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We paid £110 to FISH this legendary pool (here’s WHY)! 🤯 🎣
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- 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 - rb.gy/gwydae
Advice about BOOKING AND FISHING THE BRIDGE POOL on the Hampshire Avon (courtesy of the brilliant Davis Tackle shop in Christchurch) - www.davistackle.co.uk/fishing...
TMOF hoodie - amzn.eu/d/05xzyqoT
The BBC Gone Fishing episode featuring the legendary Bridge Pool punt - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bc...
#fishing #riverfishing #floatfishing #avon #angling #anglingadventures #coarsefishing #bigperch #troutfishing #traditionalfishing #seatroutfishing #summerfishing
I’ve fished there many times in the 70s,80s. You could walk the footpath by the ruins and watch Barbel turning over the gravel for food,lots of them. It was wonderful fishing the punt ,big Dace,Perch,Mullet,Roach,Sea Trout ,Salmon. A days fishing was brilliant but very tiring,you were working at it none stop. We had to book a year ahead or you’d miss out. There used to be a pub opposite the bridge where we had breakfast and leave our cars and later an evening meal,it was so perfect.
That sounds amazing and I’m very jealous you’ve had multiple (magic sounding) sessions at this special venue! We were told barbel are fairly rare there now so I suppose things change as always with fishing, but there were so many trout and dace we couldn’t believe it.
I was lucky to fish it 2008/9 and had a hell of a session. High was just before 9 pm and it fished itself right into dark with big dace, roach, perch, sea trout, and to top it off a pair of bass on a lob worm consecutive casts on a woodys big river wye sticks. We got through 2 gallons of maggots through the day and probably 100 lobs.
Hi John, my brother and I fished the Bridge Pool in the early noughties for 2 consecutive days, the first day we caught 73 sea trout between us with some lovely Dace and Roach. The next day we caught 53 and because of their boney mouths we lost quite a few too, so all in all we can honestly say that they were the best 2 days fishing we ever had in our lives, so tired the second night, we were planning a nice evening meal but we both crashed out in our room until breakfast time the following morning. It cost around £80 per day then. We used a gallon of maggots and about half a dozen tubs of red worms. Please don’t take Lob worms as they are banned because of the Salmon. I’m 73 now and slightly infirm so I don’t think I will be able to go there again, but I’ll always have the memories.
Brilliant, brilliant memories! I’ve just been laughing out loud with my wife, Rachel, because those numbers are ridiculously good! 🤯🐟🎣 And I can totally empathise with that take of being too knackered to go out for a meal 😆 Andy and I usually fish a three-day ‘Summerfest’ in Surrey each year, which we had to miss this time because he’s been seriously ill, and we regularly conk out by the last night. I remember going for a curry with him and my wife last year and he barely said a word - kind of asleep but awake at the table 😂😴 People who think fishing is a sedentary pastime have no idea… Thanks for watching and commnenting and I hope to see you back on the channel again. There are plenty more videos to enjoy. I also hope you may get back on the punt, perhaps with the help of someone else. All the best.
Lovely to see you with Andy after hearing about the rough time he’s gone through. That alone made your day special, but then for it to be crowned with that unforgettable Perch, Wow!! I’m sure you’ll replay that day’s fishing over & over in your mind. As always, beautifully & emotionally presented video. 💙🎣
Many thanks for another fantastic comment - this makes it all worthwhile (the filming and editing, not the fishing!). Yeah it was great to fish with Andy again, especially after the disappointment of missing our annual Summerfest last month. We’ve got a little club match up in Sheffield next weekend too 👍🎣 You’re spot on about the Bridge Pool replaying on a loop, especially when working 😄 Cheers and keep these amazing comments coming 🤗🎣🐟
To be honest John, 110 pounds is a small price to pay to fish in such a beautiful and historic swim, good times and everlasting memories made,, plus sharing your dreams with a good friend are things you can’t buy 👍😀✅
Totally agree - I think that was our conclusion at the end of the day 😀 Especially when you can fish with a mate and share the cost of everything, as well as the memories. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏
Amazing video, thanks for sharing. As a kid we went on holiday to Christchurch a couple of times and saw people fishing this most amazing spot. Now in my 50's you have brought back wonderful memories and have totally captured the beauty and joy of this special place. You've got a new subscriber. Thank you.
Thanks for the sub and even more so for a lovely comment. That makes two of us in our 50s and it’s only more recently that I’ve been able to start this CZcams channel now that my lad and my three step ‘kids’ are all getting older and more independent. It’s nearly four years since I saw my book published and only now am I getting to try some of the places I’ve long dreamed about - long may it continue 😄🤞🎣🐟 Welcome to TMOF and feel free to keep commenting in the future.
Stood on the bridge and watched the punt many times as a kid. Happy times.
Lovely to hear that and I can well imagine the appeal. Thanks for watching and then taking the time to comment 🙏🎣👍
Brillant john, thanks for sharing it was a joy to watch. Magical that perch was a chip panner. So happy for you both enjoy that pint well done. A piece of heaven fallen to earth.❤❤
Amazing comment that’s just put a HUGE grin on my face 😃😃😃😃😃 Many thanks for taking the time to say that and I’m glad you enjoyed it. You’re welcome back on the channel comments any time! 🎣🐟🙏😎
I am glad you enjoyed your day's fishing at the Royalty at Christchurch i went to school at Teynham school I never liked the school at all . I would travel over the bridge every day on the bus and look at the punt every day. That is my most favourite thought that keep me going to get through the day i hope you had a magical time and enjoyed your fishing at the Royalty at Christchurch very best wishes from Ben Golby 👌 👍
Many thanks for such a wonderful comment, Ben. I too remember long days at school, looking out the classroom window and dreaming of a favourite farm pond, which I wrote about in The Magic of Fishing book. Once you’re hooked on fishing, water and the countryside it’s all you can think about, especially in early summer. Thanks for watching and commenting - you’re welcome to do so with any precious or future videos on the channel 🤗
What an amazing Red letter day ! .. I lived there for 20 years near Christchurch and would sit and watch people fish it in awe... So glad to see Andy well again and having some great fish as well... To say I was jealous... Hmmm i'll leave it here *laughs*
Great video and thanks so much for sharing
Paul :)
Thanks for a special comment, Paul - and that’s amazing that you used to admire that view all the time ☺️😎
What a fantastic day's fishing. Those Dace looked magnificent and a Perch of a lifetime. Really enjoyed the film. Well done mate.
Thanks Mark 🙏 The fishing was truly the stuff of dreams and comments like this make the extra work involved with filming and editing completely worthwhile. Both Andy and I are blown away by the reaction to this particular film and the whole point of the channel is simply to celebrate the magic of fishing and put a smile on a few fellow anglers’ faces - it seems I’ve definitely done that with this one and that’s a great feeling. I hope you enjoy some of the other videos to be found here.
As an Aussie who loves the ocean fishing, i enjoy watching UK freshwater fishing, theres a lot involved catching your target species, the scenery is beautiful and the peaceful setting making for very enjoyable viewing 🎣
That’s made my day! I used to watch a lot of Rex Hunt as a young man and although I’ve yet to make my way to Australia I’ve often dreamed of catching some of the amazing species on offer in the ocean around different parts of the country. Indeed, a good mate of mine flew to your country with his family this weekend and he spent quite a long time choosing a travel rod before going 🎣 Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@themagicoffishing thank you for such a nice reply, I have subscribed and look forward to viewing many more of your fishing sessions 🎣
The Europeans are great anglers with all the efforts they go to. Especially with their bait fishing, not my style but definitely appreciated. I'm also an Aussie
@@themagicoffishingRex did a video recently, not in the best shape these days. Did you remember his co host Steve Starling? He is on CZcams if you haven't seen him.
@@yep.fishing gidday, I love watching Aussie fishing, Coastal Chaos, Cavy Fishing and Gido's Fishing Adventures are up there with my favourites. I like watching UK fishing, all their different bait and tactics make it interesting.
I just had a look and saw you have a fishing channel so I will be checking out your videos.🎣👍
I can still remember the late GREAT John Willson 🙏🎣🎣. Fishing the same pool , many years ago.
What a legend…
@@andykjohnsonjohnson7622 John Wilson was an awesome angler and nice guy! ...it didn't come across in his videos though, because of his silly laughing all the time. And I say that with the utmost respect, and because I know that he'd laugh even more! 😂😂 . Bless ya John ❤️
I first anglers fishing from the punt when on holiday with parents in my early teens, over 50 years ago, and thought many times about booking this. I think this video has convinced me that I need to get this ticked off by bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Go do it!!! Thanks for commenting and I wish you tight lines if you decide to book (see the link in the video description for details). You will get plenty of advice from the website or by calling Davis Tackle in Christchurch but all I will say is take plenty of maggots (Davis Tackle will sort you out if you order and they open at 7am). Plus it’s great fun with a mate. The benches are really comfortable with an unhooking mat or other kind of cushion but it does take a bit of effort to heave the punt out to the middle of the river using the permanent chains. Easier with two, although probably doable with one and a bit of elbow grease 😄
I was a fishing mad youngster back in the seventies. I was hungry for knowledge, and would raid the local library to devour accounts of fishing the southern chalk streams. The trouble was, such fishing had no relevance to my own circumstances, where getting a bite was an achievement. This was when I was living in the fish starved north west. The best thing to happen was to start reading material written by match anglers.
Thanks for leaving a comment and sharing a bit about your background, David. It sounds like we have a fair bit in common, even if it was the 80s when I really went fishing mad and the fact I grew up in Yorkshire rather than the north west. My mum was from Bolton though! I too used to devour any literature I could - from a series of monthly mags my granddad used to buy me to library books and the weekly angling press. How much easier it is to pick up info since the dawn of the t’internet, although I still like the written word. You may enjoy my book (same title as this CZcams channel) if you’ve not come across it before. The first half is about growing up in the north and fishing with my granddad and mates 🎣 Cheers for now.
Glad you had such a good day. I went to School with Nigel in the 70s and we had a fishing holiday on the Royalty, so many happy memories. Time goes by.😊
It sure does but Nigel is certainly still going strong and it was fantastic to meet him in the shop. His advice was spot on and utterly selfless - we could tell he just wanted us to have a grand day. Thanks for watching and commenting.
For 110 sterling I would expect it to include free food and beer all day. I emigrated from England to Canada at the age of seventeen and I am an avid fisherman. In Canada you can fish all the lakes, rivers and streams as long as you have a fishing license, which costs about 15 sterling annually. You don’t need a license up to the age of 17 and once you reach 65. I both spin fish and fly fish,and regularly catch salmon, trout, muskey, northern pike, bass, jumbo perch and pickerel.
This is a common theme from your fellow Canadians - and I completely get it. I’ve visited the country a few times and even fished there once and you have so much fantastic wilderness - and water - that it’s mind boggling (in a good way!). I’m very jealous, although the UK still has its charms 😄🐟🎣 Thanks for commenting 👍😎
Thanks for replying. Im glad that the boat is still there!
So were we! 😎🎣
Good to see you and Andy having a fantastic day, absolutely love this video, it's still a dream of mine to fish there
Thanks Pat 🙏 I loved making that video and was beaming away each evening that I spent editing the footage. Hope you make the dream a reality as it was well worth it for me. Link in the description for how to do that in case you missed it.
Fantastic video. Thank you, the pair of you. You gave a little magic to my day.
So good to hear. Thanks for watching and for the comment 🙏🥰 Hope you enjoy some of the other vids on the channel 🎣
Beautiful river here in Christchurch where I live. I love fishing but wouldn't be prepared to pay those prices to fish from the punt! Glad you had a day to remember! 👍
Many thanks 🙏☺️
£55 quid each for a whole special day. You're talking about spending the same for a decent dinner for two, without wine!
Nah, I'd say for a day like that, I'd say it's fabulous value
Wow some adventure there lucky guys, love this place, and a day you both will not forget, well done guys.....magic!.
Couldn’t have put it better myself - thanks!
Those seatrout are in phenomenal shape 🔥🔥👌🏽🏴
I wish I was that fit 😂😬 Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍🙏😎
Wow, fishing heaven. Congratulations on your monster perch, what an amazing days fishing. Living the dream. Keep up the good work and tight lines.
It really was a case of living the dream! 🎣🐟🕶️ Thanks for watching and commenting ☺️
Congratulations on your PB Perch. Beautiful video thanks for sharing. Top Angling.
Thanks for a lovely comment, Gary. I’m still buzzing and pinching myself. So glad to be able to share it too.
Terrific video John, a special place in beautiful surroundings. 🎣🐟👍 Russ
Thanks for such a lovely comment, Russ - means a lot and I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙏👍🎣
Great video, I remember John Wilson fishing from the punt many years ago.
Thanks Mark. I’m honoured to follow in the great man’s footsteps (and those of many other fantastic anglers who have fished there, no doubt). I remember watching Wilson as a lad - as a northerner I found his accent bizarre and his non-stop laugh could be irritating at times, but surely one of the ultimate all-rounders and many of his catches are legendary. I still watch the odd clip on CZcams 🎣
Beautiful video, amazing location! Terrific fish caught!Thank you guys!🎣❤️
And thank YOU for such a nice comment - much appreciated 🙏😎🎣
Congratulations on your big Perch. I’ve fished the royalty many times but never the bridge pool. Great inspiring video.
Thanks Mark - I was over the moon. But it would have been very special even without that fish. Well worth a booking if you ever get the chance and can justify the ticket for the exclusive use of the punt and pool. Thanks for commenting 🙏
That's Christchurch priory in the background, had many happy holidays here!! Great place to fish.Thanks for posting.CHEERS.
Thanks! I DID wonder what to call it! My first trip there but hopefully not my last 🤞 It was awesome in the true sense of the word 😎
@@themagicoffishing That's certainly a red letter day for the memory bank, what a big perch too, well done. My cousins lived 2miles inland so I know Christchurch well. Caught 13 mackerel off hengistbury head one day, great sport on a light spinning rod and good eating too, cheers Peter.
I remember standing on that bridge with my old dad watching big roach and chub about 50 years ago, we used to try and fish the royalty at least once a year lovely times and great memories.
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Glad it brought back some special memories with your dad. Big roach are another of my dream fish and I’m not sure I could have handled one of those as well as a big perch! 😄 I’m told they are making a real come back in the river, though, thanks to the Avon Roach Project. Maybe one day I’ll get to find out…
Wonderful remember walking along there on holiday about 30 years ago and it still looks the same
Thanks for commenting and I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yep, is seems some things really do stay the same 😀
A nice day out , first walked along there in 1954 and lived in the area ever since , and had boats on the two rivers for 30 years there . An amazing place to live and fish . Glad you both enjoyed it .😉👍👍🦆🦆🦈
Haha, love the ducks! Yeah, it was a brilliant day out and I’m very jealous of you, not only living there but having boats on the river too 🚤🚣🛶 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏
Great video. Glad you had such an enjoyable day.
Thanks for a lovely comment! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you like some of the other videos on the channel. Welcome to the club 🤗
Awesome days fishing, thank you so much for sharing 😎👍
Thank you so much for watching and then making the effort to leave a comment - it really is appreciated and I hope you enjoy more of the channel. You’ll always be welcome to leave further thoughts. Tight lines for now 🎣
Hi John. You are right you will remember that session for as long as you live. I fished the Royalty with my son a while back. We both had good fish, I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Good to Andy is on the mend. Hopefully I will see you on the bank soon.
Thanks Mark! The Royalty is also on my bucket list (the rest of it, above that pool I mean). I just wish there were more days in the year, more holidays in my allowance and more cash in the bank, because there is SO much more fishing I want to do now the kids are getting older and my darling wife is so understanding about my passion! I could go somewhere new every day if I had the time 🕰️🎣 I will definitely get back on the Royalty at some point before too long though I hope… 🤞 Great that you and your son have experienced the magic too.
Found this pool as an 18 year old. Forgot where it was until on holiday last year came across it again.
It’s a cracker! Glad you found it again. Thanks for commenting 🙏💙🎣
Amazing John. Great to see you enjoying the fishing. I am seriously jealous of you as I’ve always wanted to fish bridge pool. Get yourself fly fishing and come and join me on the Avon up above Salisbury. Superb fun. Hope to speak soon. Cheers mate.
Charles! Fantastic to hear from you and I’m honoured you enjoyed the video so much. I almost forgot you’re a fluff chucker 😄 I’ve met and befriended one or two of your kind, but still only tried it a handful of times. Interestingly, I know two ace (ex) matchman - both top, top level - who have packed in coarse fishing (burnt out by too much match intensity) and picked up fly gear instead 🤔 Really appreciate the comment and I’d love to walk the bank with you sometime 🎣
I used to holiday in Christchurch as a lad, all through the 60s and wathched that punt year on year and allways thought I'd fish it later on in my life, but I'm now in my 70s and disabled, so that won't happen - but your video was the next best thing for me! Thank Andy for me too, he seemed to do a lot better after putting a sharp hook on... Talking about hooks; were you both on barbless or not? I don't know the rules on the Avon? Thenks again for reminding me of the
"Old Days"!..... John Digby.
Absolute pleasure, John! I’m sorry to hear you can’t fish it yourself, but very glad to have shared my experience with you. I’ll pass on your best to Andy. Yes, we used barbless hooks which are encouraged but not demanded on the pool as I understand it. I think one of the problems with the trout - other than when they leapt like salmon - was their relatively bony mouths and the fact we were sometimes striking at bites far down the pool, when we didn’t always have a tight line and get a good first contact. Cheers for now and I hope you enjoy some of the other videos on the channel.
Great video & I’m your 10,000 subscriber, congratulations 🎉❤
BOOM 💥 That’s very kind of you, as it’s made my day! Never thought I’d reach that kind of number when i started out just under a year ago, making videos in my spare time. Tell you what, to celebrate, if you want to email me your full name and postal address (john.moorwood@icloud.com) I will get hold of a copy of my book, The Magic of Fishing, sign it and send it to you. Hope you enjoy the other vids on the channel and feel free to comment anytime.
Great vid fantastic session enjoyed it I fish on my kayak trotting on the Trent such a great experience on the water floating.thanks for sharing and u have another sub 🐟🎣👍
Thanks so much 🙏 The Trent is probably my all time favourite venue and I’m yet to film on there as I only get to fish it once or twice a year. There’s a chapter dedicated to it in my book The Magic of Fishing and I have so many happy memories - from catching bootlace eels from tidal stretches with my granddad, to winning my first match around Gunthorpe Bridge. Hope you enjoy the channel and thanks again for commenting 🎣🐟
I fished there back late 70's. They charged us £25 per day back then. Only bait we could use was prawn. Some very big chub there. Awesome fishing.
Awesome comment 🤩 Thanks 🙏 I had no idea about the prawn-only rule of old (although I caught my previous perch PB on one!). £25 eh? Inflation…
Thanks for sharing your story
My pleasure - thanks for watching and commenting and you’re welcome to do so anytime! Hope you enjoy some of the other vids on the channel.
Another nice video. One thing about fishing in Ireland, most fishing is free and there's no closed season, but you obviously enjoyed fishing where you where. Good to hear your health has improved.
Thanks John! Yeah, Andy is definitely on the mend compared to where he was a few weeks back ❤️🩹 As for Ireland, your stories have made it another dream destination for me one day… 🎣🤞
Looks great there jhon,what a great day out for you and your mates,well worth the money ime sure you will be going there again,and what lovely clean looking fish,
Eh up Paul, I was wondering where you were in the comments! Yeah, it was a dream day alright and I can’t stop thinking about it. Definitely worth it. Thanks as always for watching and dropping us a quick line 👍🎣
@@themagicoffishing been a bit busy meself jhon what with trying to keep her happy and trying to do a bit of fishing meself,plus I've got that many videos to catch up on but now the footys over can hopefully catch up mate cheers tite lines
Great Video, coincidentally I am about 3/4 of the way through your book (which is excellent) that giant Perch would have topped off winning your first match, I reckon you could dedicate that one to your Grandad.
Thanks so much 🙏 I think of my granddad every time I go fishing 🎣
Well Andy glad you're better. Great fishing mate
Thanks man 🙏
*It's certainly a stunning location.*
A couple or so years ago, Bridge House, the house on the left hand bank of the river was for sale. And what a dream house that would have been and it came with fishing rights too.
As for that Pearch. That's a fish of a lifetime. Well done. Great video.
Oh man… That truly would be a dream house. We got chatting to a nice bloke who was having a coffee by the punt when we arrived at the river and he said he lived just over the other side, with an Airbnb property he regularly rents to anglers. It wasn’t that house but still looks amazing - www.airbnb.com/slink/GCDhye2v
Andy and I took a look and it’s only got one bedroom but Andy was saying he’d happily sleep on the sofa if we managed to get a couple of nights there next year!! 😄🎣🎣🎣 Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏
@@themagicoffishing I saw the house when it first came up on the Rightmove website and it was sold within a week or less. Due to ill health, I gave up fishing 20 odd years ago but I get enjoyment watching nice fishing videos and looking for property with fishing. Bit of a geeky thing to do.
But it wasn't surprising it sold so quickly. It'd be the sort of house that if you lived there and someone offered you £10 million, you'd most likely reject the offer. As you said. It is a dream house.
Do you, or did you, ever watch Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse Gone Fishin?
On one of their programmes, there were on that same punt and Paul caught a cracking Sea Trout.
Anyway. Great video. A stunning Perch. Some lovely Sea Trout and lovely Dace too in a sublime position. What more could you ask for?
Very enjoyable vid. Clonker of a specimen perch as well. Thats the beauty of not quite knowing just what you'll hook into . Regards Callum
Totally agree - variety is the spice of fishing and I love not knowing what will pull the float under next. Thanks for watching and a lovely comment - welcome back on the channel any time! 🤗🎣🐟
Well you certainly had a good day and that was one hell of a perch.
Cheers mate! I was genuinely in pieces.
I’m from high green at Sheffield, I used to catch the bus to stocky and deepcar and fish the don. Loads of chub graying and trout. I fish the rother now, salmon in there are being caught regular
Top man! Stocky is the stuff of legend and my mate Andy still fishes it! I miss it. Thanks for commenting 🙏🎣
Salmon in the rother , I live near rother valley park. Where abouts you talking?
That was brilliant thank you
Thank YOU! 🙏
Lovely day's fishing trout on the float are great fun.
They really are! I’ve never fished for tarpon but they jumped like I imagine a tarpon might jump - really high and multiple times! It took me back to catching brown trout from the River Derwent in Derbyshire, which I used to enjoy doing with my granddad as a young lad. We used worms and perch bobber floats and I wrote about those special memories in my book, The Magic of Fishing 🎣
It's the kind of place Mr Crabtree used to fish..😂😂😂
Totally! And I just about remember him 😂
I fished it late 80's and early 90's, when I used to fish two square miles there avidly. A decent day's trotting that produced many fish. I snorkelled along the bottom below the bridge swim once, one evening to see what fish resided there, but thats probably not allowed nowadays. That river is magic and hides some monsters. I hope the cormorants don't ever catch up with it.
Wow, snorkelling in the Bridge Pool! That would be something. It would probably make an amazing YT video too! Thanks for sharing your memories and you’re welcome back on the channel any time 🙏👍🎣
great video buddy, loved it, ive never fished the pool but have booked the weir a few times and had barbel to 15lb with the advice of nigel in the shop about 15 years ago,as for paying 110 pound thats great value between two people.
Totally agree! Thanks so much for a lovely comment and I hope to see you back on the channel soon 🎣
@@themagicoffishing am watching the rest of your vid as i sub ages ago but 4got to push the full notification button so i have a lot of catching up to do.
I'd pay £110 just to sit there for the day admiring the beauty..fishing would be the amazing bonus 🎉
I have to agree! Thanks for commenting.
Great to whach their i have ad great days there
Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏🎣 Very jealous if you’ve had many great days on that pool. Cheers!
Magical stuff sir 🫡
Some stunning catches, scenery and memories to match!WOW that perch!! an absolute fish of a lifetime 👌
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think your first trout was a brown trout and a beauty at that!! And I think Andy’s fish at 31mins is a salmon, I say that because it looks to have a V in the tail which is a way of spotting the difference between salmon and seatrout, the seatrout’s tail is more flat like a paint brush. If I’m right there’s another two species for ya’s 😉
First time seeing your channel and subscribing straight away after that great video, really enjoyed it!!
All the best and tight lines ✌️
Thanks for a wonderful comment (and the sub) - hope you find plenty more on the channel to enjoy, although most of it is coarse fishing. Do you know what, you are also the first person to do something I imagined might happen when I posted this film… And that is to help us identify some of the fish caught! There were quite a few moments in the punt when we were wondering out loud: ‘is this a brownie or a sea trout??’ Or ‘could this be a salmon?!’ We really weren’t sure, especially when the cock and hen fish can look different too. If you’re right then that’s really exciting to know and does indeed take the species count through the roof 😃🎣🐟
Watched the whole video with absolute delight and actually felt excited just to see what you might catch, I've actually fished the other famous spot which is called the "parlour pool" which holds big salmon and the species I was after , barbel, my day there accounted for 5 barbel and my fishing partner had a huge salmon that day, you can't beat the Avon for spectacular fishing ! Thanks for this superb video to remind me of my similar experience, by the way who did your airiel footage and I presume by using a drone
Wow, thanks David, that’s a fantastic comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the video so much - there are plenty more on the channel, although not all feature such a legendary fishing spot or so many fish 🐟
The Parlour Pool… Now you’ve fired my imagination again! I do love barbel as well. Perhaps one to look into although I often feel there aren’t enough days in the year - or enough free hours should I say - to do a fraction of the fishing I dream about… Thanks again and I hope to see you on the channel again soon.
P.S. I do all the footage and editing (many late nights!) myself and, yep, the aerial shots were with a small drone 👍
Lovely perch mate my PB is 3 lb 8.oz getting rarer these days great video as usual !
Thanks Gary! It blew my mind as you could probably tell.
Ive fished Tinsley canal. From Beighton 😊
Tinsley Canal! That's a memory! We have both fished there in that case 😄
So glad I moved down from London to live here.😊
You jammy thing… 😃😎
Sea trout jumping and not a fly rod in sight. Still , lovely spot and a special day for good pals . Memorys
Haha, yeah, I’m afraid I’m 99% coarse fishing and although I’ve tried fly fishing a few times and can see its appeal I don’t own any gear. It is possible to fish that pool on the fly though 👍
crackin vid fished the royalty on the 16th june in 1976 never caught bugger all,lol,but its a magical place,u have another sub
Crackin comment! Many thanks for watching, subscribing and then taking the time to comment 🙏👍 I hope you enjoy many of the other videos on the channel, even if they aren’t all on the Hampshire Avon 😄🎣 Cheers for now 🍻
fantastic days sport and dropped perfectly for my lunctime sarnie!
Perfect! 😁🎣
What an awesome video! Mega respect! I enjoyed every moment ❤. Ive heard lots about that pool, and seen it on "Whitehouse & Mortimer Gone Fishing"! 😊.
It's magical, except for being in a town maybe lol?
I'm a Midlands match & canal angler. But, I'm also a Sewin (sea trout) & salmon fly angler when I go back to my roots in Wales.
There's no fishing fly/coarse snobbery when it comes to choosing the best method to catch, as far as I'm concerned! Each method is as skillful as the other.
My fave and most successful though, is = fly fishing for sea trout (Sewin) at night! ... When they jump at night on the Towy & Tievy in Wales, it sounds like someone has chucked a paving slab from a bridge!
My best has been 14lbs, but I've lost many LOADS bigger 😳😳 .
All the best
Wow, thanks for such an amazing comment and one that set off a lot of happy memories. Firstly, I had quite a few childhood holidays to Wales and actually remember staying on farms where the owner would talk about night fishing for sea trout - I never got to do it but it’s one of the reasons I was so overjoyed to catch my first the other weekend. I can’t imagine playing a 14lb fish, particularly after the epic battles put up by the far smaller trout I landed that day! 🤯 I also smiled when you mentioned the midlands, because I’ve spent some lovely time in Derbyshire (heading into the Peak District from Sheffield) this weekend just gone, while I have a day off today and will be stopping off on the mighty Trent, my favourite river of all, as I make my way home 🎣 Glad you enjoyed the video and hope you find more to entertain you on the channel. You’re welcome to comment again any time!
I think the main man John Wilson fished this exact spot whilst the river was on flood, durring an episode of Go fishing, Weir pool magic, i think. 🤔 lovely looking spot, though worth every penny. 👌
I think you may be right. I even tried to find it on CZcams but all I could find was the more recent Gone Fishing episode where Paul and Bob have a go for the sea trout. Thanks for commenting.
@themagicoffishing
Yeah, it is on there, John Wilson. Go Fishing series 2 episode 4.
Fantastic perch well done sir
Many thanks 🙏😀
fished it in the late seventies if memory serves me correctly, same barge, same load of sea trout..I remember it was thirty quid with a long waiting list
I can well imagine a waiting list! We had the choice of a few weekends when I booked back in May, but many of the ‘prime’ weekends in Autumn were taken up even then. I think the less popular weekends are in the school holidays when things get extra busy. Glad to have reminded you of some happy memories of your own and thanks for commenting!
Superb video. Great to see someone using a 'pin too !. One question though. What do you do when you want a wee ?. LOL
😂 It’s a great question and one I asked myself in earnest before we set out! Too public to risk anything dodgy and I must confess to asking Andy for a toilet break about halfway through the day, even though he was feeling fine! We had to haul the punt back to the side but then it was only a 5 minute walk back to the car park at the civic offices and there is decent public toilet block there 👌👍😀
I never fished it but lived in the area for a few years and would often stand on the bridge and look at the fish from it. Often used to see good shoals of Mullet, Dace and some monster Chub and the odd good Sea Trout
Oh man, I’m not sure I could have stood it if we’d have also seen or caught big chub and mullet! It really does seem to be a special place for a lot of people - which now includes me and Andy! Thanks for commenting 🙏
@@themagicoffishing I used to do a lot of sea fishing in the area and it was nearly as good and 23 species in 2 years
Nice sea trout
Thanks - it was a first for me and just added extra magic to an already special day. Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏🎣
Fantastic days fishing! As a fly fisherman it was good to see you connecting with so many seatrout. Stocks of seatrout in many rivers in the UK are now very low.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for commenting. Us coarse anglers (well, I’ve done odd bits of fly fishing but not very much) sometimes worry what game anglers might think about catching such fish on bait, so it’s lovely to receive a nice comment like that.
You should book a week at Lochnaw castle near Stranraer for a chance of monster roach of a lifetime.
Oh man, that sounds like a plan! I’m adding that to my bucket list as I LOVE big roach and have never managed a 2 (1lb 14oz) is my best and that goes all the way back to my youth in Sheffield. Thanks for the tip 👍👌🎣🥰
Really enjoyed that. How do you go about booking, is there a big wait list?
Hi Keith, thanks for watching and commenting - glad you enjoyed it and I hope you might find more videos to enjoy on the channel. I included details about how to book it in the video description but you can find most of what you need here - www.davistackle.co.uk/fishing/the-bridge-pool - including all the rules and some tips. You basically phone Davis Tackle and they will tell you if there is any availability and when. We booked before the start of the river season and there were still a few weekends to choose from. I think if you’re retired or can take holidays then there may be even more choice midweek, but it is popular and can get booked up I believe. Well worth the wait though and I hope you get to try it.
there is a place in Quebec where the fish are crazy. a little bridge connecting a bay to a bigger bay that goes in a main river. when i go there, i know i will catch something. lots of pikes,musky, walleyes, garfish… after an heavy rain, the current is stronger under the bridge and most of the times its a feeding frenzy. its not aloud to go fishing there until the end of June because its a sanctuary. lots of people go there but some people have no respect for nature. it’s pretty sad. specially in summer school break, teens going there and let some fish on the ground to die or leave garbage on the site, fishing line, bow fishing, things like that. it is protected in a way but not enough i think
Thanks for commenting with an interesting story of your own - I’ve been to Canada a few times but never Quebec. What you describe sounds part-paradise and part-disaster and I suppose it’s the price of the freedom and bounty enjoyed by anglers in your part of the world. It would be a dream to catch musky, walleyes and garfish for me - all species I’m aware of but have never seen in the flesh - but, yep, it must be heartbreaking to see such creatures treated with disdain by those with no respect. That’s one thing that the price of a Bridge Pool ticket protects against, because only those really keen on fishing will be happy to pay it and they will always treat their catches with the utmost respect. Thanks again for watching and commenting and I hope you enjoy lots more fantastic sport in Quebec!
@@themagicoffishing totally agree, the place i am talking about is on a territory that is protected and you need to pay by years or daily to access but it’s very big, the national park employees makes some rounds and the last time i saw one, he asked me for my pass and my fishing license, i showed him and telling him it was a good thing to see him, he told me that they made 14 infractions arrest so far in june because people did fish within 30 meters of the bridge and fish where spawning in that period. but they have a big territory to watch over and i know they put hunting cameras to but still. sorry for my bad english. i catch two 50inches musky so far this year and one pike about the same size, always with one hooked lure and catch release
Your ancestors ensured when they came to New Zealand , they establishef the queens chain. There is no private fishing in New Zealand, other than a salmon farm. I had fantastic mid winter sea fishing in Coromandel 12 07 24. Half a dozen 3 or 4 lb fish and one 12 pounder
Amazing to hear from a viewer in New Zealand! 🇳🇿😃😎 I had to look up the queen’s chain - that sounds incredible to have public access to much fishing. I have heard about the quality of the sport there, too, and it sounds like you have been enjoying it. Many thanks for taking the time to comment.
Cracking video gents really enjoyed that. Might inspire me to get down there with my brother . Is it £110 each? Or £55 each
Many thanks! 🙏 It was very enjoyable to make 😀 🎣🐟 I hope you enjoy some of the other videos on the channel. It was £55 each. Check out the link in the video description, which goes to a webpage with all the info. Or call Davis Angling in Christchurch, as that’s who you book it with. They will give you loads of advice (and bait if you want it!). Hope you and your brother have a cracking time if you go ahead and book it. There’s limited availability but I’m sure you’ll find a date that works 👍🤞🎣
John Wilson style!
I’ll take that! 😄 Thanks 🙏
My mate used to pull up on his little rib at this spot and spin for trout and take about 10+ fish home 😂
Naughty boy! 😄
Stunning place, but then I do live there 😊 I have my lunch sometimes just watching the guys fish. Well done on the pb Perch, stunning. I can fish the punt at half the normal day ticket price if its not pre-booked on my club permit, but the only times I've fished by the punt was from the bank as a nipper & being chased off by the bailiff, good times.
Some great mullet fishing further up heading towards the harbour. I tend to fish the Royalty for pike. Mind you last year it was unfishable due to the amount of rain we had.
You lucky man! 😲 I’m very jealous. Thanks so much for watching and for commenting with some further angling tales. You’re welcome back any time 🤗
Hi, I have booked a day here for myself and my son, in August. The John Wilson episode is lodged in my mind from watching it as a child, and now your video has spurred me into making the booking. I have been really looking forward to it. However I have now read some reports on FB etc, saying that the pool is now subject to many other river users and that it is affecting the fishing to the point where some people have given up and stopped fishing. Namely paddle boarding, wild swimmers, kayaking etc. This now has me concerned- how was the river 'traffic' on your day?
That's fantastic to think the vid has nudged you to have a go - I'm sure you will both love it! There is lots of advice on the Davis Tackle website and they can provide fresh bait if you want it (they open at 7 and we found Nigel and his wife to be mega helpful). I was also a little worried about the amount of river traffic after reading one or two things but can honestly say that on a sunny Saturday in summer we only saw three small (and friendly) groups of paddleboarders or canoeists all day. There was no stress at all. It may get a bit busier in the school holidays but I don't think it is half the problem it may have been after lockdown. You will have hundreds of trots down during a day on there and I don't think having to pause occassionally will spoil your enjoyment at all. Everyone we met was friendly and went round the outside of us within a few minutes. Go to enjoy yourself and you will! 😀😎 One tip - ask Nigel where to park as it's about 5 mins walk from there (with tackle) to get to the punt and there are also public toilets for before, during or after the fishing. I would also consider waders, or shorts if it's hot, which makes getting in and out of the boat a bit easier if the tide is out. But Andy managed without.
Thank you! That is good to hear 😊 So are the chains from the punt in the way of the other users? Do you need to lift them out of the way? I appreciate your feedback 😊
Is that the pool from a episode of Mortimer and whitehouse go fishing..
It sure is! I even put a link to that episode in the video description if you fancy watching it again 😄 Thanks for commenting 🙏
If people think fishing that pool is expensive try fishing the river test for under £200 or avington trout fishery
I have fished the Test once (video about it called ‘Fishing Heaven’ on the channel) but it was at the end of the coarse season, for grayling, chub and roach. Had a fantastic time but you’re right that it’s not cheap! Thanks for watching and commenting.
Pay to fish in a stream? Thats criminal!
In Canada, streams are public commodities.
Oh I know… You’re very lucky. I ❤️🇨🇦
@@themagicoffishing
I should’ve acknowledged your great video in my comment. Thanks for posting!
We do pay for licences for the privilege of fishing in Canada, but everyone has access and very, very few waterbodies are privately owned. That said, I would love the opportunity to fish in the UK one day!
Costs a fortune to get to from here tho so balances out. 😄
Money well spent
Cheers Nigel ☺️
Hemp, tares and corn.
Next time!! We did actually take some corn but didn’t try it. Also some bread as we were told the mullet like that, but we had so many maggots and worms between us I guess we for a bit blinkered. Filming takes time too, but fantastic suggestion and I love my hemp and tares. Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏🎣🐟
I always thought that catching trout on bait was not thought to be okay on sporting grounds?? If I am wrong on this please tell me
Haha! You’re wrong and you’re right 👍 SOME people - namely some game anglers who only fish with artificial flies - believe it’s not as ‘sporting’ (AKA difficult) so there IS a view like that in certain circles. But I don’t know anyone who thinks like that and most anglers are more than happy to catch them on bait in my experience. Indeed, I write about growing up fishing with my granddad in my book The Magic of Fishing and we used to catch a few trout from the Derwent in Derbyshire using worms he’d dig up when we got there. Happy memories 🎣 Thanks for watching and commenting - looks like a lovely carp in your profile pic 👌
@@themagicoffishing good angling pal 🫡
Where's all the paddle boarders and canoes!!!😂
I was a bit worried about that after reading some stuff online but I can honestly say it wasn’t a problem whatsoever. OK, so it wasn’t the school holidays, but it was a sunny and warm Saturday and we only saw three small groups in many hours of fishing - all of them friendly and polite - so it was no aggro at all 👍
I thought the boat had been removed due to paddle boarders!!!
Funnily enough we had read about potential problems with the numbers of paddleboarders but it was a nice sunny day and we only saw a few small groups pass us by, all of whom were courteous and friendly. Perhaps it gets worse during the school holidays or on bank holiday weekends but it certainly wasn’t a problem for us and the punt is definitely still there and being enjoyed by keen anglers like us 🎣👍😎😃
I live here ❤
Lucky you! 😀
So how's the raw sewage situation?
By all accounts Wessex water has been dumping raw sewage on a daily basis in the Hampshire Avon, the Itchen and the Test .
I couldn’t tell you I’m afraid, Jack. I don’t monitor the water quality but I share your concern about what the water companies are doing to our rivers. That’s only the second time I’ve fished the Hampshire Avon and I don’t live in that neck of the woods, so I’m no expert on what’s happening there. The fishing was excellent and I can only hope the situation with the sewage improves over time, especially with the measures recently included in the King’s speech to hold company directors more personally accountable. Anglers can have a strong voice in keeping the pressure on government.
Lovely fishing spot. Glory be to Christ, the Lord of Christchurch. Amen.
Amen indeed! Thanks for watching and commenting 🙏🎣
As a lifelong passionate angler, I was captivated as a kid when I read Rod Haig-Brown books and his fishing for trout below a bridge on English chalk brooks.
I’m from Eastern Canada and I’ve always had disdain for those that endeavour to “own waterways”. It’s something that has always had resistance in the new world, Becuase in the old country Angling was the pastime of the privileged.
I’m curious how it’s possible for someone to own a stretch of water. Not the shoreline, or access to the water but the actual river itself?
Angling is a gift from GOD, no person owns it.
Thanks for your thoughts, Peter, and I can quite understand where you’re coming from. I once had the joy of fishing in Canada, during a work trip, when a friend took me onto the Beaver River out of Toronto. It was stunning and I managed a few hard fighting Steelheads on a spinner. As for the Bridge Pool, I believe it’s the punt that you really pay for and that is the only way you’re allowed to fish that one pool, but there is a lot more river upstream. Enjoy your fishing in the mighty 🇨🇦 and you’re welcome back on the channel any time.
Bet the houses on the bank are sought after
Me too!
After 10, still in tackle shop. 🤔🤔🤔🇫🇷
🤔 Ahhhhhh, I’ve just realised what you mean! 😂 There’s a shot of a clock on the wall isn’t there, and it says 10… There’s also a small sign to the left of it which says “Today the Royalty Fishery closes at”. So it’s not actually a working clock but is used to tell punters what time they have to be off the river that day 😄
I promise you we were at the shop when it opened at 7am 👍🎣
@@themagicoffishing Hello a miss understanding. Tight lines sir. 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🐟🐟🐟
@@albertcross4275 You're worse than my ex wife.
A legendary place…..Far better to watch than anything at Wdaa…run by the most corrupt people in angling.
I’d fish it every week if I could 😄
Wdaa ?
Get in wae it jimmy ,,to much gabbing 😮
Ha! Sorry you had to put up with that 😁
Undoubtedly a great day's fishing however I was a bit disappointed watching it. Appart from the perch, congratulations, nothing special was caught. I kew this area well and fished it back in the mid to late 1950s. There were many more big fish there then. Massive roach, chub, barbel and of course those perch. From the bridge you could watch shoals of really big barbel and at the right time plenty of salmon.
That sounds remarkable, Tony, although we were more than happy I can tell you. I hope to get back to the Royalty at some point and find big roach and barbel for starters… 🤞🎣
@@themagicoffishing Good luck
The Royalty used to be a fantastic fishery 70 years ago, hopefully it still is.
Can l ask 'if poss', to let me know we're to get your landing-net !? " Does it come in a bigger size aswell (!?) Any 'feedback' gratefully received.
Of course, Paul - you can ask anything you like within reason 😄 That was a fairly new net that I got recently for barbel and carp, primarily, as it’s pretty big and roomy, but it worked well for the trout, too, and has really deep, soft mesh for resting fish safely in the water. I got it from my local Apollo Angling shop in Surrey but I’m sure you will find it locally or online - it’s a Drennan Specimen model. Here’s one example of where it’s available online (picked randomly) - thetackletavern.co.uk/product/drennan-specialist-landing-net/