Fishery of the week
We sample magical fishing on the Bristol Avon
ANGLING Times News Reporter Chris Haydon this week visits a stretch of Wiltshire’s River Avon, set in the magnificent surroundings of the National Trust’s Lacock Abbey.
the location is a popular haunt for historians and tourists who enjoy the abbey grounds, which stood in as hogwarts in two of the famous harry Potter films.
would the fishing be just as magical? let’s find out...
A ROVING WATER
“i arrived just before first light, parking at the red lion pub a short stroll away from the grounds of lacock abbey and the picturesque river avon.
“with the weather being cold the aim for the day was to rove the stretch in search of chub on both float and feeder.
“this stretch is perfectly suited to this style of fishing, and with the lack of any significant angling pressure most days you will have the stretch to yourself.”
LIGHT LEGERING
“my first swim for the day was on a sharp bend directly in front of the abbey, where a fallen tree had created a significant crease in the river before the flow increased over the rapids. Due to the uneven pace of the swim it was best approached on the tip.
“assembling a simple link-leger set-up with a ½oz lead, a small piece of bread was cast into the crease – which was hopefully home to some chub.
“no more than five minutes later, two hard bangs on the tip and abracadabra! a chub of around 3lb was in the net. this was followed by two more before bites in the swim dried up – typical of narrow rivers.”
ROACH ON THE WAND
“after a morning’s roving and a tally of eight chub banked, i decided to settle into a swim and fish the float. the swim was just below the rapids, not far from
the location of my first chub of the day.
“The water here was pacey before dropping into a deep hole and eddying back on itself.
“Steadily feeding maggots, I soon had roach falling under my spell, good ones of up to 12oz. These were soon joined by dace, bleak and smaller chub.
“The action continued this way with bites coming steadily till dark – fantastic winter sport.” LOCATION: Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2LG CONTACT: TK Tackle, 01249 812003 or Lacock Village Store, 01249 730305 PRICES: £7 per day (in advance from Tackle Shops or Lacock Village Store), Amalgamated Fisheries Ltd FACILITIES: Parking at the Red Lion pub, Lacock