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Fishing in Bournemouth area


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I'm treating myself to a 4 day fishing break in the Bournemouth/ Christchurch area in July. If anyone knows the area could you advise me on places to try? I'm attracted of course to the Royalty and Throop, but I'm wondering if I've chosen the wrong time of year? If the rivers are low or it's hot and bright am I right that prospects might be limited, except perhaps at dusk? I'm not really a barbel specialist, more of a general coarse angler.  I see that you can get day tickets for Christchurch harbour, which includes coarse fish as well as sea trout and mullet. How would the coarse fishing there compare with Throop and the Royalty?

Also, if the rivers are not in good shape I guess my 'Plan B' would be lakes. The ones I know of are Hordle Lakes and Orchard lakes. I'd appreciate any views on which might be best for general coarse fishing, particularly roach, rudd and crucians.

Thanks

john clarke

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Two mates and I spent a week on the Stour at Throop Mill at the start of the season a couple of years ago and we caught plenty of Roach and Dace and perch plus some very nice Chub; but no Barbel unfortunately.

Our largest Chub were just over 5lb and were caught at around dusk on large pieces of bread flake or bread crust fished on the bottom using a half ounce lead and a size 6 hook.

During the day we trotted for the Roach using our centrepins and occasionally our fixed spool reels using casters, hemp or maggots for bait; and then changed over to our Avon rods with fixed spool reels and fished light leads with bread crust and bread flake in the evenings and occasionally with Luncheonmeat.

We stayed at a bed & breakfast in the street running parallel to the river at Throop which advertised in the fishing weeklies but I can’t remember it’s name as my mate did the booking. The woman who ran the bedsit used to give us sandwiches and a flask of coffee to keep us fed during the day while we fished and had a tackle room where we could keep our tackle at night.

It was a very enjoyable and productive weeks fishing and I’d do it again.

Keith

Edited by BoldBear
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Happiness is Fish shaped (it used to be woman shaped but the wife is getting on a bit now)

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Thanks, Keith, that's particularly encouraging that you were able to fish productively during the day. I was concerned that weed and bright weather might make things difficult. Were the roach any size?

Your B&B sounds great. I have missed a trick there, I should have checked the angling press. I have booked a B&B through AirNb. No tackle can be taken into the house, and originally that applied to fishing clothes too! But I expect it will be OK.

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john clarke

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The Avon and Stour will both give you good sport, the latter very big Chub. Many years ago I lived at Kinson Bournemouth which the nearby Stour was a big fish haven, bream Chub barbel, big Roach the lot. Not sure who has the fishing rights but worth checking, flat access and nearby shops etc.

As an aside we used to catch the ferry to Hengitsbury Head from Muddiford nr Christchurch, beautiful place with clean beaches and quieter than the norm. There are groynes and a large pier type construction that you can fish off for wrass, bass etc, well worth the visit. Coarse gear can be used with a sturdy float, I scavenged the rock pools for bait, and knocked off limpets with a small hammer.

Used to fish the mouth of the Itchen too for sea trout and Mullet, big bread under an Avon float, great fun and free fishing. 

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Thanks, Blackbird - and welcome to AN, I see it's only your 3rd post.

Re Stour and Avon, I'm encouraged by you and Bold Bear re the Stour, but don't feel so confident about the Avon. I went to the Royalty Fishery once about 30 years ago when I was new to fishing, and I didn't know how to approach it. My memory is of specialist barbel anglers catching or not catching as the case may be. It would certainly be good to put out such a rod for a few hours, but I'm not sure how I would approach general coarse fishing for the rest of the time. I'm not sure if there are many roach in the Royalty, though maybe there's a good head of dace and chub?

Re sea trout and mullet, I'd be madly keen to try for both! I won't be going to the Itchen, but I think you get them in Christchurch harbour. I've seen people spinning for them on Youtube (a bit tricky for me as I have to fish sitting because of a bad back, but not impossible) and I know you can get mullet on bread, float-fished or ledger, I think. But I'd be interested in any advice re the sea trout, which I think you are saying you can also get on bread.

Hengistbury Head sounds interesting, too, thanks.

john clarke

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Blackbird, I should have said re Hengistbury Head, I have a bad back which limits me a bit. I can walk up to about 200 yards, and have to sit to fish. How far is it from where the ferry lands to the pier type construction?

john clarke

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Hi again John, yep Hengitsbury Head is an easy walk, and would be well worth it. Beautiful place and has perhaps the most expensive beach chalets in the country. It used too be off the beaten track for the grockels, so win win. Hope you take time and visit there, and look forward to your feed back.  

Personally  I have had recent health issues, and along with this virus not been fishing since September 2020, so itching to get out again on the river, will give the Wye a go, not fished her for 2 years or so. Good luck with your adventures . 

 

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Will certainly give feedback. I've recently restarted posting to my AN blog, but will give some kind of alert also.

Where are you based now? I've also had health issues and like you, combined with Covid it's been pretty much a fishless year. So it's great to plan for better days! Best of luck on the Wye. I've been there a couple of times near Ross barbel fishing, and on one occasion did really well. On the other I don't think there was enough flow in the river.

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john clarke

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Hi Tench, the White acres Fishing complex is just over 3 hours drive west of Bournemouth & seeing as you're going to that end of of the country for 4 days, would be an Ideal opportunity for a great days Fishing ?? Looks like it's all one or 3 straight roads so not hard to get to.

Just an Idea.

Google "How far is it from Bournemouth To Whiteacres"

Give them a ring, I feel sure they'll be able to put you on a nice Pleasure Peg.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/white-acres-you-can-fish-8047026

Edited by Martin56

Fishin' - "Best Fun Ya' can 'ave wi' Ya' Clothes On"!!

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