River Waveney

[dant]

Dunburgh is a good shout I reckon.

If there's any concern about the very light boat traffic you could always try the non tidal on Bungay Common.

There's a nice deep slower moving section near the Outdoor/Caravan place on the East side of the Common that would suit an overnight stay.

Some decent biggish Bream in that stretch and a few rouge Carp, good Perch too along with plenty of Jacks..

The Common is solely Cherry Tree now I believe, they do day tickets. I'm pretty sure you can get them from the pet food/garden place (can't remember the name) on the A143 Beccles Rd as you come in..

[Peter Waller]

Have also had some nice chub, as well as a few trout, from up that way. Those rogue carp sometimes top the twenty mark.

[dant]

Funny you mention the Trout. I've had one or two from there.

I think they're escapees from that Halcyon trout lake across the way...

My ol man lives next to The Chequers pub and has a garden that backs onto the river.

You can nearly see the bridge on Bridge St, there's several real lumps in the area.

I've regularly seen a very dark, thick shouldered Carp patrolling that looks closer to 30 than 20..

Edited January 2, 2014 by dant

[Norfolkdipper]

This sounds more & more of an interesting, if not exciting place to fish. So thanks to all for the details.

[Peter Waller]

The biggest nuisance carp that I have had from that area was just shy of 17 but I have spoken to a regular who reckons he's had one of 24 and one of 26. Don't know were those escapee trout come from, I've had them at both Dunburgh & Geldeston whilst spinning and trotting..

[Norfolkdipper]

Been busy, so sorry for slow reply.

I have however been mulling over all the answers on here & now have a conundrum to sort out. (Do I see an argument coming here or a good debate?)

 

Line size.

 

Do I load heavy enough to avoid being smashed by the carp or light enough to catch the smaller fish? We are often told that fish can see a thick line, but need to be heavy enough for the different situations we come across. Obviously if I was intentionally going for the carp, it would be an easy answer. But what if the carp were not the target fish :- there stands the problem, too heavy a line & you risk hurting anything small when reeling in. The cost of a few bits of terminal tackle is neither here or there, so a day could cost a couple of feeders/ leads & some hooks. So going light with plenty of 'spares' would be one answer. But with the chance of a good hard fighting wild carp, could you miss the chance?

That's a bit long winded, but I hope you understand the meaning.

[Dales]

Fish for both, use a heavier set up for the Carp but use a well balanced lighter set up for the smaller silvers. If your "light" setup is well balanced you can land some fairly big fish with it. I have landed many an accidental Carp or Pike on 2lb hooklengths on a light feeder or match rod. But I guess it depends on what you class as heavy? Plus the individual variables of the venue/swim/flow/features/weed/snags/crays etc

 

I often use 6lb main line and a medium feeder rod for river fishing and pair that with 4 or 5lb hook length (Heavy?) and that covers most species I am likely to hook and gives me a good chance of landing the "surprises" . I only go really light for Roach/Dace and general fishing for bait and then I just have to accept that I can not land everything I hook. Often you just need to decide what you really want to catch and tackle up for that target species.

[Norfolkdipper]

Thanks Dales. Interesting reply. I guess if the lighter gear is used close in & the heavier set up further out, it should cover them both.

[Dales]

Mark, I am happy to cast to the far bank with "lighter" set ups. It's more about the ability of the rod set up to soak up lunges from big fish and being able to apply pressure to the fish with out snapping the hooklength. Obviously, if I know I will need to bring any fish back through heavy weed or hold them back from some serious snags then I will fish a "heavier" set up. When I dont know much about a section of river I fish 6lb main line with a view to fishing for Chub/Perch/Bream and then mess around with the hook lengths.

[dant]

Good advice there!

I've nearly always fished that section of the Waveney with 6lb +\- a lb all the way through mainly for the Chub and Perch.

I've tended to fish slightly heavier on the Common for the Perch due to the amount of Jacks in the area.

I think I recall you saying that you were thinking about going towards the back end of the season?

If so, least you'll have a sporting chance if you hook a rouge Carp as there'll be very little weed about..

 

I have another spot for you by the way.

Have a think about the weir pool on Falcon Meadow.

It's free fishing. Cherry Tree have the marsh above it upto to the bridge on Bridge Street.

If there's not to much water coming through its a great spot.

Almost anything could turn up in that pool.

It's also only a stones throw from your parked car..

Definitely worth a look..