Having heard so much in my teens about this being the finest coarse fishing in the UK, I couldn't wait to fish it for a weekend at East Mills, despite hearing tales of woe about cormorants, otters etc.
We arrived on the Friday night at dusk and I quickly got my fishing tackle out to try at the weir pool adjacent to the Environment Agency building. Sadly, it was the time of year when the ranunculus was breaking up and I got my line bogged down within a few minutes of each cast.
The next morning, along with my fishing buddy Reg, we walked the stretch and planned a dual approach where I would trot in various areas, and he would settle in one of the best looking swims and bait up. What a frustrating day! With the water level at its lowest for 25 years, and near bank to bank weed breaking up, fishing was very difficult. I managed a few minnows and a couple of parr, but Reg blanked with his approach and despite changing to float tackle and a 22 hook, couldn't get a fish; not even a dace or minnow. In fact, we didn't see a fish all day until the light fell when I saw what I thought was a bream roll in the carrier weir pool that I was fishing, followed quickly by a large dog otter swimming around! Time to pack up then.
The next morning the weather was fine, so we decided to focus on the weir pool where I saw the bream. Again, I preferred the float whilst Reg set up his quiver tip. Sport was slow again; by lunchtime I was about 10 to 5 up on minnows when Reg's perseverence paid off. He struck into a large slow moving fish, a bream of 6lb 10oz. What a fish to break our duck.
Just then, Peter the owner arrived and gave us the tour of the Estate, showing us several good holes, most of which we'd tried, but he also pointed out where there was a depression in the river just above the pool where we were fishing. He could see a chub with his polaroids which I rather stupidly hadn't brought, thinking they wouldn't be of much use in November as I'm used to spate rivers. This was a lesson learned.
I switched to my touch legering tackle with a 6 hook and a lump of spam and in a couple of minutes I caught a chub of just under 3lb. Reg followed suit (in my swim!!!!) and had a chub of just over 3lb before the shoal was spooked in shallow clear water.
We then moved to the recommended swim and didn't have a bite for the rest of the day.
All in all it was a frustrating weekend, but we really enjoyed the stay in an excellent cottage in a nice environment, and although the fishing was hard, I had learnt lessons and will return, but probably later in the season when the river is clear of weed, and hopefully with a bit more water.
Hi - that's the fishy bit. I tagged along on this trip and spent two heavenly days in a newly refurbished cottage - great after the tip we've been living in whilst our house is being updated. I was in heaven - I cooked (a boozy beef stew with herby dumplings) to welcome the frozen fishermen home at the end of the day, sang, listened to music, played Reg's guitar when he wasn't looking! What a great weekend with beautiful weather, places to walk, rivers and fish to watch. At the end of the weekend, Monday morning loomed grey and cold so back to reality but this is one place I'd be happy to go back to. If you appreciate good things, check out Newforest Cottages - I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Sandy (fishing widow)