A TOP SEVERN TICKET WATER
Ship Inn stretch is scenic and fish-packed
WITH more and more middle sections of the River Severn being turned into members-only fisheries, choosing a day-ticket venue on ‘Barbel Alley’ gets increasingly difficult.
Thankfully, one place where you can still bag up on barbel and chub without paying a hefty yearly fee is the Ship Inn stretch at Highley in Shropshire.
Known as Burts, this wonderful water just south of the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth can be fished for little more than the price of a pint of beer.
When you arrive at the stretch you won’t believe it’s a day-ticket venue. Steep hills cloaked in rich woodland frame a classic gravel-bottomed waterway where shoals of fish can sometimes be spotted when the water runs low and clear in summer.
There are dozens of swims on this near-mile-long stretch, and each has its own character. There are shallow runs near the anglers’ car park where fish can be targeted on float tactics, as well as slow-moving deeper pegs, like those just downstream of the Ship Inn. These are better when there is more water on in the winter, although anglers have been taking fish from them this summer too.
With the stretch offering so much variety it means visiting anglers can fish whatever running water tactic they wish
“Steep hills cloaked in rich woodland frame a classic waterway where fish can sometimes be spotted when the water runs low and clear”
and still enjoy a great day’s fishing.
This season the Severn has been in fine fettle, with some anglers claiming more than 30 barbel in a single session fishing feeder or bomb tactics.
The most productive times have been late afternoon and into the evening gloom.
This year, fishery bosses have installed rope rails to help anglers down to their pegs on some of the steeper swims. Another is the pub, where anglers can down a cool pint and enjoy some excellent food.
Local cottages and B&Bs offer accommodation for groups of anglers who might fancy a few days on the fishery. Some of these offer bait fridges for fishermen as well as facilities for them to store their tackle.
All in all, this is a great place where small groups of friends or clubs can enjoy a seasonal jolly.