River Brit update

Greenheart · #1 07-10-2006, 07:57 PM

Having got permission from a couple of landowners to fish a few stretches of the river Brit between Beaminster & Bridport in Dorset I decided to give it a go last weekend. This is the river that is featured on the River Cottage TV series with Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall. There had been some rain so hopefully there would be some Sea-Trout in the river. The Brit is actually a medium sized stream that consists of shallow runs & deep dark shady pools, all very overgrown by trees, brambles & bushes.

I had done some internet searches on this water but had been unable to find any information with regard to fishing. I had already walked the riverbank & had seen a few small brown trout rising but had decided that it was too overgrown to flyfish. So I decided to take my 11ft 4 piece travel spinning rod to floatfish or freeline worm. I also took a small fixed spool reel loaded with 6lb line, a couple of crystal chubber floats & a size 10 hooks. I also took my sharpes folding Sea-Trout net.
After the rain, the river was quite coloured, so I was unable to spot any individual fish, but there were a few fish rising.
Having given up on casting to individual fish, I found that the easiest way to fish was to freeline a worm between the bushes & had no trouble spotting the bites from little brown trout that I don’t think had ever seen a hook before. These were beautiful little fish with vivid red spots & bright yellow bellies that fought well for their size. I had caught about 15 – 20 of these that weighed between 4oz to about 1lb when I hooked something that fought a lot harder. I saw a silver flash when it jumped & at first thought it was an escapee Rainbow Trout. I got the fish below my rod tip, but the bank was too steep & overgrown to net it. So I grabbed the line & hand lined in what turned out to be a nice little silver Sea Trout. Another species hunt target achieved.

The local wildlife was also interesting. I saw a small herd of what I believe were Fallow Deer, as they were spotted & larger than the usual Roe Deer & a Dipper flying up & down the stream.
The only downside was a herd of very nosey cows that kept getting a bit too close for comfort & some rather fresh cow poo that kept attaching it'self to the soles of my boots

.

Norfolkboy · #2 07-10-2006, 08:04 PM

Well done Ian, lovely trout and a lovely looking river too.

baitmaster · #3 07-10-2006, 08:08 PM

nice read
looks like jungle war fair there fair play on the sea trout well done

amazing what you can see in places like that if you are quiet and observant

tightlines
kevin

Fishing Forum Admin · #4 07-10-2006, 08:19 PM

Well done mate very interesting at what comes out of such small streams

pingu · #5 07-10-2006, 10:18 PM

top report nice one ian

Portland Jon · #6 08-23-2006, 02:50 PM

Hey Ian, that takes me back to my childhood fishing the local brook a couple of miles downstream of a trout farm. Any chance of coming along with you sometime?

Jon

Twiddler · #7 08-23-2006, 05:26 PM

Well done Ian, a little beauty you caught there, I'm amazed how you manage to fish with so many bushes and trees on the bank. You got telescopic arms??

Greenheart · #8 08-24-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Portland Jon

Hey Ian, that takes me back to my childhood fishing the local brook a couple of miles downstream of a trout farm. Any chance of coming along with you sometime?

Jon

Don't really know the landowner that well yet to ask if I can take guests Jon.
Keep meaning to give you a shout about trying a spot of plugging for Bass down Portland. Will have to sort something out before summers over.....

Portland Jon · #9 08-25-2006, 08:09 PM

Now's the time Ian.

Jon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenheart

Don't really know the landowner that well yet to ask if I can take guests Jon.
Keep meaning to give you a shout about trying a spot of plugging for Bass down Portland. Will have to sort something out before summers over.....

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