We regret to inform our coarse members tha Nightingale Lake is closed until further notice due to water quality issues.
The fish are in distress and there have been casualties.
The Environment Agency has been informed and there is emergency aeration provided to assist with the low oxygen levels.
Dear Member
Game Waters Summary.
It looks as if, excepting major flooding in the next few weeks, that we will open all the game river fisheries on April 1st. The keepers have had a busy period over the winter, cutting back vegetation, replacing seats, stiles, gates, wading steps and other bank side features. We have moved our keepers’ store to a building nearer to the Cart Shed and spent time planning the maintenance and development work for the season. Alongside The Wessex Rivers Trust work our staff have spotted very good numbers of trout and salmon redds in our rivers. Some years they are hard to see but lower flows this winter have made this possible. The efforts put into river restoration are helping the wild stocks, a very good sign for the future.
The latest Wessex Hydrology report shows the groundwater level at Tilshead, in the centre of Salisbury Plain and our main feeder aquifer for the Avon, well below seasonal average and already showing the level dropping. Although looking at the river it will be in excellent condition for the season start the prospects for summer flows may not be so good. The very best restorative for our rivers is plenty of fresh water filtered through the aquifer, dilution is vitally important to recovery.
We are replacing some expensive equipment this year, one of our trucks, one of our mowers, a new engine in another mower and other less expensive but vital items. This replacement programme continues year in year out and our equipment gets heavy use in order to present the fisheries as we do. To make it all work the programme has to […]
The 2022 Spring Wild Trout Trust Auction catalogue is available to download HERE
366 lots.
Bidding opens at 9am on 18th March
Art, Books, Experiences, Fishing Tackle – Lines & Leaders – Rods and Reels and many fishing lots both in the UK and overseas.
The following dates have been approved by the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Fishery Association for weed cutting in the 2022 season.
Weed growth at the start of the year will be closely monitored and cut early in the allocated period if required .
The download link below contains the weed cutting dates for the rivers Wylye & Nadder
| Weed Cutting Dates 2022 | Cleardown Dates |
|---|---|
| Saturday 23rd April to Saturday 7h May | Sunday 8th & Monday 9th May |
| Sunday 12th to Friday 24th June | Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th June |
| Sunday 24th July to Tuesday 2nd August | Wednesday 3rd August & Thursday 4th August |
Location of Crossing “C”
Used by the army as river Avon crossing point.
| Weed Cutting Dates 2022 | Cleardown Dates |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 27th April to Wednesday 11th May | Thursday 12th & Friday 13th May |
| Thursday 16th to Tuesday 28th June | Wednesday 29th June & Thursday 30th June |
| Tuesday 26th July to Monday 4th August | Friday 5th & Saturday 6th August |
Download WFA Weed Cutting Dates 2022 Including Rivers Wylye & Nadder
The river Itchen Weed Cutting dates 2020 have now been finalised by the Environment Agency and The Test & Itchen Association.
| Sector A Cutting Dates | Sector A Clearing Off Dates |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3rd May – Saturday 7th May | Sunday 8th May |
| Monday 6th June – Monday 13th June | Tuesday 14th June – Wednesday 15th June |
| Tuesday 5th July – Monday 11th July | Tuesday 12th July – Wednesday 13th July |
| Sunday 14th Aug – Sunday 21st Aug | Monday 22nd August – Tuesday 23rd August |
| Sector B: River Itchen Weed Cutting Dates 2019 | Sector B Clearing Off Dates |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 4th May – Sunday 8thth May | Monday 9th May |
| Tuesday 7th June – Tuesday 14th June | Wednesday 15th June – Thursday 16th June |
| Wednesday 6th July – Tuesday 12th July | Wednesday 13th July – Thursday 14th July |
| Monday 15th Aug – Monday 22nd August | Tuesday 23rd August – Wednesday 24th August |
WINTER OPEN PERIOD
Weed may be cut any time after 2nd October 2021 until 15th April 2022. Owners are asked to ensure that cutting is completed before trout spawning begins and that cut bank side vegetation is not allowed to fall in the river.
IMPORTANT NOTES
1. Weed Cutting should start at the beginning of the dates allowed. You must inform your downstream neighbour when you have finished clearing off and of any subsequent problems. Regular communication with your neighbours […]
Dates for the River Test weed cutting periods have been agreed by the Environment Agency and the Test and Itchen Association for 2022.
Cutting will start at the top of the river with slight changes as we move further down the system.
WINTER OPEN PERIOD
Weed may be cut any time after 14 October 2021 until 26 April 2022. Owners are asked to ensure that cutting is completed before trout spawning begins and that bank side vegetation is not allowed to fall in the river.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Cutting should start at the beginning of the dates allowed. Please inform your downstream neighbour when you have finished clearing off and of any subsequent problems. Regular communication with your neighbours upstream and downstream is essential to ensure trouble-free weed cutting and clearing down. Weed cutting boats should finish one day before the end of each cutting period.
The Environment Agency has granted consent for the general cutting of weed on the River Test, and approved the dates overleaf. In the event of low river flows (and high water temperatures) the Environment Agency may request that weed cuts are postponed or reduced in extent in order to maintain water levels and quality. Cutting of weed outside of the authorised dates, without the Agency’s consent, constitutes an offence under Section 90 of the Water Resources Act 1991
Grass cuttings and bank trimmings must NEVER be put into the river. Depositing any form of solid waste in the river, including bankside vegetation, is strictly prohibited under Sections 85 and 90 of the Water Resources Act 1991
Riparian owners are asked to carry out bank maintenance and other […]
INDEX
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SADAC. Mid season update. Game Fisheries. 2021.
In contrast to the 2020 season we were able to open on April 1st with only Hurdcott out of action because of flooding. Investigations revealed some “interventions” with concrete blocks in the hatches there which were removed and levels returned to normal.
The early season saw prolonged cold and wet weather but there were plenty of members fishing through some difficult days. Grannom hatches were good particularly on the mixed beats but also now at Amesbury and Durnford as a result of the egg transplant work we have been doing. Good catch returns at many fisheries in the early season, Stonehenge, Homington, Stapleford amongst others being notable. Mayfly has now largely been and gone and as always our beats have been busy. The hatches weren’t as prolific as they can be but generally good sport was had and is continuing with mayfly trickling off now on all the beats.
We are continuing to buy our brown trout for stocking from Manningford Fish Farm . We have purchased 2,000 good quality fish up to 2 lbs for the season. The majority of these will be in the rivers by mid season with some held back for later in the year. Fish are stocked at Durnford, Amesbury , Abbey, Countess/Ratfyn and Stapleford/Druids into areas of poor trout habitat and high fishing pressure. This year we have invested in upgrades to our tanks, aeration and oxygen equipment so the fish are arriving at the river after a shorter journey in better condition. This also applies to the lake stocking where transition from fish farm to lake has proved problematic in the past.
This […]
Our Club sent a letter to the Environment Agency leadership team in 2018 requesting action to combat the rising levels of phosphates in the Hampshire Avon.
This rise in phosphates has been predominantly due to increased housing developments in the area. A lot more sewage water needs to be treated in the existing treatment plants whose infrastructure cannot cope anymore.
The new letter below is the continuation of the Club’s request for action as the phosphate levels in the river have now exceeded the permitted limits under the water framework directive and need urgent action by the Environment Agency.
To: Emma Baker
Wessex Area Director, Environment Agency Rivers House,
Blandford, Dorset DT11 8ST
emma.baker@environment-agency.gov.uk
and to LegalSupport@environment-agency.gov.uk
Our ref: AT
Your ref: JS/NM/EA/02
From:
c/o Andreas Topintzis (General Manager)
The Cart Shed, New Bottom Lane Stratford sub Castle
Salisbury SP4 6AB
Tel 01722 321164
office@salisburydistrict.co.uk
Dear Emma,
Regulation 29 The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015
(“the Environmental Damage Regulations”)
Wessex Water Limited
I refer to the correspondence passing between the Club and the Agency in 2018 and 2019. In particular, I refer to the Club’s letter of 17th January 2019 and Mr. Nick Gupta’s reply dated 19th February 2019.
For ease of reference, I remind the Agency that the Club remained of the view that there was an imminent threat of deterioration to the river and asked for confirmation of the unequivocal assurance given by representatives of the Agency that if the Club’s prediction of the threat of deterioration occurred, the Agency would take immediate action to address this. The Club concluded its letter saying: –
“We look forward to hearing further with regard to the threat posed by additional phosphate […]
Updated: March 23rd, 2021
Following the Angling Trust’s February 11th submission to the Cabinet Office making the case for a relaxation of travel restrictions and a return to all forms of angling – including night fishing, charter boat angling and match fishing – we have been having intense discussions with government officials who are drawing up the new guidance for the return of outdoor sports and recreation for the next relaxation in the Covid restrictions due on March 29th.
The Angling Trust is pleased to announce the Cabinet Office and Defra have now confirmed to us the following from March 29th: