VENUE INSIDER

ANGLING TIMES NEWS REPORTER CHRIS HAYDON SAYS:

Tactics: “My main tactic on this stretch is to bring minimal kit and travel light.

“The swims are relatively narrow and shallow – which means fish can be quite spooky. I set up one rod for light legering and another for running a stick float through.” Bait: “You can’t beat bread at this time of year.

“If the water is carrying a bit of colour I also carry some cheesepaste. For the roach and other silvers I bring a decent quantity of maggots, hemp and casters.” Tackle: “The tackle I use is a standard 12ft waggler rod and a Korum XS Multi Quiver rod of the same length. On this occasion the flow meant I could get away with a 1oz tip for legering bread.

“If I were targeting the river in coloured water conditions an Avon tip would be far more sensible, owing to the snaggy nature of the river and the presence of barbel.

“I use a 6lb Drennan Series 7 mainline combined with a lighter Supplex hooklength of 4lb. On the float I find the Drennan Silverfish Maggot hooks to nylon in size 16 are perfect for the job.

“On the tip, however, I up this hook size to a Super Specialist size 8.”