[Suffolk Stour Pike Fishing]

I know you hear this sort of thing all the time. I am hoping it is not all true. I know another local river the Chelmer in Essex, the pike catches seem to be down in recent years. Perhaps there are other factors involves aside from illegal poaching.

[Suffolk Stour Pike Fishing]

Hello All, and a happy new year to all. I am trying to get back in to my winter pike fishing. I would like to try my local River Stour. Does anybody know if good pike are still caught here. Everyone I talk to say their are no good pike left as they have all been illegally taken. I hope this is not true, and there is still a chance of taking a good double now and again. I only fish a few sessions during the winter, and being retired do not want to pay £100 plus for the privilege. Are there any free stretches where I can fish. I have looked at a few club websites, and cannot find any clubs controlling the Dedham to Flatford section. Unless anyone can tell me otherwise. I do not want to poach. Are there any other free stretches where I might put a deadbait ?. Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

 

Rayman

[Pike / Zander Fishing partner ?]

Thank you for your reply John, I believe you answered a question of mine once before. I wondered if you might PM me with regards a possible location I may be able to try for my first zander in daylight. Of course, as you state you may not wish to divulge such information. Merry xmas to you anyway !.

 

Badger100

[Pike / Zander Fishing partner ?]

I am new to Suffolk, and was wondering if there is anyone out there looking for an occasional fishing partner in my area of Suffolk. I live midway between Hadleigh and Lavenham. I have winter pike fished for many years. I wanted to explore some of the fens around the Newmarket area for pike and possibly zander. I am in my late 50's and prefer to fish weekdays when it is mor quiet on the bank. I do not fish weekly, but try to get a few sessions in between October and March.

 

Badger100

[Advice on Pond Construction Wanted]

Thank you all, very comprehensive information, pondkeeper it is then. I will have a proper look at the info over the weekend. Thanks once again....Now where's my spade !

[Advice on Pond Construction Wanted]

Hi, I am planning to dig a largish (30ft Dia) farm type pond. That is no artificial ornamentation, filters etc, basically a irregular shaped hole in the ground. What are my options on liners, I have seen people talk about triple layers of fabrics. Also a friend of mine suggested laying down teram, and filling over it with blue clay. Has anybody heard of this. Any suggestions/help/advice would be much appreciated. Also any likely suppliers for liners etc, useful website suggestions, and an idea of likely costs.

 

Badger100

[River Gt Ouse Flooding ?]

Or alternatively look at my thread ten mile bank last sunday complete with picture.

 

I was 3 miles from littleport.

 

There are no EA measuring stations near this stretch of river unfortunately.

 

John

Thanks John, I guess there has not been that much rain since Sunday, so should be OK Thursday.

 

Badger100

[River Gt Ouse Flooding ?]

Can someone advise me please. In view of the past weeks rain. Does anybody know if the great Ouse around Littleport is in flood at the moment. As i am proposing a visit Thursday.

 

Badger100

[Welney River Delph]

I returned to Weley Norfolk last week for a spot of piking, after a gap of twenty years or more. I'm afraid it was a blank day, and on talking to a couple of locals, they tell me that the Delph is not producing and has not done so for a long while. Also zander have not been seen there for many years. Does anybody know more about this. I would love to bag a zander before the end of the season, where else might I try ?.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

I can also recommend a KLAA book for zander fishing in the fens (and lots of other species too). Although zander are pretty well spread out now, the fen drains always feel like their real UK home, the best and proper place to fish for them. A lonely night spent on a still, silent, featureless drain in a perfectly flat landscape waiting for a properly wild, enigmatic predator to break the silence...magic

 

I was about to recommend Steve Younger's zander book but just looked it up on Amazon and it's now really expensive! You might find a cheaper one though: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fenland-Zander-You...0688&sr=8-1

 

Steve runs a tackle shop in King's Lynn and is usually helpful if you need some info. Or feel free to ask on here, several here have done varying amounts of fenland zander fishing.

Thank you for the info. I have been doing some digging around too. I was thinking of a trip to Welney this week, but have been told that zander are very rarely seen there nowadays. I havn't been there for 20 years or so, but they were fairly common in those days. Is there a drain in that area where I might have a chance of a Z ?.

 

Badger100

[Zander on the Fens]

Hi, I am planning a trip to the fens this week after a gap pf twenty years or more. I am after pike, but would also like to have the outside chance of a zander (a fish I have never caught). I was heading for my old haunt of Welney, but have just been told that zander are no longer caught around there. Is this correct, if so, where should I head to have the chance at a zander, aswell as good sized pike ?.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Hi badger 100

 

any of those river sections I mentioned this morning.

 

They are all pike hotspots.

 

regards

 

John

Hello John, you mention the fens being within 40 miles, where would you suggest trying for a zander. I hadn't realised I was that close, this is one fish i would love to catch. By the way found the Rushbrooke farm resevoir today, looks interesting and only 5 minutes away. Do the pike go to any size though ?.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

1: The mill pool side of the bridge at Brundon Mill Sudbury on the Suffolk Stour.

 

2: From Ballingdon Hill Bridge head upstream side the natural pool just below the first footbridge about 400 yds upstream of Ballingdon Bridge.

 

3: From Ballingdon Hill Bridge head upstream side the stretch just above the first footbridge about 400 yds upstream of Ballingdon Bridge, there is a small woody corpse with an old wartime bunker in it just upstream of the bunker.

 

4: The floodgates pool Suffolk Stour Sudbury.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Ballingdon bridge is the one they just rebuilt, on the way out of town to Halstead ?

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Hi badger 100

 

any of those river sections I mentioned this morning.

 

They are all pike hotspots.

 

regards

 

John

Thanks John for all your advice, it is much appreciated.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Nice to see another chelmer angler on the forum!

 

Would be intereted to hear how you got on piking on the chelmer, I've only really fished it for chub, although there used to be a pike in rickets weirpool that had a liking for taking swimfeeders on the retrieve

 

Mat

Hi matt, I have fished the Chelmer for many years, I had a narrowboat based at Hoe Mill for ten years. There are plenty of pike to be had in all of the river. The average has been going up of late. I have seen a few 20's in the lat 3 years or so. Cant wait to give the Stour a go now.

 

Badger

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Hi Badger100,

 

I live even nearer you than I first thought...hehehe...you must pass my house if you head to Colchester.

 

I have only fished Kettle lake twice and did not like it much, almost featureless - best two swims opposite the island by the tree's with your back to the field - boring Carp and a few Roach between two of us fishing it was a constant drag a 6lb to 10lb Carp a cast until I was totally fed up and switched to Roach and even then no challenge. You can pick up a little fun floating bread in the top corner with your back to the field and the farmhouse roughly to your right, if Carp ring your bell.

 

The Brett can get more interesting towards Layham and the back of Shelley, some interesting Chub down there.

 

In Hadleigh itself drive down the high road turn right to Topplesfield over the bridge then turn very sharp right onto a parking area, walk the few yards to the river then turn upstream walk about 300 to 400 yds you may have a little luck around there looks a little Pikey to me or perhaps by Topplesfield bridge itself. I have however never seen a Pike in there nor have I seen one caught.

 

On the Suffolk Stour in SUDBURY as John Weddup has already said there are a few spots with nice Pike in only guessing but 30lb+ is certainly a strong possibility. But as I already said I am not really a Pike Fisher these days.

 

Look out for John Weddup's threads he get around a fair bit and certainly knows the Suffolk Stour (in the wilder parts) better than most.

Thanks to Watatoad, for your input, I have yet to try the lower stretches of the Brett. John, thank you again. I will try one of the Sudbury stretches before the end of the season. If you had to pick one spot for a twenty plus pike this end of the season, which one place would it be ?.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Hi Badger100

 

You are now living within a few miles of some of the best predator fishing to be had.

 

Locally the river stour has a good head of pike. The deeper stetches around Sudbury hold the biggest fish. Most of the river sections are run by the local Sudbury and Long melford club.

 

To join go into the tackle shop in north street just beyond argos. George has next years club card now which will allow you to fish out this season aswell with no extra cost.

 

In addition to the river sections our lake at kettlebaston ( just a couple of miles from you) has also produced some vey good pike. No one new they were there until recently and some big fish have been caught.

 

A little further afield you have both Alton water at approx 360 acres and ardleigh res at about 160.

 

They have both got good pike and at ardleigh you can hire a boat.

 

Within a 40 mile drive you have the fens wich are predator heaven with both zander and pike or a little further the broads.

 

If you require more specific info please ask.

 

Oh and welcome to anglersnet. I will help anyone with information I have espescially as when I ask for help I always get a good response.

 

regards

 

John

Thank you for your reply John. I would love to have greater detail if that is not to much trouble please. Like directions to the favourable stretches of the Stour would be good, and what these stretches are known as locally. Also the lake at Kettlebaston, I didn't know about that, I only live in Lindsey, a couple of miles away. What club does that belong to and how big do the pike go, and how big is the lake ?. Perhaps we could talk on the phone maybe ?. I recently joined Hadleigh club, but the Brett seems to shallow to hold good pike , but perhaps you know differently ?. Any help to a stranger around these parts would be much appreciated. thank you also to those who have sent a welcome, it's good to be here.

 

Badger100

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

Welcome to Anglers' Net. I'll move this to the coarse section where more people will see it.

 

 

Thank you, I was wondering whether to post it in the coarse section aswell.

[Hello from new member in Suffolk]

I would like to say hello to all forum members. I am a dedicated pike angler, and for the last 10 years or so have fished rivers only. Primarily the Chelmer in Essex, and the River Nene around the Wansford to fotheringhay section in Northants. I have recently moved to Suffolk, just outside Lavenham. I was wondering if any members could point me in the right direction of a good pike water in my area. Preferably river, or large gravel pit. I would like to get a couple of days in before the end of the season. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Many Thanks

Badger100