The Bridge Pool
The Royalty Bridge Pool is famous for it's excellent sea
trout fishing
with both fly and bait.
The Pool is bookable for any day during the period 16th June to
31st October annually.
Each booking is for a named "rod holder" and one "other",
both of whom may fish simultaneously from 0600 to 2300.
Fishing is from
the moored punt (which may be positioned anywhere in the main pool) or by
wading.
See below for rules, information &
fishing tips...
Extract of the current rules, as
applicable to the Bridge Pool:
The permit holder named shall be responsible for ensuring that each person fishing observes these rules.
The permit includes the right to fish for sea trout and
salmon during the respective seasons (no salmon fishing after 31st August) providing each angler is
in possession of the appropriate Environment Agency (Migratory)
Rod Licence.
Environment Agency bylaws must be observed at all times.
Only two anglers may fish at any time.
No
more than one rod at a time may be used by each of the 2 anglers.
Fishing is allowed from 0600 to 2300 but salmon fishing must cease at sunset.
Bag
limit is 2 sizeable sea trout per angler (maximum 4 fish from the Pool per day).
All salmon, brown trout & other fish to be released unharmed. (If you
catch a fish and are unsure whether it's a sea trout or not, please put it back
immediately - we do not allow you to take salmon or brown trout.)
Minimum
size limit for sea trout is 15" and maximum size
limit of 20" measured from tip of nose to cleft of tail.
To facilitate Catch & Release, anglers are recommended to use barbless or
de-barbed hooks.
No worming for salmon - shrimp or fly only allowed
(worming for salmon is illegal on the Avon).
No
salmon fishing after 31st August.
No lobworms (fly,
maggots, small single worms, shrimps & prawns may be used but no shrimps or prawns
after 31st August).
No spinning (no spinners, spoons, plugs, wobblers, devons,
or fly-spoons).
No keepnets.
No pike fishing.
No fishing from the bridge.
For
the safety of the general public, fly anglers must not fish from the bank or
allow their fly lines to cross the bank.
No litter, radios, fires or camping on or near the river.
Before vacating the pool, the punt should be moored so that it can rise and fall with the tide*.
All salmon & sea trout caught must be reported to
Davis Tackle (including undersize fish).
Any known break of rules should be reported to Davis
Tackle or a bailiff immediately.
Fishing is undertaken at the anglers’ risk.
General Notes:
Please have consideration for local residents at all times.
The boat chain is very noisy - please do not move the punt until 6.00am. and
leave by 11.00pm
If leaving the pool for lunch etc., don't leave your tackle or other belongings
unattended and take care to leave the punt moored so that it can rise & fall with the
tide.
Being tidal, other boats may legally navigate
through the pool. Allow them to pass peacefully and they should not affect your
sport.
*Please note that when leaving the pool, the mooring chain must be clipped to the mooring ring at the stern of the punt and not tied to the steps or handrails. The main chain should also be attached to the ring post with sufficient slack to allow the punt to reach the bank.
A catch return of
all game fish caught (or nil return) must be made to Davis Tackle asap after fishing. Anglers failing to
submit a catch return, leaving the punt in an unsatisfactory state or breaking any other rule may not be eligible for future bookings!
There
are umbrella sockets provided in the punt for your use.
If there is excess
water in the punt, you can use the bilge pumps with the handle provided. If
a pump won't prime, put your hand over the outlet and give 3 or 4 quick pumps
to create a vacuum.
Notes
on "Catch & Release":
Our fish stocks have improved in
recent years mainly because of "Catch & Release" so please don't
kill fish, particularly large hen fish, unless you are going to eat them.
There
are often large numbers of undersize fish in the pool so to facilitate C &
R, avoid
using barbed or multiple hooks - you may be surprised how few fish you will lose when using
barbless or crushed-barb hooks, and how much easier it is to release fish. Also,
single barbless hooks are much easier to extract from nets, clothing and body
parts!
When bait fishing, strike quickly to avoid fish swallowing the hook.
When
releasing fish, please hold them firmly but gently into the current until
they are strong enough to swim away.
Avoid bringing fish into the boat or
onto the bank - use a large landing net with a small soft mesh and try to release
fish without removing from the water. If you must handle the fish, wet your
hands and/or use a wet cloth.
Which Method?
Both fly and bait fishing can be effective. Do whichever
you enjoy, or both! You have up to 17 hours x 2 anglers = 34 rod-hours in the
pool, plenty of time to experiment! The ever changing tidal conditions affect the depth and
flow so be prepared to vary your technique. The shallow area below the main
pool can be very productive with fly or bait, particularly for good numbers
of smaller fish. It can be accessed by wading (if careful!) from about 2 hours
into the ebb tide until about 2 hours after the start of the flood, although
the ebb is generally better. You can then fish for a distance of approximately
50yds to the bottom boundary (which is just upstream of the first yacht mooring).
It is generally best to position yourself in the middle of the river and cast towards
the far (east) side, then let the current do the rest! For tidal predictions covering the next 6 days click here.
Fly Fishing:
If
casting from the punt, position the punt in the pool so that you (and your partner)
can cast safely, without allowing your line to pass over the bank or hit
the bridge. It is generally best to cast diagonally across the current
and allow fly to swing around. Experiment with different depths and retrieve
rates:- Sometimes a fast retrieve across the surface will work. Other times
the more traditional "slow & deep" method is better. Remember that the depth and current change with the tide.
Most traditional wet fly patterns will catch fish but the following are
local favourites: Alexandra, Medicine, Black Pennel, Whiskey, Teal & Silver, Black & Silver
and Zulu, sizes 10 - 14 in daylight, size 6 - 8 during
darkness.
Fly leaders/tippets for sea trout should be 4 - 6lb in daytime in clear water
conditions and 10lb in coloured water or dull conditions.
Fly leaders/tippets for
salmon should be 10lb or more.
Bait Fishing:
Experienced
coarse anglers with a background of trotting techniques will do best. When
bait fishing for sea trout, small worms are a good bet, and there is no need
to groundbait but if using maggots, heavy feeding (1 gallon
at least) can be very productive.
Line strength should be around 4lb or more, depending on conditions.
Hook size: 12 - 16 for maggots, 8 - 12 for worms.
An Avon or Chubber
style float and centrepin reel will give you the best control when float fishing
and allow you to fish over-depth and "hold back" at the tail of the
pool.
A small swimfeeder
can be effective if legering (particularly when there is little or no flow during
a flooding tide)
When trotting, you will usually find that the pool fishes
best when the tide is ebbing (running off). The exception to this is when the
river is in spate in which case you should experience good flows during the
flood tide.
Parking:
The nearest public car
park is at the Council Offices in Bridge Street, about 200yds east of the Bridge
Pool.
Accommodation:
Click here
Emergency
numbers:
Agents
Davis Tackle: 01202 485169
or 0845 166 8038
Management
D Burgess: 07771 710021
Pollution/Fish
in distress etc.
Environment Agency: 0800 80 70 60 or 0278 457333
Swan Rescue
Ken Merriman: 01202 828166 or 07785
917457
Booking:
The price for fishing the Bridge Pool in 2004 is
£85.00 per "double rod" per day..
Bookings are taken on or after 1st November for the
following season.
Applicants may pay by cash or cheque at Davis Tackle. Provisional bookings
may be made by telephone but must be confirmed in writing within 7 days,
together with a cheque for the full amount made payable "Southern
Fisheries Ltd." Bookings remaining unpaid after 7 days will be cancelled
automatically.
If you have a booking but are unable to fish and wish to
let a friend use your booking, you must contact Davis Tackle and supply details
of the person you wish to fish. However, you will remain responsible for the conduct of the anglers fishing. Alternatively, given sufficient notice, Davis Tackle may be able
to re-let your day, and offer you an alternative day in lieu.
If
you wish to make a booking or ask any questions about the fishing, please either
call in at
Davis Tackle or telephone
0845 166 8038 (please do not e-mail your enquiries or bookings unless
you live overseas - it is too
time-consuming!)
this page updated April 1st, 2006
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