Middle Severn

[Rivercarper]

Anyone got first hand knowledge of the middle Severn.Tactics and such like,RMC needs you.

[DOC]

Neil,

I think downstream from Shrewsbury counts as the middle reaches, and I fished a bit of it at Atcham (I think its free fishing nowadays). Shrewsbury used to have a reputation for specimen fish, but this was over ten years ago, so my knowledge is a bit out of date ! Atcham was the place to go for useful numbers of 6-7 lb barbel with some in double figures, so they are probably bigger and in smaller numbers today. Meat was good for the barbel and chub but lots of people used the casters-hemp combination with block end feeders. Leighton and Buildwas were famous for big barbel to these methods. Cracking chub and roach here too, and not surprisingly big pike, although I didn't fish for them in those days. For roach, the stick float ruled with casters, tares were also very good in summer. I didn't fish any other stretches. From Bridgenorth downstream it was very heavily fished. The feeder ruled ! Fine lines and small hooks for the super-hammered Severn barbel was the order of the day !

The serious barbel are in the lower reaches of course...

All a bit out of date probably but I hope its of some use !

DOC

[Rivercarper]

Many thanks DOC Atcham looks like being the area for the return leg of the Specimen challenge.I'll be in touch later.

[FGRW]

I've fished Bewdley and Stourport Neil, blockend feeder (dustbin ) down the middle, big buckets of caster and hemp or maggot, big ski leads let it bump around a bit , rod up in the air on the tallest bankstick so you can get the line out of the water, reel it in when it has emptied ( about 2minutes ) same again until you have the fish lined up and feeding. Thats how they used to fish it in the matches and bag up 70lb catches etc. about 7 years ago, I have seen Dave Harrell do it like this on Matt Hayes program this year! not sure if it is current info. though??? I have also had fish first cast on half a can of luncheon meat to 8lb down the side. Tends to sort out the bigger fish as the little ones can't get the bait in their mouths. Hold your rod! I nearly lost it one day, I turned around to talk to someone and it was virtually towed in, just caught the butt section as a powerful fish run me under an overhanging willow. The take was something else!
Regards Richard.