I wasn't joking about the wife's mothers garden.
Last September I had a look down the river at the end of the garden and saw the biggest shoal of roach I have ever seen, much bigger in numbers than used to be found on the Tweed in the 70's/early 80's, and they were huge. I'm not sure whether Wakefield A.C. have the opposite (Thornes) bank which usually has crops in the fields. It looked to be easy access with a short walk from the upstream Denby Dale Road bridge. or via Pugneys Country Park on the opposite bank
In all the years she has lived there, c 1964, I have never seen one angler fish there. Mind, in 1964 I doubt anywhere in that area of the Calder would have a single fish. Idid threaten to take a rod and tackle down some time but I would really struggle with the high bank from the garden.
From memory the river below Chantry Bridge would make good barbel territory although I don't know what the access is like since the demise of British Jeffrey Diamond engineering works.
The beck that runs from New Miller Dam to the Calder looks interesting, I'm told it too has chub these days. There is an easy accessible stretch at the back of the Pledwick Well Inn on the A61 Barnsley road. Looks like it would provide easy and interestingnight fishing, that's if you like small stream fishing.
Out of interest, my late father worked on restoring the Chantry Chapel just after WW11. It really saddens me to see it in such a rundown state these days.
Just remembered that my sister in-law is working on theconstructionat Pindersfield. Hard hat and riggers boots, so she says. Rosina Clarke if you come across her. She says that she runs the place but I recon she only makes the tea.
