When you've spent a lifetime imagining what it would be like to fish at one of the UK's most iconic angling destinations - the Bridge Pool on the Hampshire Avon at Christchurch - it's mind blowing when that dream finally comes true...
But that's what happened for me this summer and it turned out to be one of my most memorable day's fishing in over four decades of angling adventures! Hiring the famous Bridge Pool punt with an old friend wasn't cheap, with a pre-booked day ticket costing us £110 (£55 each), but I can honestly say it was worth every penny!
After all, how often can you collect some fresh bait from a local tackle shop before heading to a world-renowned chalk stream, knowing that one of the most beautiful and prolific pools will be yours to fish alone? Oh, and you also get to use a magnificent fishing punt that's been referenced in all kinds of angling literature and even featured in the BBC's Gone Fishing series with Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer.
Add an endless supply of crystal clear water as it nears the sea, a picturesque English town in Dorset, plus a wide range of fish which all grow up to specimen sizes, and you might agree it's hard to put a price on such a magical place. For those able to afford such a trip, I cannot recommend it highly enough - you only live once and the stuff of angling legend can be yours to experience too. If it's beyond your means, however, then I hope you will enjoy this film and share my joy on your phone, tablet or TV screen.
The Bridge Pool offers keen anglers the chance of catching anything from sea trout and salmon to coarse fish like dace, perch, roach and eels, not to mention big estuary fish such as bass and mullet.
It really was a red letter day as we enjoyed the novelty of being afloat, took in our beautiful surroundings and swapped friendly banter. Our regular catches included more than one PB, too, with most fish falling to long trotting tactics using maggots or worms as bait. We also did a bit of feeder fishing around the time of the high tide.
Perhaps the pinnacle for me was landing a huge perch from this stunning chalk stream, which smashed my personal best for the species, but there were so many highlights during this special summer trip. So please sit back, relax, and enjoy the magic of fishing...
THE MAGIC OF FISHING book - [ Ссылка ]
Advice about BOOKING AND FISHING THE BRIDGE POOL on the Hampshire Avon (courtesy of the brilliant Davis Tackle shop in Christchurch) - [ Ссылка ]
TMOF hoodie - [ Ссылка ]
The BBC Gone Fishing episode featuring the legendary Bridge Pool punt - [ Ссылка ]
#fishing #riverfishing #floatfishing #avon #angling #anglingadventures #coarsefishing #bigperch #troutfishing #traditionalfishing #seatroutfishing #summerfishing
