Category Archives: Pike Fishing
Covid-19 update. Lockdown Jan 2021
Tackle shop opening hours
Customer Notice:
Unfortunately our tackle shop at Woodford lodge will be closing at 12:30pm today. Apologies for any inconvenience, we’ll be back open Monday-Wednesday next week.
Christmas opening hours:
During the Christmas period our shop will be closed from Thursday 24th December until Monday 4th January 2021.
BW Lakeside Team
Covid-19 update. Changes to December fishing.
With the latest announcement from the UK Government stating that even greater numbers of local authorities will be moving into the higher tiers nationally in coming days, sadly our team have made the difficult decision to cancel all rescheduled pike fishing throughout December.
Remaining 2020 Pike bank permits go on sale today!
Bank fishing continues at the lakes
Been out fishing with us recently? Our bank fishing remains open for fly fishing at Chew Valley, Blagdon and Barrow tanks. Permits available online from Ticketsource. Make sure you check out the access codes printed on your Epermit before visiting.
Pictured below a fine 6lb 12oz rainbow for Mr P Holdsworth who caught another 3 fish plus a couple pike to 8lb at Chew. The fish took a cats whisker fished from Walley bank and Mr Holdsworth reported loosing an even bigger fish too!
Stocking’s taking place this week at Chew and Blagdon
Latest Lakeside update 04/11/20 11:36am
Early indications from the Angling Trust are that angling will be permitted during lockdown albeit with restrictions in place. Yet to be passed by law it appears that anglers will be able to fish local to them during the lockdown period commencing Thursday 5th November. This is great news and really highlights just how important angling is in providing mental and physical wellbeing.
Some fundamental rules for anglers include:
– Anglers should only fish at fisheries local to them and so should avoid long, unnecessary journeys.
– Anglers can only leave home to fish with members of your own household, your support bubble or with one other individual. Effectively moving from a ‘rule of 6’ to ‘rule of 2’.
– Competition fishing has been suspended.
– Anglers should not visit our sites if they are symptomatic or have tested positive for covid-19.
What does it mean for anglers visiting our waters?
Pike Fishing
The bulk of our pike fishing customers are travelling long distances to fish at Chew Valley lake. For this reason, Bristol Water is are unable to offer pike fishing during November. Whilst some visiting anglers are ‘local’ picking through who is and who isn’t would create significant admin work for our team. All November bookings will be offered a December date. Similarly, anglers due to fish from a boat in November will be offered an alternate bank day in December as well as issued a partial refund.
Any angler who is unable to make a December date or who chooses not to fish will be offered a refund. Once all customers have been contacted, any remaining tickets will be released for general sale.
Our team will be in contact in coming days to discuss options/dates available. We will start calling anglers due to fish in coming days to start and work our way through to those booked later in November. Please do not contact us, we will contact you.
Fly Fishing
Fly fishing from the bank at all of our waters can continue as normal albeit only local anglers should fish. Day permits will continue to be available via Ticketsource. Our tackle shop will close but if you need something desperate please email in to woodford.lodge@bristolwater.co.uk so that our team can see if we can help. We may be able to offer a ‘click and collect’ service for some small items like nylon/flies etc.
Bird watching
Bird watching can continue at the lakes for local birders. Hides will be closed. Only day permits will be available for the remainder of the year. Please call the lodge on 01275 332339 to purchase. Day permits are priced at £5.00pp. Please call mon-fri 8am-3:15pm only.
Finally, our team will continue to monitor government and Angling Trust updates and respond accordingly. We remind all visitors to stay at home if they are symptomatic, have tested positive or have been in close contact with a person who has covid-19. Please remember to wash hands regularly, wear face coverings accordingly and social distance at all times. Do not travel to our waters if you are not local.
Great fishing continues at the lakes…
A big thank you you to Red Lion Carpets for their kind sponsorship, if you need a carpet laid check out their website or facebook page. Alternatively drop them a call on 0117 977 0990.
Only a few days to go for boat fishing at Blagdon this year. Sadly we are cancelling boats on Saturday and Sunday at our waters due to the horrendous forecast, a mixture of strong average wind speeds and a horrid southerly direction to boot. If you want to get out on Blagdon before the season closes, make sure you book via TicketSource by Friday!
Barrow tanks is finally chucking up some rather special fishing of late with some good reports of larger grown on fish now feeding well. Check out the below bag of fish for Mr R Smith who caught two fish just over 4lbs, four over 3lbs and the remainder around 2lb 8oz! All of the fish came to a white minkie fished on tank 3. What a pretty spectacular bag of fish for a water that has an average stocking size of under 2lb! A demonstration of how many larger fish reside in our waters without being caught.
Back end fishing superb at the lakes..
Incredible predator fishing continues…
Pike fishing underway at Chew Valley with a healthy number of fish showing including a few fine specimens over the magical 30lb mark. Best reported last week was a bank caught fish of 35lb 6oz from Walley bank. Noticeably strong numbers of fish this season with a number of good doubles keeping rods busy for most.
The pike and perch fly fishing has been just as good with a magnificent 32lb fly caught pike yesterday for Lakeside Ranger, Chris. Fly fishing permits can be purchased online via TicketSource and allow anglers to target pike, perch or trout on the fly in a days fishing. You can purchase permits HERE.
A few pictures of some of the special fish showing for anglers as of late…