Free stretch of the River Avon at Chippenham, report

[fullcreel]

Greetings all.
We got to the river around 10.30. It was gin clear and very low. I had looked at the stretch on google earth the night before, and got the impression that the bottom end would be best.
Tackle was a swim feeder with a long tail, bait maggies, I also set up a float rod as well, with a 3aaa avon.
First cast into the deep water along the fast bank produced a chub roun12-14oz, this was the average size of the chub I had 14 in all, I also managed 5 roach, the best about 10oz, a few dace to 6oz. I had one trout, an incredibly silvery brown, my frioend Nigel had a brownie which was the same size, about 12oz, but 'normal' brown coloured. My fish I suspect could have been a sea trout, butdo they run to seas at such a small trout, and does anyone know if they go upstream as far as chippenham. It was the hardest fighting trout I've ever had, at times it thought it was a tarpon. It went back of course.


AS one swim quietened down we did some swim hopping, as the river was so low and clear a bumped fish put the others down for a while.

All in all I was very happy with the days, esp as it was my first time on the river, and the locals who were out said they had not seen the river so low and clear for years.

Anyone know the Winkton fishery, a tributary of the Royalty, thinking of ending the season there, any interested in comming along?
Tight Lines
Matt

[Portland Pirate]

Sea Trout, unlike Salmon can run back to the river every year. It is quite normal to get 1year old Sea Trout returning to the river. When I lived up in Peterhead we would get a run throughout the summer. We called them Finnock.

I don't know why they return after such a short length of time at sea.
Wellyboot was a bit of an expert on this type of subject, but I have not seen him post on here for a long time.

[mithrandir]

Well done on what sounds a fun day out.

We get seatrout up here in Amsebury on the Avon, but they are usually a bit larger, you could of had a small rainbow trout, did it have any red in its flanks?

I have not tried Winkton yet, but would not mind giving it a go, what day are you planning to go?

Mike

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by fullcreel

Anyone know the Winkton fishery, a tributary of the Royalty, thinking of ending the season there, any interested in comming along?
Tight Lines
Matt

Winkton is the main river Avon and a sidestream a few miles above The Royalty. It holds some superb Chub and Barbel but is known as a pretty hard venue. The guys in Davis Tackle Christchurch should be able to tell you latest conditions and catches:

http://www.davistackle.co.uk/

http://www.davistackle.co.uk/Winkton_Fishery.htm

[Vagabond]

Originally Posted by fullcreel

I had one trout, an incredibly silvery brown,...... My fish I suspect could have been a sea trout, but do they run to seas at such a small trout,Matt

They certainly do, as Portland Pirate has said.
What you describe sounds like a sea-trout smolt. Each spring a proportion of sea-trout parr turn silvery and migrate downstream to the sea. Some stay there to become adult seatrout, some come back as adolescents ("phinnock" in Scotland, "whitling" in Wales, "white trout" in Ireland)

A lot of natural cyclical events are happening earlier this year,(starlings are nest-building already) so why not an early smolt run?

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Welldone and another great read

[Banana Steve]

Well done Matt, looks like you had a great day. :-)

[perch_king]

well done mate good fishing that is