At the moment I am trying to update the web pages, which is a very slow process!  I am also a bit stuck as to what info visitors would like to see on this and other pages so any useful ideas would be most appreciated (not too rude please!)   avonangling@aol.com

One idea is to report an a regular basis on the state of the rivers at the time so here goes:-

FRIDAY 29TH JANUARY

At last!  Hello, hope you all had a good christmas and new year, it seems a long time ago!  It hasn't been worth reporting in the last eight or so weeks as the weather has been so bad that we might have been better closing the shop and going away!  Next year we will ensure that we have a good stock of toboggans and canoes!  I am now pleased to report that things have moved on and even though the weather is cold there has been quite a bit of action on the rivers for those hardy souls who have ventured out in the last week.  There are reports of Barbel to 16lb from the middle Avon which have yet to be confirmed but come from good sources.  Plenty of decent chub and dace have been reported from the Lifelands day ticket section and reasonable Roach to 2lb have been caught in the park opposite the shop. There has been a "presence" locally by the Environment Agency to reports that anglers have been catching livebaits and transporting them elsewhere.  This is of course illegal and hefty fines will be levied on anyone caught transporting fish, so be warned.  I have just phoned Lynn from Bisterne Fishery and can confirm that Bisterne will be open to day tickets from Tuesday the 2nd of February till the end of the season (last shoot day on the 1st).  Hopefully the "light at the end of the tunnel" is in sight and with just six weeks til the end of the river season make the most of it,  we would like to see you!!!!  We also have a rod sale on at the moment so give us a ring if you need a price on any rod!!!

TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Sunday 1st November prooved to be a very wet morning up until about 1.00pm.  We had an awful (or wonderful) amount of rain which has allowed some water to actually venture into the river!  The Avon level is slightly up and looks promising with just the slightest tinge of colour.  The Stour is up and slightly coloured. The forecast is rain over the next few days so hopefully there will be enough to make a difference to the fishing.  Temperatures are still into mid double figures during the day so this will be favourable for the weekend. 

SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2009

At last!!!  There seems to be some movement on the Barbel Front which might be due to some recent rain and the mild temperatures.  There has been a rather large Barbel reported from the lower Avon this past week (in the papers tuesday) and quite a few reports of Barbel being caught from the middle reaches.  We had some quite consistant rain overnight and we are due some more overnight tonight, with some heavy rain towards dawn. Hopefully this will stir the "whiskers" into action for the next few weeks. Hopefully the levels will start to rise and add a bit of colour and we can then look forward to some rewarding fishing for the Autumn months.  We look forward to seeing you in the next few weeks!!!!!!  We will keep you posted from now on. 

BACK TO A YEAR AGO!

SUNDAY 7th DECEMBER 2008

Due to the downpour of rain on Wednesday night the Stour is nearing the top of the banks and is the colour of mud!  Needless to say both the Christchurch and Ringwood Club matches have been moved from the river to the lakes in the hope that they will be more fishable but due to the -4 degree frost last night I think it will still be a struggle to winkle the fish out! The Avon is still a little high and lightly coloured but fishable, either feeder or if you can float fish with maggot.  Side streams are good for a bit of sport on the float with Dace and the odd Roach showing.  People seem to be preferring the cold to the rain, and I don't blame them!

SATURDAY 25th OCTOBER

Well, what a week for a change in the weather!  Frosts overnight on tuesday and friday but wind and rain on monday and overnight on thursday with temparatures between -1 to +16!  Needless to say there is colour and height in both the Avon and Stour with floating dead weed and debris making holding bottom hard going.  Clear sunny spells during the day don't help, and the dropping water temperatures are not conducive to catching Barbel and the colour not good for Chub!  Yet again the most success is float fished maggot and caster for bags of Dace and Chub with the odd Roach.  Best time for Barbel is just on dark with boilies (see note on prebaiting 25th Sept) or particle maggot feeder and hemp. Clocks go BACK overnight on Saturday 25th so those dark long evenings are drawing in all too quickly and just 8 weeks to christmas! Yuk......... Just hope we actually get a summer in 2009!  (1st November 2009 - I will keep my gob shut next year!)

THURSDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER

Rivers Avon and Stour back to normal levels and running clear now.  Reports seem to vary but most success for Chub has been on float fished maggot and caster dropping down on hook size and breaking strains to get the bites, also feeder with maggot and caster scoring.  Pellet seems to be having limited success for the Chub and Barbel with the particle approach of Hemp and Maggot and Caster in feeders or droppers seeming to be producing.  Boilie approach works for the Barbel with the most success by prebaiting previous days then fishing single baits with minimal loose feed such as single PVA bags of mixed pellet and crushed boilies, and try to ahieve minimal disturbance with less re-casting/re-baiting with the water being clear. Late afternoon /evening best times to fish.

We have had a bit of rain this week but not enough to affect the levels/colour and a bright warm weekend is forcast, temps up on last weekend with overnight readings average 9c, day temps up to 19c, hope it lasts!!!! Last day for fishing Bisterne is Tuesday 31st so come on down.  Parking at Lifelands has been a bit of a headache lately due to the sudden appearance of double yellow lines we are aware of this and arrangements are being made to provide secure parking nearby for members and day ticket holders. 

FRIDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER

At last!!!  Water levels dropping and colour gone from the Avon, Stour dropped in height and colour nearly gone.  Conditions look good for the weekend! Air temperature drops overnight to 6c but day temps are reaching 19c and looks set to continue at least for another week. Bisterne producing good Barbel at the moment but don't forget it closes at the end of this month.  Couple of good Barbel to 11lb 6oz caught from the Lifelands and Ringwood stretch together with some good size Chub.  Some nice shoals of Dace showing and being caught to stick float. Come on down, conditions are good!!!!

Monday 8th September

I checked the levels and colour of the Avon & Stour this morning, both are within their banks but the Stour is very muddy coloured at the moment - the Barbel will feed but it does tend to put the Chub off until the colour starts to drop out and the level drops.  The Avon is still high and all the weir gates above Ringwood to Salisbury seem to be open, thus there is a lot of debris coming downstream.  The Avon is the colour of tea, not muddy and is the best bet for fishing at the moment.  Today is quite pleasant with no rain but we are due some more in the next few days.  Access can be a bit wet underfoot so take care crossing fields and beware the ditches.  I will try and report again on thursday morning to give you a quick report for the weekend, but if in any doubt please give us a ring especially if you are travelling a long distance to fish.

Thursday 13th March 8am

Just checked the Avon levels and the river has dropped about 18" overnight!  Colour still present looks ok at the moment.  Showers due today and tomorrow but nothing significant which will affect the water levels.  Just waiting for Andy to ring and tell me about the Stour which I think will be quite coloured still but hopefully will have dropped in height, but just that little bit too late to be useful for the last day tomorrow.  Watch this space!

Wednesday 12th March

Not much change from yesterday apart from change of wind direction and quite a cold wind.  Not much rain to speak of today but the rivers are still high and coloured, Stour especially so.  Anglers out today are fishing at Britford side streams on a day ticket and a few are braving Lifelands and Ringwood Fishery but finding the slacks and fishing on the bottom with Large smelly baits such as boilies wrapped in paste and big chunks of luncheon meat.  Side streams are feeder with bread or white maggot or in areas that you can trot white maggot.  Avon is still high but with less colour than the Stour and seems to be the best bet at the moment.

GIVE US A RING BEFORE TRAVELLING AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW THE STATE OF THE RIVERS

Tuesday 11th March
Well, it looks as if we are going to end the season as it started!  Both the Avon and the Stour are at the top of the banks with coloured water and going through like a train!  Not much more rain is forecast but there are high winds due again tonight.  Unless you have access to some back waters or side streams I don't think I would bother fishing until Friday, the last day on the Rivers! Temperature today is 12 degrees and the overnight one is about 6 so still quite warm considering.

Monday 3rd March 

COME ON DOWN - THE WATERS LOVELY!!!

River levels of both the Stour and Avon are normal now, but there is a slightly increased pace in both rivers. Find the slacks and you have found the fish!

 The Avon is quite clear making it quite difficult going especially when coupled with bright sunshine. Times to catch are early mornings and early evening, main bait being Red Maggot, method is mainly feeder but some nice bags of Dace and Chub (the odd Roach) can be taken on the float - light hooklengths and small hooks.

The Stour has a tinge of colour at the moment but this won't last long as the overnight temperatures are dropping to frost level.  Yet again, best times are early morning and late afternoon, the bright sun during the day making it difficult going, but a pleasant day sat in the sun with the factor 14!

Wednesday 16th January 2008 the state of the rivers are:-
PICK A FIELD!!!

River Stour is now over its banks and halfway up the fields and the colour is like mud.  Unfortunately there is more rain forcast so the outlook is a bit grim at the moment. I will report on the state of the Stour on a regular basis.

River Avon is also up and in the fields and going through like a train.  Side streams that are accessable seem to be fishing reasonably well according to the few brave souls who have abandoned their senses and ventured out! Slightly coloured and going fast with a few logs etc! More reports to follow.


Avon Causeway Sunday 20th 2008 1pm. The river is the bit in the background!