River Stour (the Midlands one).

[barbelblanker]

Well you know what it's like. You are driving yourself NUTS sat at home and you know it is going to be a complete waste of time fishing while all that melt water with all that lovely salt, makes it way down the river.

So what do you do ?

You go anyway , of course.

I arrived to find that I'd forgotten the camera so can't even post any piccys.

The water was up and very coloured carrying debris and looking like a teenage tantrum.

There were a couple of blokes fishing the canal (the BAA stretch , like most of the Stour runs right next to the Staffs Worcester canal) and it was not looking good.

I'd decided that I was going to adopt a very mobile approach so I had my light leger rod, Shimano ZX reel, landing net , rod rest, bait bucket and a seat/bag thing . Apart from a flask of tea (that on reflection I didn't really need) I was carrying no excess gear at all. I'd put a spool of 4 and a spool 6 Loviz , my larger hook hook box, some shot a few weights and a couple of cage feeders in and that was it. This really was minimalistic fishing and meant I could move really quick.

Bait wise I was carrying blue cheese paste, luncheon meat (big baits too ) one with fishmeal spray and one soaked in worm additive , both reeked. I also had some flake (but I didn't use it ).

It was an out and out chub session again but the conditions spelt blank and that is exactly what happened.

Was it a waste of time ? No not really. I realised just how little I needed in the way of tackle (though I do need to check how many swam shot were in the tub , as three is not enough DOH!). For such a short session I could even ditch the flask as I did'nt need it.

I'm looking forward to doing exactly the same again but when the river does not look so bad.

I'm glad I did get out as it was driving me nuts sat in the house.

Next time

[pingu]

unlucky as you say next time

dave

[BaggieRich]

Good to get out though I'll bet. Well done mate, next time.

[Poisson dans la Fleuve]

Living in Kidderminster I fish the Stour now and then, more often in the winter when i cant be bothered to travel any distance to freeze me whatsits off!

I am guessing you were up near the lock in Wolverley? have you tried a little farther down river? I know a couple of decent, easily accessable spots (for the car too) near the Royal Mail depot where I have had some success even in floodwater, I have even had a couple of decent grayling from down there. I actually live on a little newish estate called "Waterside grange" which is litterally 200 yards from the river

Hats of to you though, I havent ventured out with my rods since the first weekend of December!

[paul p]

I know the feeling mate, i waited weeks for the rainbow lakes to thaw as its the only fishing worth persuting at this time off year, been there done that etc and i have to say i did get out a few days ago and had a great day on the fly rod 9 fish all around the 2-3lb mark catch and release, but i know how you feel waiting but it will be worth it, not long till spring, then summer, then my prime time were i live later for the shore when 2 rods are going nuts. Wont be long mate hang tight.

[barbelblanker]

I was on the BAA stretch up by Stewponey. Poisson. Who has the rights on the rest of the river and do you know any free stretchs too? I fish threre as it is so close (live in Kingswinford) and I love fishing little rivers like this, especially ones that are recovering from pollution.

[Poisson dans la Fleuve]

Originally Posted by barbelblanker

I was on the BAA stretch up by Stewponey. Poisson. Who has the rights on the rest of the river and do you know any free stretchs too? I fish threre as it is so close (live in Kingswinford) and I love fishing little rivers like this, especially ones that are recovering from pollution.

The Stour is completely free from Cookley down to Kidderminster although much of it is in fairly dense undergrowth with overhanging trees, the 2 spots I am thinking about are both pretty clear and fishable, I will give you just the one which is closest to you here as the other is quite complex to explain.

1. Near Cookley (only 10 minutes past Stewponey). You need to drive down the A449 to Kidderminster, on the outskirts of Kidderminster you come to a set of traffic lights, turn right signposted Wolverley, drive along there for half a mile until you see the "Lock" pub on your right, park in the large free car park next to it. Then walk up the canal towpath (so turn left onto it with the pub in front of you), walk up the canal towpath for about 10 minutes, under a footbridge until you come to a large clearing on your left, go down the clearing and you reach the water, you can either fish from there (trotting on maggot or worm is really successful) or as you reach the water you can cut in left and there is a good fishable 50 yeard stretch that you will see there also. The river is quite narrow there but there have been reports of barbel but I have never had one but I have caught Chubb to 3Lbs and loads of Roach and dace...... even in minus 8 temps!

As an alternative, if you went in the opposite direction down the canal towpath from where you parked your car, on your right you have about a 400M fishable stretch of the river there but you will have to pick one of only 3 or 4 fairly clear swims.

Hope this helps!

[barbelblanker]

Fantastic bit of information, that's made my day as it gives me somewhere else to explore too.

[Poisson dans la Fleuve]

Originally Posted by barbelblanker

Fantastic bit of information, that's made my day as it gives me somewhere else to explore too.

No problem, if you dont like walking, as soon as you turn onto the canal towpath by the pub, you will see the Stour immediatly to your left, literally there is only 20 yards between canal and river in places, anywhere down there is fishable and has fish but again there are only a few places where there is plenty of clearance, it's great for a mobile session though because you can literally move along every 50 yards or so.

As you are walking up, you will quickly see a drop off down to the river after only about 400 yards from the car park that gets you right down to water level, its a nice spot if it's not too muddy and I have bagged loads from there but mainly small to medium roach and dace with the odd 1lbs chubb, my first selection in the above post (the clearing) is where I have been most productive with the slightly bigger fish.

Les

[Poisson dans la Fleuve]

Originally Posted by barbelblanker

Fantastic bit of information, that's made my day as it gives me somewhere else to explore too.

I did mean to ask...... where do you go to catch your Barbel? (or as your name suggests....where do you go to not catch!)