SimonT

It'll mean a quick jaunt on the tube / overland but the Thames isn't too far away, Canbury Gardens stretch good for mixed bags & 10 mins walk from Kingston station assuming you don't have access to a car that is..

When I'm in Kingston I usually take a look over the bridge by the police station, it's full of big chub - I'd guess up to 4lb's or so, there's usually a large shoal under the bridge by the Renault garage too. Further upstream, where I live in Old Malden there's a few deeper holes, just upstream from SheepHouse Way that hold chub up to about 1lb & a few roach too - used to take a couple of slices of bread down there & watch them take it. I'm guessing they made their way up in a flood sometime & stayed. You can definately fish it for free, usually fish the Thames or Trent myself, somehow casting to fish you can see doesn't appeal to me.. Check out the Kingston borough website RBK etc - there's a group (hogsMill Action Group I think) who meet up to pull shopping trolleys out etc!

From the glory days of (Sir) Jimmy Sirrel & now to the all time low of last (& this?)season.. Jason Lee. You ever fish the Viccy embankment? Never know where to start

5 inch Roach, strangely enough a 5 inch roach is usually my first fish of every new season too.

Glad to here bikes are still made there! - assumed when the factory at Raleigh island turned into halls for the Uni, that was it..Try to get up at least once a month to fish on Sat mornings then off to Meadow Lane in the afternoons from August onwards. First started fishing on Wollaton Park Lake - used to be an amazing lake, full of Tench & Bream (no carp that I remember). Had a big spread in the Angling Times around '83-'84...then the old enclosure was shut, the lake was drained, a huge concrete bank was put in & that was it. Dead..very sad.

Nottingham born & bred but now I live in SW London. Fish the Thames when I can around Sunbury but nothing can beat the roar of Beeston weir (mind you it was more of a trickle on Saturday) so I try to get back when I can. Always intend to try other parts of the Trent, but Beeston Weir's a 10 minute drive from my folks.. I used to fish the stretch around Wilford on the Clifton Grove side of the main road, think it was Raleigh Angling Club back in the day when bikes were still made in Nottingham. Great stretch it was.

Fished most of the swims down towards the bend, but never past it, there's supposed to be some big carp on the bend itself if that's your thing. About 100 yards below the weir, through the undergrowth there's a couple of swims (Beeston side) that I've had cracking days fishing on in the past...I've struggled down there though in recent years sadly.

Hi Mark, Looks suspiciously like where I was Saturday morning at 4:30-10 am! Beeston weir. I was saved a blank by a 5ins gudgeon which took a lump of Spam hair rigged on a size 10 hook! I guess there must have been a few of them sniffing round the bait when I struck & got 'lucky'. Besides the lad fishing on the opposite bank who caught what looked like a pretty decent barbel and a chub or two, no-one else seemed to be catching much. With the river so low I was expecting a decent morning in the weir pool. Only took meat / peparami with me though. I will return soon...hemp/caster feeder next time perhaps..

Nice one - despite walking over Blackfriars Bridge every morning I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to tides - what times / tides would be better?

Hi Pip, I'd say yes yes & yes to those 3 questions if you're fishing a lot in Nott'm. No longer live up there sadly, but still fish Beeston Weir on the Day Ticket (haven't seen a bailiff for years though). Beeston Weir down to Clifton Grove is a superb if heavily fished stretch, though not the most accessible if your ankle's dodgy.. Other posters here will be better versed than me downstream of Nott'm. Don't forget the Vic Embankment's free right through the centre, free parking & easy access via Wilford/Meadows. You're a lucky man, Nottingham's it. Simon

Hi, Jumped on the Anglers Mail bandwagon & checked out the Thames at Sunbury this weekend. Arrived at first light to find Kings Lawn looking more like a campsite than a genteel stretch of Thames riverbank. Went on to the Sunbury backwater instead. Had a superb few hours on the stick, forgotten just how many dace there are in the Thames, plus a few roach, perch & chublets. Not a pike man myself, but given the cover & quantity of dace it must be heaving with them? Looking forward to trotting other Thames spots this season - anyone recommend any other sections which respond well stick float tactics, in the same rough area - upstream of Sunbury? cheers, Simon

Thanks lads, I'll definately take this on board & venture east this season...got a feeling it's going to be a great one, for the fishing, if not for the Magpies. Is anyone still using steak these days? tried it last year without a sniff. cheers

Nice one, thanks for that - always considered joining Notts Anglers, but I live in London now so don't get so many trips. Haven't seen a bailiff in over 10 years at Beeston Weir? Reckon I need to review my tactics if it's been fishing well, I've been fishing the standard hemp/caster feeder, legered meat.. I'll be up for a session or 2 in July...can't wait. Enjoy fishing the Thames down here but the Trent is it for me.

Hello, I'm planning on a few visits up to my old stomping grounds on the Trent once the season's underway. Usually fished Beeston Weir area which has been somewhat hit & miss (for me anyhow) over the last few years compared to 20 years ago or so when the chub were pretty much climbing up the rods...Happy days after school, rod strapped to Raleigh Europa, wicker basket on the back etc etc.. I'm thinking Wilford & the Vic Embankment may be worth a go, but as it's pretty much feature less I've no idea where to start? Also never fished downstream of Nottingham - anyone recommend some good day ticket stretches that side - particularly stretches where trotting works well? Thanks, Simon

Its the park just past the Slug & Lettuce - John Lewis side of the road bridge..

Hi, Never fished that far down but a bit further upstream at Hampton Court there's been some big barbel coming out in the last couple of seasons - park in Aragon Avenue, Thames Ditton. Fish close to where the Mole joins. There are plenty of bream around in Kingston on the feeder on the Canbury Gardens stretch. Maggot feeder for a mixed bag - lots of perch along there. Hope this helps..

Fished there a few weeks back - take some big leads, it was bombing through. Mind you not much rain lately.. Take some red maggots - there's some big old Perch about.

Thanks for the info Dogfish, I'll definately try it out next week, lovely part of the world there. Cheers

Afternoon, Looking for a bit of info please, I'll be up in Nottingham for a week or so in Mid august & fancy trying the Derwent. Has anyone fished around Whatstandwell area ?, I belive there's some good day ticket fishing there above the road bridge but never tried it. Any info much appreciated, Cheers, Simon.

Hi Karl, I fished it last weekend, about 100 yards down from the weir. Plenty of chub about, a few barbel being caught (not by me sadly). Usual feeder tactics. Some perch & roach on the stick, bit of rain this week should improve things. Dave's instructions spot on, Pub's called The Jolly Anglers, it's about 200 yards after crossing over Beeston railway station, never crossed the skinny bridge myself, just follow the road round along the canal & park at the lock. Haven't seen a bailiff the last couple of times, but it's NoTTS AA, £3.50(ish) day ticket on the bank. Get there early for the best pegs, lots of pike in the actual weir pool. Be prepared for a lot of litter though it's improved a lot over the last couple of years. Good luck, let us know how you get on, I'll be back there in Mid August. Simon.

I'll probably kick off on the feeder hemp/caster, hopefully find the chub & a barbel or two would be a bonus. Had some superb roach on the stick there last year, I'll give that a try later on. Cheers.

Commercial pools? Don't get it, might as well tackle up in the living room, put a piece of flake on a size 20 & go after the goldfish. Not big enough? dig a pond in the garden, put a Koi in, tackle up in the garden. Wild fish, to me that's the whole point.An industrial canal, the Trent by the City Ground or the Wey in rural, deepest Surrey. Wherever. Pitting your wits against nature, the essence of fishing, commercial pools - gameboy fishing.

Afternoon all, I'm going up to Nott'm this weekend & am looking to have a session on the Trent below Beeston Weir or maybe Clifton Grove. Anyone know how it's fishing this year?? Any info much appreciated. Thanks, Simon.

Chris, There are some enormous freshwater fish in Brazil, but your best bet would be an organised trip to the Pantanal, Amazon or the Rio Sao Francisco system. Only fished in Sao Paulo state so far myself. You're dead right - there are enormous catfish & plenty of carp. But the real monster prize is the legendary Pirarucu, found in the Amazon region, grows to 7-8ft long. Chicken hearts? great to eat, reckon they'd do pretty well over here, bury a size 6 inside one, the chub'd go mad for them. Never fished for Pacu, saw them in the aquarium in Guaruja (v near Santos), nasty looking fish - they grow quite big though don't they? Good luck, Simon.

Chris, I go to Sao Paulo reasonably often & usually end up fishing a large lake just south of Sao Paulo.(don't know it's name). It's great fun, completely back to basics with bamboo pole, small float & a tub of worms. Usually get plenty of Tilapia a few Cara & the occasional Piranha. Sitting on a rickety pier, sun blazing down, caipirinha to hand. Magic.