch. Awe is aptly named – the scenery here, though perhaps not as dramatic as in the Great Glen, remains jaw-droppingly beautiful. And the fishing, though popular, is largely untapped. Loch Awe is twenty five miles long, and holds a good head of trout, perch, …
Anyone trundling west along the A303 will have seen the signs for The Hawk Conservancy Trust. A few miles west of Andover, the Trust is now over 50 years old, and also supports the National Bird of Prey Hospital. The daily flying displays have to be seen to be believed, and the Trust’s support and …
They may not have been the best of historical friends, but even when disagreeing about the colour of a rose, the folk of Lancashire and Yorkshire had to share the River Ribble. Rising in the Yorkshire Dales, the Ribble is the only river sourced in Yorkshire that does not empty into the North Sea. Instead …
Never drink sea water. This is the first rule of survival when shipwrecked or cast adrift. Unless, that is, you happen to be in the Baltic. Here, the salinity level here is so low that it can actually rehydrate. And though it might not taste too pleasant, it must be a reassurance to those living …
Anyone watching BBC4’s recent Slow TV season may have spent two very pleasant hours floating along the Kennet and Avon Canal. With a fixed camera and shot in real time, All Aboard! The Canal Trip was engrossing, and yet also a little infuriating. We anglers wanted to stop here and there and have a quick …
Probably the most famous trout stream in the world, the Test is also surely the most exclusive. From its source in Ashe, just east of Overton, the Test curves a forty mile route through Hampshire, sparkling across the chalk and gravel. The natural stock of brown trout, salmon and sea trout are supplemented by reared …
Having spent an afternoon fishing a mayfly hatch in the River Test, with hobbies diving around your ears, the only decent thing to do is find a riverside pub. The Mayfly, at Fullerton tends to get busy, especially on a sunny weekend, but with good reason. The location is dreamy. The inside of the pub …
Few rivers conjure imagery to match the Tweed. This is one of the foremost salmon rivers in the world and lays claim to the fact that it produces more fly-caught salmon than any other British river. For 19 miles the Tweed actually forms the boundary between Scotland and England, and made a useful barrier against …
No, not the pub, but the other place where you pick up a pint. Most Tackle Shops are facing an uncertain future. Margins are tight with online shops and auction sites squeezing them ever tighter. There is nothing quite like a decent local though. A smile as you walk in, a boiling kettle, and a …
Back in the 70’s and 80’s the River Shannon didn’t hold any water. Instead, it consisted only of bream – great bronze shoals from bank to bank. So many that ‘You can walk across their backs!’ It may not be the fishery it once was, but the Shannon remains a life source in a sea …
It is, technically, a place. And if it were included in the ‘Things we like’ section then it might be confused with the Redtop of the same name. For the last couple of weeks the Sun has warmed us wonderfully (with an apology to those in the far north). Yes, we do need a shower …
Multum in Parvo is the motto of Rutland – England’s smallest county – ‘Much in Little’. It is most apt. There is a distinct identity within the gentle rolls of Rutland fields, where woodland creases belie the true lack of expanse. Then, there in the centre, lies more than 4 square miles of watery fun. …
Fed by the Dee, the Llangollen Canal has a steady flow, particularly in its upper reaches. In fact, as you approach Llangollen itself, dace are the most plentiful fish and best caught on a stick float. Crossing the border into England, the canal offers some stunning ruffe fishing – with specimens of several ounces possible. …
She is a fickle stream. Bursting her banks in a muddy rage only to settle and clear as you sit and watch. Sometimes the fishing is absurd – a bite a cast as she smiles and glistens. Then, two days later, her mood has changed and she snags your hook in weed and sends your …
Declared a Royal Forest by William I around 935 years ago, the New Forest is now a National Park and amid the clutter of south of England is a sea of beauty. Many anglers only see the Forest as a blur through a car window, there is little fishing to be had but with rivers …
Whatever the weather and whatever the time of year, step into a pine forest and there is a strange sense of eerie calm. Soft and cool on a summer’s day the blanket of dead needles make a comfortable, dry seat in a winter storm. Find a young, dense plantation and it is downright cosy. Then …
Arguments continue regarding the creation of Chesil Beach, but fishermen don’t worry themselves with such trivia. This is one of the top marks on the south coast and is particularly noted for its trigger fish. In early summer the mackerel are the biggest draw, with shoal after shoal crashing into the shingle when the whitebait …
The Lady of the South has not been at her best in recent years. Over-extraction, boat traffic on the adjacent K&A canal and the march of signal crayfish are all potential causes, but ultimately the Kennet is a poorly river. Gone are the beds of ranunculus, clouds of insects and shoals of silver fish. Yes, …
At the head of Loch Scridain on the Hebridean island of Mull, sits a little body of water called Loch Beg. There are fish here, enough to keep the otters fed, but this is no place to angle. Instead, grab an ice-cream from the Post Office, take a seat on the grass and enjoy the …
The home of Adnams beer, there is a sweet smell of brewing throughout the village, which blends in with the salt air and the waft of fish and chips. As well as a fine pier, from which you can fish, the beach offers the angler the chance of cod, whiting, sole, dab, smooth hound and bass. No …
The Ravensbourne rises in Keston, South East London, and flows for 11 miles through the boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich, before joining the Thames. It is a mixture of urban regeneration and urban control, with areas bound in concrete sitting next to others that are as wild as any river in the countryside. It …
The Diver is a small farm pond, hidden deep in the apple orchards of Kent. It is a tiny, seemingly insignificant bowl of water, with a ring of lilies around its deep centre. It is also full of small carp, rudd and roach, and a great little water to afflict a young child with their …
The river Deel flows past the house in which I grew up. It derives its source from Lough Lene, Lough Bane and the Ben Loughs and then flows for 22 miles through Co. Westmeath and into the river Boyne in Co. Meath, at what was a childhood mecca known as “The Point”. The river spends most of its …
A picturesque town under the watchful gaze of a Norman castle, with a separate old port (Parog) that used to take lime and slate all around the world. The river Nevern leaves the land through these gates, but not before curling around a large inlet and under a rocky coastline on one side, with a beautiful beach …
