Fishing in small streams & brooks

[fruitloopy]

I took a drive over to a place called Werrington in Peterborough last night to check out a small brook that runs through it. Its not all that wide and in some parts down to just 8 foot across.

 

I started underneath a foot bridge across the brook where I could see fish feeding. While I was there I was watching a police helicopter hovering over my head watching me, I had driven past a police van on my way here so I was expecting some running footsteps and police helmets heading towards me at any moment. After 5 minutes the helicopter left, maybe he was interested in whether I was catching anything!

I caught nothing under that bridge so I went to another bridge a bit further upstream. As soon as I cast my worm/float it went under and I reeled in a lovely, energetic young Perch of about half a pound. 30 minutes later I had another 5.

 

I moved along the path of the brook to where it meets a small wier that comes from a lake called Cuckoo's Hollow, I had seen a barbel languishing in the current below the wier a couple of weeks back so I was hoping he might still be around. The water was quite cloudy, maybe the sudden downpour earlier had caused that.

I cast the worm in freeline this time to let it drift with the current and within seconds I felt a sharp, heavy tug. I struck and felt some nice resistance but lost it.

After a few more casts I caught another 2 Perch and a 1 pound chub.

 

This could be an incentive to river anglers out there not to neglect these small brooks, streams, etc as they still hold a good head of fish and good fun. If you can see moorhens, ducks, swans and other wildlife on the water then you can bet there will be fish.

 

Anyone in Peterborough can visit this place, I could not see any signs to indicate fishing was not allowed and in fact this brook, Cuckoo's Hollow and some of the land surrounding it is owned by the Environment Agency.

Google Maps location of Werrington Brook

Google Maps location of the wier at Cuckoo's Hollow, Werrington

 

Just so you are aware the lake at Cuckoo's Hollow was found with a small Blue-Green Algae outbreak in May. The Environment Agency retested in June and gave the all clear but signs are still up warning dog walkers, etc. I have no idea of fishing is available here, I do know it is not very deep and quite thick with mud and silt in many places.

[BoldBear]

Yes there is some great fishing in some of these smaller streams. I was fishing in this little stream on friday evening:

 

and caught this brace of small Barbel (see below), its amazing what fish are in these smaller streams; not record breakers but still great fun.

There are also roach to around 2lb caught occasionally in the same stretch of stream.

 

 

You get anglers driving past these streams on their way to a lake or canal where the'y'll sit and watch their float or catch a net of stunted roach and bream; and they don't even give a thought to fishing these little streams. Still I'm not complaining as you can almost have the stream containing the better quality fish to yourself.

Edited July 4, 2008 by BoldBear

[fruitloopy]

I would be in heaven if I caught those barbel, they look great!

 

I find it much more fun because you just dont know what your going to find in there.

[BoldBear]

I would be in heaven if I caught those barbel, they look great!

 

I find it much more fun because you just dont know what your going to find in there.

I love these smaller streams, even when you get someones dog paddling in your swim it doesn't seem to put the fish off for long as they seem to get used to it and it stirs up the food on the bottom; as long as you keep low.

Edited July 4, 2008 by BoldBear

[Elton]

I've fished no end of small brooks and always enjoyed them. One near me proved very productive for some surprisingly large chub. However, I think the controlling club caught wind of it, as I'm told that it's now been dredged, had swims cut in, etc.

 

Some people just don't get it.

[fruitloopy]

I've fished no end of small brooks and always enjoyed them. One near me proved very productive for some surprisingly large chub. However, I think the controlling club caught wind of it, as I'm told that it's now been dredged, had swims cut in, etc.

 

Some people just don't get it.

 

All comes down to making money at the end of the day. Bas*ards!

 

This is why I try to seek out these unfished, out of the way spots because I dont want to sit on the same wodden pallet for 8 hours wedged inbetween "I've got a line in that spot, mate" and the "swish...swish...swish" noise of the underweighted float rod casting out every 10 seconds next to me.

 

 

 

I've got a real chip on my shoulder today! It must be because I've seen the bloody weather report for the weekend.

[badboybubbie]

How do you go about this brookes and streams fishing.Do you just search for streams on a map then heod on over.Isn't it illegal does your rod liscence cover you for this.How do you find out who owns it.can i just go out and fish any brooke or stream?.please get back to me let me know sounds incredible.

[Guest tigger]

Yes there is some great fishing in some of these smaller streams. I was fishing in this little stream on friday evening:

 

and caught this brace of small Barbel (see below), its amazing what fish are in these smaller streams; not record breakers but still great fun.

There are also roach to around 2lb caught occasionally in the same stretch of stream.

 

 

You get anglers driving past these streams on their way to a lake or canal where the'y'll sit and watch their float or catch a net of stunted roach and bream; and they don't even give a thought to fishing these little streams. Still I'm not complaining as you can almost have the stream containing the better quality fish to yourself.

 

 

 

What a stream that is !

[Guest Rabbit]

How do you go about this brookes and streams fishing.Do you just search for streams on a map then heod on over.Isn't it illegal does your rod liscence cover you for this.How do you find out who owns it.can i just go out and fish any brooke or stream?.please get back to me let me know sounds incredible.

 

It is great fun, there are quite a few streams around that are not owned by any angling club. But you will need a rod licence to fish them. i used to live near a very small stream that was a tributary of the Bristol Avon, it was packed with chub roach and trout. It was rumoured that it was 'owned' by the local Angling Club for trout only fishing, but I never did see anyone fish there. the banks were really overgrown so casting a fly would have been impossible. but trotting a stick float was not that difficult and every trot returned mostly a chub or roach and sometimes a trout, I never asked permission to fish there, I was worried if I asked the nearest farm at least a mile away he would have said no. Anyway there was a little use public footpath on one side of the stream, so legal access to the land was no problem, so perhaps that what you should look for.

I still cannot resist looking into any kind of small stream and wondering!!! believe me there are some big chub and roach to be found in the deeper pools. bread works well for me as it will normally get a better quality fish, but you don't need small hooks the fish probably have never seen a baited hook.

OS maps or Google Earth will help you find them....best of luck.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Rabbit

[fruitloopy]

I was concerned when I first started fishing where I did, I was wondering if I was breaking the law but then I thought 'There's no signs from angling associations, clubs, farmers, land owners, etc so...what the hell.' If the owner asks you to move on then apologise and walk away.

 

I think there are loads of these little places around and its a sign of the increasing lack of freedom we have in this country as we always think it belongs to someone or the police will tell us to leave. We are always worried that we are in the wrong.

 

As long as it is not dangerous, your not harming anyone or obviously fishing where your not supposed to then go for it. I like to roam around and crash through a few bushes and as long as I dont damage anything or hurt anyone then I cant see the problem.

 

Go for it badboybubbie, start searching areas around you on google maps and just go and have a look. I think if you see a spot that looks great but is obviously on someones land then go and ask as they will almost certainly say yes.