2021 river work
Deputy River Secretary’s report
We approach a new river trout season with the rivers again full of water and the aquifers recharged. Flows are currently all above normal for the time of year, and in some cases notably high, in a repeat of the conditions of winter 2019/2020. This is great news for the season ahead of us and we can only hope that flows will remain strong through to the summer.
The current high water table will make fishing and accessing the river a challenge in the early weeks of April, especially on the Coln which is the slowest of our rivers to drop. Please take great care before attempting to take vehicles off road while the ground remains waterlogged. Be careful too when wading in the strong spring flows. Even the smallest of our streams have holes that are over chest-wader depth.
Winter work programme
During the winter the fisheries team has visited twelve different fisheries and committed 150 man days to the maintenance of our rivers. Photographs from most of the work parties are available on the club’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/713045315505625).
A lot of the team’s work is regular maintenance, trimming back the annual growth of bankside willows, alders, hawthorns and brambles, and clearing any trees that have come down through the winter. We do our best to balance the opening up of access for fishing with the enhancement of the habitat for wild trout and other wildlife.
Large logs can be recycled as flow deflectors to introduce in-stream features. This one is on the Ampney Brook and we hope it will create a nice new pool in what was a wide and shallow run.
On the Coln at Whelford, we protected the bank from erosion using stakes intertwined with willow. The brash from routine maintenance is used as backfill material. Over the winter this structure will trap silt and protect the bank. The woven willow structure will also be a great habitat for trout fry.
We have done a lot of work on this stretch during the winter and probably opened up an additional 33% of accessible fishing.
You will also find fishing access on our two stretches of the Leach significantly improved after three days’ work there.
The water quality on this stream is probably the highest of all our waters and wild trout stocks are very healthy.
At Abbotswood we spent a couple of days opening up the stretch of the Dikler upstream of Upper Swell mill pond. It remains a tricky bit of fishing but much more accessible than before and again water quality is excellent as the spring-fed stream rises from the aquifer less than a mile from the top of our water.
Our longest fishery is the Windrush at Sherborne and you will find that access has been greatly improved, especially in Birch Copse, following three days’ work. This water fished consistently well in 2020 with good catches of wild brown trout reported. Also on the Windrush, you will find that access has been significantly improved at Widford, downstream of the bridge.
Visitors to the ECT water on the Coln will now have access to some new water with the true right-hand bank now accessible upstream of Moss Bridge, which should please the right-handed casters. We were able to help keeper Jon Welch clear out some massive willows that had fallen into the river here.
Fishing rules
Please read the rule book carefully and pay close attention to instructions about parking and access. We do not own our waters and most are on short leases. We rely on the goodwill of our landlords for continued access so please be considerate at all times to anyone you meet on these private estates. Please also be considerate of other members; fishing pressure has been considerably higher during the pandemic but we have more than 30 miles of fishing available so there is plenty of room for all.
Remember too that there is a daily catch limit of eight trout, regardless of the size of fish caught, and once this limit has been reached you must stop fishing for the day. This is essential to avoid over-fishing on our precious wild trout fisheries.
It is also imperative that you keep accurate catch records and submit them in a timely fashion, both on the day where requested and at the end of the season. We are heavily reliant on the data from these returns to manage the fisheries. Please also feel free to contact any of the club’s officers if you have any questions about the club and its waters. We are always pleased to receive feedback, comments and suggestions on the fishing.
Pre-booked fishing
Our bookable fishing is, by its nature, limited in availability, especially on the Kennet. The club officers make every effort to ensure the fishing is shared equitably amongst members and that as many members as possible get the chance to access these premium fisheries at their preferred times. It is extremely helpful if you can offer alternative dates when requesting fishing and please be understanding if your preferences cannot be met. Don’t forget, the club has access to more than 30 miles of river fishing, all of which enjoy good mayfly hatches and healthy stocks of trout.
Thanks
I would like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution from all the fisheries team this winter. Conditions were incredibly challenging with high water from the end of October onwards, and flooded conditions either side of Christmas. In addition to the Assistant Fisheries Officers Graham Rutson, Bill Haine and Tony Bostock, I want to recognize the contributions from Andrew Fullerton, David Furniss, Duncan Young, Dave Whittles, Peter Doble and Robin Carr. I also have to thank Andy Killingbeck for his fantastic efforts week-in, week-out in leading the work parties, keeping us all safe and towing a few of us out of trouble.
Finally, a quick word of thanks to our former Rivers Secretary David Reinger who inspired and guided the fisheries team. His knowledge of the Cotswold rivers is without parallel and his enthusiasm and energy infects us all. He has proven a kind and understanding mentor to me as I try to learn the ropes of the River Secretary role. His are big, if somewhat leaky, waders to fill and I’m grateful to have his continued support and guidance as I attempt to do so.
Mark Purvis March 2021
