Our Go To Waters
While Gav and I do try to visit new places, there are always a few places we go back to again and again. Be that for their Prolificacy or the abundance of species, sometimes we just have that favourite place that scratches a particular itch.
Canals
Kennet and Avon Canal
Stretching 87 miles from London to the Bristol Channel, the historic Kennet and Avon Canal is a top-tier destination for coarse anglers. Featuring everything from peaceful countryside stretches to urban swims, it boasts rich populations of specimen perch, hard-fighting carp, chub, and pike.
We have spent a lot of time on the Devizes and Pewsey stretches of this canal, hunting for the big perch that prove so elusive. There are plenty of features to go for around Devizes. However, the Pewsey stretch is much more open and harder work when trying to hoodwink those wily perch. When you find them in Pewsey water, big hauls are definitely possible.
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
Beyond our local Wiltshire waters, the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal offers some of the most consistent big perch fishing in the South West. Its deep, wide shipping channels provide shelter and abundant baitfish for specimen stripeys.
I can't lie, we have struggled here. But it is an interesting place. The attraction for us was the chance to catch our first Zander. This is the closest place we know them to be. The canals are wide and deep here, with fast-flowing sections. Despite how hard we found it, this is definitely a location we will return to in the future.
If you are in the area and fancy a bit of rubber chucking, then we suggest starting at Sauls Junction. The nearby tackle shop "Lobby's Tackle" in Stonehouse would be a great place for some up-to-date information.
Rivers
The River Avon
Avoncliff
The River Avon at Avoncliff truly is an engineering marvel. Impressive and beautiful at the same time. In this unique spot, the canal, river, road, and rail all meet, with the river and railway coursing through the depths of the valley and the Kennet and Avon Canal towering above, crossing them both.
Fishing on this stretch is from the Aqueduct at Avoncliff all the way through to Limpley Stoke. This truly amazing stretch of water has some fantastic views, stunning wildlife and the chance to bank some truly special specimens of pike, perch and chub. The fishing rights belong to Warminster and District Angling Club. It is worth the ticket price for this stretch of water alone.
Chippenham Avon
A really good stretch of water from the weir at Borough Parade all the way to the water treatment plant. This is not the most accessible stretch of water, but it has a good head of decent chub and pike, and we have seen some huge perch here.
The fish certainly seem cute here, and they won't hang around once they know you are there. You need to work at this stretch and accessing some swims is an adventure in itself, but there are always fish to be had.
The River Frome
The Mill At Rode
Another beautiful place and quite a short stretch to be fair. This fast-paced run of water has sizeable chub and perch, along with the obligatory pike. This is again a Warminster club water. A mixture of long shallow runs with deep sections at the slower bends. The river widens into a substantial pooled area before the mill. This always throws up small chub and has the potential for some bigger predators in the deeper water.
For the non-lure angler, I have caught some huge gudgeon here too.
Predator Tackle
For everything predator, this is the UK's best tackle shop. If they don't have it, you don't need it.
Maverick Tackle
Handmade soft plastic lures, designed and poured in the UK for the fish that actually swim here — perch, pike, zander, chub, trout..
The Perch Hunters
Three mates chasing fins, filming the fight, and spinning real stories. Welcome to The Perch Hunters, grit, laughs, and cinematic glory.
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