Somehow it's Christmas Day. Without the input of my wife Christmas would have almost passed me by. It's been a difficult year for fishing, with house renovations taking over! We've been that busy renovating the house I've barely managed to get out onto the bank. For those occasions I have, flooding has been a constant companion. I've had little time for writing, so we're once again playing catch-up to get onto the front foot for the new year!
My season began on the opening weekend; and like every other river angler in the UK, one eye was on the weather forecast and another on the levels. For many of us, the opening weekend was a complete washout. I know some found success despite conditions, whilst others gave up completely. For my part I decided to give it a go. I'd originally planned to head for the Wye, but these hopes were quickly dashed by the levels. Plan B was the Teme, which was even worse. Plan C, the Avon was not much better and also completely unfamiliar to me. Plan D, The Severn was just about as high as I can ever recall. Plan E then... the Salwarpe.
This little fished River has always intrigued me. Confluencing with the Severn, it's known to throw up occasional barbel, particularly in flood. The river record is less than 8lb, or at least it was, which certainly feels achievable with floodwater conditions pushing lower-Severn fish into it's sheltered backwaters.
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| Somewhere over there... |
On arriving at Hawford Bridge, the Salwarpe was outside of it's banks and half way across the field. A walk along the towpath quickly confirmed I was getting nowhere near fishable water. The usual river channel was beyond a tree line... beyond a field... beyond a gate... beyond a fence... beyond a footpath (you get the idea).
Plan F (or back to Plan D, if you're keeping up). The Severn at Holt Heath. The weir was clearly going to be a no-go, but the water upstream is dead slow and fishable with a 3 oz feeder even in flood conditions. It also had the bonus of being just down the road...
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| No through road... |
... Unfortunately that road ran out before I got anywhere near access to the lock island. Plan G. Northwood.
Northwood has always been kind to me, and I know it like the back of my hand. I'd never found it unfishable and there was slack water right against the near bank. Access is from a long way uphill, so at least I'd be able to get to the river.
After a 30 minute drive I arrived in the car park, not unsurprised to see it empty. Unloading my gear, I made it down the slippery slope without incident and found the river towpath visible. The field had already started to flood but a short walk around got me to the river.
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| Made it to the river - but still a long way to the swim! |
I gave it fifteen minutes. Long enough to decide I had little chance of finding a fish, even less chance of landing one and somewhat concerned that the river had begun to creep round behind me into the dip in the field. Not wanting to be marooned, I moved to try another couple of swims that felt fishable upstream. In both I quickly lost tackle on two rods.
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| A nice looking slack - hiding a couple of metres of near bank snags! |
Sometimes you just have to admit when enough is enough, when no amount of optimism and perseverance will make it happen; and so I called it a day. On my route back to the car I disturbed a fish within the flooded section of the field, an ominous sign. I wondered how many other fish would be stranded by the time the waters receded. It's fair to say it hadn't been the glorious 16th I was hoping for. Still, there was plenty of season ahead to aim at!
June 22nd - Revisiting Northwood
As levels began to fall back, I headed back to Northwood for a short evening session. The banks were treacherous and slippery, but infinitely more accessible. The river looked perhaps a little more colored than I would have liked, but I felt more confident.
The fish didn't come on until dusk, but I managed to a couple of chub and a small barbel as soon as the colour started to fade from the trees. It was nice to be off the mark early in the season! You'll have to excuse the quality of the pictures, the state of the banks didn't allow anything other than a quick photo in the net by the waters edge!
June 22nd - Revisiting Northwood
As levels began to fall back, I headed back to Northwood for a short evening session. The banks were treacherous and slippery, but infinitely more accessible. The river looked perhaps a little more colored than I would have liked, but I felt more confident.
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| That's better... |
