What's New?
Click on the links below to go to the latest additions to the site.
14-04-2023: the poor (or worse) conditions on our river fisheries are likely to persist for the next week, despite the improving weather. Since most of them are spring-fed, it takes a long time for their levels to drop after the rain stops, and a number of them have been into the fields which colours them up and makes access difficult. In particular, you should not attempt to visit Dudgrove for at least the next week as the access track is impassable and the river here tends to overtop its banks (and is doing so currently). Most of the other waters should become fishable after the weekend but take particular care (or avoid) accessing parking spaces where this involves driving over a grassy track as this is likely to be boggy and the farmer’s patience for pulling people out is limited (despite the vicarious satisfaction it can provide!). I mentioned Whelford and Sherborne in this context in a previous update but Southrop and the lower Leach also come to mind.
The government web page Find river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels - GOV.UK (check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk) can be useful. If you type in Bibury, or Witney, or Hungerford in the search box you can access information on the current river level close to a number of our waters and also see from the graph how this is likely to develop over the next few days. The information is most useful if you have experience of seeing the water in question whilst knowing the level given. For example, the Coln at Bibury is currently showing 0.34 metres which means that it will be in the fields at Coln St. Aldwyns and impossibly fast at Whelford. Without this experience you can look at the “normal range” for the water by clicking the link called “View technical information for….”. For example you would see that the bottom of the normal range at Bibury is 0.08m and the top 0.4m. As a very crude rule of thumb for the limestone rivers you would find them fishable if they are up to 20 cm above this bottom level and have had a couple of days to clear after any recent heavy rain. At the top of the normal range the river will be topping the banks in places.
04-04-2023: Dudgrove field, access over the sleeper bridge to the fishing hut and car park, is completely water-logged and no attempt should be made to drive to the hut until the ground has drained. You will get stuck, 4 wheel-drive or no and damage the grass and soil structure. River levels are very high and it is recommended that members wait until the Easter weekend to commence fishing, wading will be impossible or very dangerous, water-logged banks / tracks will be damaged.
31-03-2023: Rain is causing problems with some parking, including Sherborne track - SUV and 4WD only. Park at the free Watermeadows Car Park (GL54 3DL) which is 100 yards down the road towards Sherborne.
Whelford can become waterlogged, please park past the entrance gate to the left over the bridge but ensure you do not block access to agricultural vehicles.
A new MAPS link page has been created to help members, particularly new members, find our fishing. A programme of updates is in hand to further improve clarity of the information provided. This page in under construction and currently features the Windrush updated maps for the upper and lower beats and Asthall.
22-03-2023: The pre-rivers newsletter has been circulated, a new guide to our waters published and a new summary of the fishing by bank bookable status, visitors, wading, access days etc.
25-01-2023: Grayling Returns are due, please visit the Returns page to find the form and submission details
24-01-2023: Rivers and Wetlands Conference, free entry, 13th March 2023, Shipton under Wynchwood
27-09-22: Ensure your invitation to rejoin the club next year by filling in your catch return
If you are a MAC user please export your 'numbers' sheet in Excel format prior to emailing it to Tony
27-09-22: End of River Trout Season Newsletter - DOCX version and PDF version
09-09-22: Salford Lakes - Fishing reopened to CFF members, Monday 12th September
08-08-22: Salford Lakes - Fishing suspended due to high water temperatures
25-07-22: Broken links - There has been a change in the way in which Internet infrastructure supports page names . This has resulted in a number of broken links on this web site which I am fixing. This may take a few days due to personal commitments (daughter's wedding!) so please bear with me
25-07-22: Bibury Court - The estate has added a combination lock on the road gate to the track that leads down to the parking area. The combination will be supplied with the info sheet you receive on booking.
If you have any questions about this, please direct them to Mark Purvis via email or direct message.
25-07-22: Message from Salford Trout Lakes:
High water temperatures are putting fish in the Lower Lake under stress and we are advising this lake is
Message from Salford Trout Lakes:
High water temperatures are putting fish in the Lower Lake under stress and we are advising this lake is not fished for the next few weeks.
The Top Lake is faring better although water temperatures are high but remains open to members to decide if they fish. We suggest any fish caught are killed rather than releasing them.
These conditions are not unusual at this time of the year and a period of either wet weather or dull windy conditions should help reduce water temperatures by early/mid September.
fished for the next few weeks.
The Top Lake is faring better although water temperatures are high but remains open to members to decide if they fish. We suggest any fish caught are killed rather than releasing them.
These conditions are not unusual at this time of the year and a period of either wet weather or dull windy conditions should help reduce water temperatures by early/mid September.
05-04-22: pre-rivers Newsletter updated, catch return form broken link repaired, new pictures for Bibury Court added
31-03-22: pre-rivers Newsletter added, bookings page updated
21-02-22: Fishing for Rivers a talk by Tony Bostock at Kemerton Village Hall nr. Tewkesbury, Tuesday, 2nd March, 7pm
21-02-22: Barbless Trout Flies 10% discount offered using the code in the members area from
21-02-22: Grayling Return Form is due for completion and return to Tony Bostock
19-02-22: River Test salmon fishing introduced, a new bookable fishery for the club
04-02-22: membership booklet, car sticker and badges have been posted
12-01-22: Detailed overview of fishing, banks, rods, booking requirements added to the site
29-11-21: AGM minutes added to the site
30-09-21: Pike on a Fly dates for Barton Court announced, £60/day, contact office@bartoncourtestate.com 01488 658323
29-09-21: Catch Returns due (form here) and End of River Trout Season newsletter published (link here)
29-09-21: AGM date confirmed as 15th November, Witney Lakes, 18:45 for 19:30
15-05-21: Professional Fly Fishing Instructors and CFF members Andy Grey and Mark Tickner will be running a River Skills Fishing Workshop at Widford on Sunday 6th June
11-05-21: Best practice for handling fish for photographs published here, Wild Trout Trust copyright acknowledged
10-05-21: Pre-Mayfly Newsletter published here
13-04-21: CFF Approved guides/coaches contact details added here
13-04-21: Orvis discount scheme, Burford, discontinued
09-04-21: WORK COMPLETED - the bridge on the B4022 over the railway at Finstock is closed until April 19th. This means that if you normally approach from the Stonesfield or Charlbury directions you will need to find another route. Also were you to be approaching from the west you will see "road closed" notices which you can ignore. Also, please note, the combination at Cornbury is for the right hand gate as you approach from the car park.
16-03-21: Introducing the new Excel spreadsheet with a summary view of our fishing, dates, rod limits, guest status and extent of fishing and species. Back to Home Page
15-03-21: We are taking bookings for our bookable waters including the Kennet, Coln and ECT waters. Back to Home Page.
01-03-21: Cornbury open, please refer to 'keep local' guidance and new overflow parking guide. Back to Home Page.
04-02-21: Bookings for our date limited fisheries have been suspended by the committee until we have a clearer view on access and availability. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during these uncertain times. Back to Home Page.
07-01-21: Link to updated Angling Trust statement posted on the Home Page.
06-01-21: Link to Angling Trust statement posted on the Home Page.
18-11-20: Winter grayling day ticket booking email address added to the River Coln at Williamstrip page.
18-11-20: Club Constitution page updated.
18-11-20: About Us page updated.
18-11-20: Committee page further updated.
17-11-20: Committee page updated.
30-10-20: 2020 Accounts added to the Accounts page.
28-09-20: Grayling fishing guidance, Autumn 2020 added to the Newsletters page.
28-09-20: 2020 Autumn Newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
21-08-20: August 2020 Cornbury Park newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
12-08-20: New access details added to the Cornbury Park Lakes page. The old map has been removed, pending receipt of an updated map.
01-08-20: Details of bookable beat added to the River Coln at Willimstrip page (apologies for not uploading
this sooner - an oversight).
27-07-20: July Update Newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
20-06-20: A number of images on the Newsletter pages repaired.
20-06-20: 2020 Mid-Season Newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
08-06-20: New pictures of the River Kennet at Barton Court added.
27-05-20: Banner Image repaired on the River Churn Sub-menu Page.
21-05-20: New pictures of the River Churn at Siddington added.
20-05-20: New pictures of the River Coln at Dudgrove Farm added.
20-05-20: New pictures of the River Glyme added.
20-05-20: New pictures of the River Churn at Siddington added.
20-05-20: New pictures of the River Kennet Denford Fishery added.
15-05-20: Resumption of Fishing Guidelines Update added to the Newsletters page.
12-05-20: Resumption of Fishing Guidelines added to the Newsletters page
11-05-20: Resumption of Fishing newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
24-03-20: Club Statement about Coronovirus added to the Newsletters page.
20-03-20: River Kennet Sub-Menu page added.
20-03-20: River Kennet Barton Court Fishery page added.
20-03-20: Pre-River-Season newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
02-03-20: River Wye Salmon Fishery newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
14-02-20: 2019 Catch Full Members' and Cornbury Park Lakes Returns added to the Published Returns page.
10-02-20: River Wye at Byford page updated with summary of new restrictions and a summary of the bylaws.
10-02-20: River Wye Brobury beat removed (Fishery no longer available to members).
10-02-20: 2020 Pre-Season Newsletter added to the Newsletters page.
20-01-20: New Home Page image added.
16-03-2021: What's New Archive