I've booked myself a day's fishing at Barton Court on this Thursday.

 Any advice on what approaches work best on this stretch of the Kennet?  I was thinking about spending the day trotting with maggots and flake (perhaps not at the same time!).  Does this sound a reasonable approach?

Cheers

Glosfisher

It's a beautiful fishery, trotting will work - also touch ledgering with a very light (say 2 swan) link ledger can be really good fun. 

Probably goes without saying but take the bare minimum ofkit with you as you'll probably move swims several times during the day.  Let us know how you get on - I'm thinking of trying to go before the clocks change!

Gentlemen,

Thank you both for your comments.  I'd decided to take very little kit as it was; one of the reasons I like river fishing is the opportunity to rove.  So all I shall have is one Avon rod, centerpin, the essentials and bait in a Double-T bait bag and a small pack with refreshments on my back.

Must say I'm rather looking forward to it!

Make sure you keep low as you approach a swim if it's clear.  This is one of the main reasons for failing to catch there.

I'm jealous as it's a lovely place to fish.

You wil find a match rod better than an Avon; a lightweight approach is needed that means fine lines.

The biggest rule is - find the fish! The grayling fishing has suffered the hammering as is usual in these cases but plenty of other fish to try for including a few surprises.

May well be a little coloured on Thursday, there's been a fair amount of rain.  Trotted maggot, flake or punch work very well.

The carrier directly below the cabin/car park held a lot of bream last season, only a few inches deep in some places but bream to 5lb+! Follow that down to the junction above the brick bridge for a good looking and favourite area for big perch and roach.  I've had roach to 1 1/2lbs from there but have seen a couple of veritable monsters!

The heavier I fed maggot, the more trout I hooked.  Scaling down produced more reasonable grayling.

I usually walk for miles and keep returning to various areas again and again during the day.

Good luck.

If there is colour in the water then the roach shouild feed.Had good days with caster for roach there in the past with a little hemp.Maybe try flake towards evening but it does have strange tendency to attract trout. There are some nice dace to be had.

Mark is right in the fish were always quite localised so keep on the move.Didn't you catch an Ide when we were there together a while back, Mark?

Great place to fish glosfisher.

It is not as it used to be, but then where is.

Like others have said, keep on the move. lots of trout, great Pike, Perch & Dace fishing.

The Roach dont seem to be there in great numbers as years gone by, but if you get into them you can still have some nice fish. I have always done better on overcast days, the water can be gin clear.

Have a great Day, look out for some of the great wildlife that helps make it such a nice place.

Good luck.

Mark Wintle (ACA) wrote (see)

You wil find a match rod better than an Avon; a lightweight approach is needed that means fine lines.

Mark, in that case I'll take my MAP Concept Super Match in 15' mode.

 I'm slightly concerned by the rather too good weather and high pressure we're going to have on Thursday but what the hell...

 I shall keep on the move and see what happens

 Thank you all for your very helpful advice and I shall report back

The story of the day is on Venue Reports.  Thanks for the advice, it all worked!