theartist
Well-known member
Ok folks this is a catch report from this morning, the reason this is not in the HDYGO thread is maybe someone will read this in a few years time and go "Blimey I didn't know there was ever fish in that river" However I hope not
River Bulbourne 20/08/19
I arrived at one of the few stretches of the Bulbourne that you can still fish, it's basically where it runs out of the canal and back in again, it's a small intimate river lined with rushes with the odd hole and glide here and there, at least that's how I remember it although the last time I fished here was the summer of 2015, all of four years ago. Its a little river that's itching to be the chalkstream It should be but is a slave to the Grand Union Canal so has the usual canal species.I set up in a little weir where it runs out of the canal, here there is always a hole where there is some 'depth' under the white water before the river gets swallowed in watercress. With the recent rains I was hopeful of some nice roach and perch.
I was pleased to get off the mark with a small chub before another and then another. They were all chub though and I stopped at ten fish when the bites slowed and paddlers were approaching. Its about the only spot where you can get in the river now and perhaps I shouldn't have picked a sunny day in the school holidays. All the chub were all around 4-6oz and a stark contrast to last time and I wondered where the roach and perch were. I was eager to explore downstream anyway. I had just a landing net and everything I needed was in my bib and jacket. Like last time I planned to wade down the river fishing the odd hole here and there.
I found one small hole under a tree but it was very shallow, I was tripping bottom fishing a foot deep but I did manage just one sole roach. I was soon continuing downstream to where I remember getting a lot of perch and some nice chub last time from a much deeper hole. I walked through where I caught the roach and it was very silty, much more than last time. Little did I know that would be the last spot I fished. I was unable to find the other swim or anywhere else for that matter as I was faced with this as I waded further down the river
By now I had gone maybe 150 yards and was truly knackered, It doesn't sound much but the rushes either side were binding together and even trying to break through was hard and on occasions I had to step over rushes that were holding me back like interlocked arms saying " NO ENTRY" The river was choked and I prayed I could find an exit point where dogs go in. I looked back at the channel I had made in the river, it wasn't much of a clearing and I didn't fancy going back upstream through that again.
Another fifty yards and still no exit so I had to make my own way out when I finally saw some bank, being stung by nettles seemed welcoming as I got on terra firma. How despondent I had become, I got out and looked forlornly at the river, I could see no water even where I once stood
What was noticeable was how silty the river was underfoot, I would say its the same depth but less water, I wonder how many river depth readings take into account that the water levels stay the same with less water as the flora encroaches. I found some more water downstream were it slows yet this was also around a foot deep and silty, the areas where there was open water coincided with large sewage pipes entering the river - no more fish were caught
Maybe someone will do an online search of a river along with 'abstraction' in the future and this journey down this river will be read, maybe something will be done, perhaps this river will live on only in the memory. Or perhaps I'm getting carried away and did the drought last year really choke this up? I will return later in the year and for years to come to chronicle this rivers progress, lets see what happens
For the record this is what the river looked like in 2015
Thanks for reading
River Bulbourne 20/08/19
I arrived at one of the few stretches of the Bulbourne that you can still fish, it's basically where it runs out of the canal and back in again, it's a small intimate river lined with rushes with the odd hole and glide here and there, at least that's how I remember it although the last time I fished here was the summer of 2015, all of four years ago. Its a little river that's itching to be the chalkstream It should be but is a slave to the Grand Union Canal so has the usual canal species.I set up in a little weir where it runs out of the canal, here there is always a hole where there is some 'depth' under the white water before the river gets swallowed in watercress. With the recent rains I was hopeful of some nice roach and perch.
I was pleased to get off the mark with a small chub before another and then another. They were all chub though and I stopped at ten fish when the bites slowed and paddlers were approaching. Its about the only spot where you can get in the river now and perhaps I shouldn't have picked a sunny day in the school holidays. All the chub were all around 4-6oz and a stark contrast to last time and I wondered where the roach and perch were. I was eager to explore downstream anyway. I had just a landing net and everything I needed was in my bib and jacket. Like last time I planned to wade down the river fishing the odd hole here and there.
I found one small hole under a tree but it was very shallow, I was tripping bottom fishing a foot deep but I did manage just one sole roach. I was soon continuing downstream to where I remember getting a lot of perch and some nice chub last time from a much deeper hole. I walked through where I caught the roach and it was very silty, much more than last time. Little did I know that would be the last spot I fished. I was unable to find the other swim or anywhere else for that matter as I was faced with this as I waded further down the river
By now I had gone maybe 150 yards and was truly knackered, It doesn't sound much but the rushes either side were binding together and even trying to break through was hard and on occasions I had to step over rushes that were holding me back like interlocked arms saying " NO ENTRY" The river was choked and I prayed I could find an exit point where dogs go in. I looked back at the channel I had made in the river, it wasn't much of a clearing and I didn't fancy going back upstream through that again.
Another fifty yards and still no exit so I had to make my own way out when I finally saw some bank, being stung by nettles seemed welcoming as I got on terra firma. How despondent I had become, I got out and looked forlornly at the river, I could see no water even where I once stood
What was noticeable was how silty the river was underfoot, I would say its the same depth but less water, I wonder how many river depth readings take into account that the water levels stay the same with less water as the flora encroaches. I found some more water downstream were it slows yet this was also around a foot deep and silty, the areas where there was open water coincided with large sewage pipes entering the river - no more fish were caught
Maybe someone will do an online search of a river along with 'abstraction' in the future and this journey down this river will be read, maybe something will be done, perhaps this river will live on only in the memory. Or perhaps I'm getting carried away and did the drought last year really choke this up? I will return later in the year and for years to come to chronicle this rivers progress, lets see what happens
For the record this is what the river looked like in 2015
Thanks for reading
Last edited:
