View Full Version : MIDLANDS WATERS
This is a question for Ian I think.
I have a number of angling friends from north of Watford who are jealous of the amount of quality fishing I can get on my RMC coverall (and other) permits, and they have asked why RMC has no waters in the midlands. Is this because RMC have not dug any holes up there or is it for fishery management reasons ?
I remember when I first joined Leisure Sport there were a couple of Lincolnshire lakes included in the guide book.
Matt (DOC)
Cheers Ian,
I will tell them to look around for more local clubs or move down south ! Having said that, I often do a 200 mile round trip to Knipton for the day. They should do likewise sometimes.
I wonder what the greatest round distance anyone has done for a days fishing is ? And was it worth it ? It often is.
rhornegold
20-04-2001, 15:44
Doc,
I once did Chigwell to Topcliffe Mill and back in a day, not sure how far it is, but well worth the trip.
I went with the intention of fishing for Barbel and ended up catching lots of Pike and Perch.
I quite often go to the Lower Severn for an evening session.
Thats about a 200 odd mile round trip from Southampton.
Mind you , my nearest RMC water (Frimley) is about a 90 odd mile round trip, but you can't travel too far for quality fishing.
To me it's all about effective use of time.
A 12 hour day split into travelling and fishing time means......
Locally, travelling to venue for 15 mins
catching average fish for 11.5 hours
15 mins travelling home.
Not locally, travelling to venue for 2 hours
catching quality fish for 8 hours
2 hours travelling home.
It depends how I feel at the time.
Where's Topcliffe Mill Bob ? Sounds a bit like a Derbyshire name.
There's no doubt it's well woth travelling further than your own doorstep for quality fishing even though the fishing hours are lessened. Its 'a 120 mile round trip to Frimley for me but I think nothing of it. Obviously you are lucky if you have it on your doorstep (Fishers Green 10 minutes away fro me) but adventure is all part of fishing's beauty.
The furthest round fishing trip I have done is 9350 miles (Bow River in Canada) but this doesn't count because it was business first. It was too good a chance to miss. Being an opportunist is the name of the game. A bit like fishing for one hour at dusk rather than all day really. Time management for maximum probability of success. Not forgetting the limiting factors such as cost of petrol....
Doc - does Knipton still hold very big pike ? I think I remember a feature in one of Fred Buller's books about a guy called Clive Loveland (still around and trout-fishes Rutland) catching a near 40-pounder there on a jack pike livebait some years ago.
That's right John. Clive Loveland caught a 39 lb fish there (and a number of other 30s) in 1967. The bait was a live 5 lb jack ! This fish of course features in Buller's list of mammoth pike. Alas it does not turn up this size of fish much nowadays (there are reports of the odd 30 though) but it is a lovely quiet place and one of my favourite venues. There is an atmosphere there that does not compare with anywhere I know, and you always have a chance of a monster (although I haven't done it yet). I have had many, many blanks there but I still find myself drawn back, albeit only a couple of times a year now (a venue best for me was a 40 inch long October fish of 16 lb about five years ago). It's main problem is that you can only fish a small area, and I think this took a lot of pressure in the years following Clive Loveland's publicity. Of course this probably also means there are still uncaught monsters that have not yet ventured into the danger zone. I'll keep going back, if just for the surroundings...
Sounds like quite a water, Doc.
Ian, I have noticed that RMC are doing some excavation between Romsey and Broughton, in the Test Valley. Is this a potential future fishery ?
rhornegold
24-04-2001, 17:23
Doc,
Topcliffe Mill is on the river Swale 50 odd miles south off Durham, a friend had told me there was a dispute over the fishing rites and I took the opportunity to fish it.
There are places that just have to be fished because of their history, but as a norm, Chigwell to Wareham is my maximum distance in a day.
To me it's about the place more than the fish, R. Walkers strech on the Ouse, Redmire, The Royalty all places of great fishing history.
I am sure others must feel the same way about a special water?
Bob
Yes, I would love to fish the Royalty one day.
It's the same for me at Knipton - I never catch much there but there it is a lovely place and there is just something about it and it's history. One of my other all time favourites would be a place called The New Pond in Parish Lane, Pease Pottage. I used to fish this place as a member of Crawley Angling Society. It was haunted but I still used to fish there alone late at night (over 20 years ago now). It was secluded in woodland and seldom did I meet others. But best of all, it contained only wild carp. I only ever caught one in double figures (the equivalent of a 30 lb mirror !) but they were magnificent torpedo shaped fish, more like barbel really. I daren't go back now because it might spoil the memories...
I wonder whether anyone has ever fished there or knows of any other true "wildie" waters ?
vBulletin® v3.6.3, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.