Anchor Meadow Fishery

The Meadow - Pegs 1-19

Slower moving deep stretch

The Meadow length, Pegs 1-19, is the deep, slower moving stretch which runs from the top end of the fishery down to the entrance to the lock which by-passes Harvington Weir.

From Pegs 1-6, up to 13 feet of water can be found under the bank making the pole, swim-feeder or ledgering the most popular techniques for fishing close in.

Good for carp, tench and bream

Because the water is deep and slow moving, these pegs are favoured for carp, tench and bream and are particularly good for the roach and dace in winter. Indeed, it was from Peg 2 in 2001 that an angler from Scotland who visits Avon Meadow for a three-day angling holiday every year took a Common Carp which weighed in at 48lbs. He ledger fished worm under the bank.

Shallower pegs towards the locks

From Pegs 7-19 the river shallows as it approaches the lock, coming up to six feet deep. Because these pegs are shallower than those at the top end, float fishing is easier. However, because the bank along the whole of the Meadow length is undercut it forms a natural lie for the fish, making it unnecessary to cast more than a rod length out unless anglers want to fish the faster moving water towards the centre of the river either on swimfeeder/ledger tackle or trotting an Avon Stick downstream in the current.

Pegs 17 and 18 where the water slackens near the entrance to the lock are particularly favoured by those going for the tench. Evening fishing is generally most productive and it pays to bait up a swim and leave it for an hour before starting to fish.

Legendary 18lb Barbel

In 2010, anglers fishing this area from the island also produced the fishery’s largest barbel with several double figure fish to 18lbs having been taken. Anglers looking to catch some of the big bream should fish close in under their feet on the Meadow bank or within about 10 feet of the far side. When going for the bream, roach, perch, dace and other silver fish it pays to feed generously and often to keep the fish in your swim.

Ideal baits at Anchor Meadow

When it comes to baits, almost anything goes although luncheon and pet meat on a Size 8 or 10 hook are favoured by those after the carp, tench and bream with surface-fished dog biscuits being popular for anglers wanting to take carp off the surface. Chopped worm is another popular bait with maggots, casters and bread always forming a popular fall-back and slugs being particularly effective for the chub. Black slugs usually work well whilst those night fishing should try snails – still in their shells – again fished on a Size 8 or 10 hook.

The Lock

Fishing the entrances to the lock can provide surprising sport with good catches of carp, tench and bream in particular being taken. Whilst anglers should not fish near the lock itself during daytime in summer, they are allowed to fish it late evening, through the night and throughout the winter months.

For the most part both entrances to the lock are only three feet deep and, being still water when the lock is not in use, are easy to fish with float on both rod and pole using stillwater techniques.

The bottom is quite silty and it is obvious when the fish are feeding because great dark brown clouds and bubbles are thrown up as the fish rummage through the silt. Look out for the tell-take signs and you should be in for some fun!

The Island - Pegs 19-40

If you are looking to catch some of the big barbel and chub at Anchor Meadow, the Island pegs are usually the ones to head for. Turning left after you cross the bridge leads to the slower moving water above the weir whilst turning right leads to the weir pool itself and the faster moving water downstream. The biggest fish in 2010 to come from the fast moving water below the weir weighed in at 15lbs whilst some 30 double figure fish were taken by anglers fishing the last peg off the point.

The main methods of fishing the Island pegs are trotting an Avon Stick downstream, using a swimfeeder or ledgering. Most popular baits are luncheon and pet meat, a fairly hefty bunch of chopped worms or slugs for the barbel and chub and maggots, casters and bread for the roach, bream and perch.

Ideal pegs for float fishing

When float fishing it often pays to wear chest or thigh waders and to wade out slightly from the bank. Although it doesn’t look it, the water at times of normal flow is only about three-and-a-half feet deep, but wearing waders enables you to control the float better. Set the depth at between three and four feet and ‘button shot’ the line by spacing weights evenly along its length with fine dust shot nearer the hook. After casting, hold the float back slightly to allow the bait to run downstream ahead of the float.

Bites will usually be obvious as the barbel tend to take the bait fairly viciously. However, be prepared for a good scrap as you will not only be fighting the fish but also the current! Float fishing is really only suitable from Pegs 19, 20, 32, 27, 28, 29 and 38, 39 and 40 off the downstream point of the island.

Vigourous bites, so beware

When ledgering use about a one-ounce free-running Arlesey Bomb on the main line stopped about 18 inches to two-feet from the hook by a lead shot. An alternative is to set up a similar sized weight on a fixed paternoster which acts like a bolt-rig. Again, whichever technique you use, the bites will be vigorous so those fishing lighter lines of under 6lbs should slacken their slipping clutches to avoid being broken on the take. An alternative technique is to freeline worm or meat, using part of a blade of grass or grass stalk to hold the bait on the hook.

Fishing for silverfish

When fishing for the roach and other silver fish, anglers need to take plenty of bait as regular feeding is required to keep the fish in the swim. A good supply of float and ledger weights is also required as the current can roll the weight around the river bed causing the terminal tackle to snag on rocks on the bottom on occasions, although this shouldn’t happen if angler fish with their float set shallower and hold it back as it passes down the swim.