River Thames
Appleford - Manor Farm, Oxfordshire
As a village, Appleford is a quaint place to spend your time. A friendly farmhouse fishery, situated in rolling pastures will greet you on your arrival. It’s a real picture of Thames river fishing. There is plenty of parking in our designated car park in the farm, with an 80 yard walk to the nearest swim.
There is plenty of river bank, plenty of width, depth and colour throughout the season. Feeder fishing fans will love it here – but in heavier conditions, good catches can also be had in slack margins. The two ends of the fishery will also offer different rates of flow. Naturally, barbel catches will favour the weir end of the fishery – summer tench at the downstream end. Wellington boots or waders are a good idea to deal with the shallow banks.
Huge bags of roach, bream and chub can be had for those that like to bag up and keep busy. Double maggot and waggler fishing will provide bites all day long. Alternatively, a large cube of meat will single out the bigger fish.
There is also plenty of action to be had by predator anglers at this venue – the pike reach 20lb and the perch approach 4lb. Also worth a mention is an unclaimed Ruffe record a few years back with a catch of 8 ounces.
This place is a must visit for river anglers.
This water is on the east bank at South Stoke, which is close to Goring. The parking is right on the bank at the start of the fishery which makes access to the first swims reasonably easy for members not wishing to walk great distances.
These swims do produce good results and clubs have reported several large bags of fish caught by members stopping in the first swims during their outings. The venue has mostly open banks mainly with deep water close in and, in fact, good weights have been caught on float tackle, including heavy bream bags, but the water is ideal for ledgering being slow and deep.
The boat moorings about third way up from entrance on the far bank is one area known to contain chub – these taken by fishing over to the moored boats on the far bank, with several trees on the far side provide features to fish to.
A recent club match result of four anglers produced a total weight of over 300lb – all caught on float tackle close to the bank. Good roach are also common and often make up a fair proportion of the big bags of fish regularly reported from this part of the river. More recently, larger fish especially Bream, have frequented the stretch in the swims below – and surprisingly some Barbel.
Night Fishing is permitted at no extra cost.
TAKE AN AERIAL GLIMPSE OF SOUTH STOKE FROM THE ENTRANCE
On the west bank Cholsey Moulsford fishery is opposite and just upstream of south stoke so the same species of fish can be expected. Some very large bream can be found near the islands and the same applies to chub. Huge Pike and Perch have been caught. However the terrain encountered to get there can prove to much for all but the fittest the less mobile of us may prefer swims at the start right by the car parking and some very good swims can be found in this part. Tree lined banks give plenty of features close in, with immediate depth.
Because of the remoteness of this venue, it has been prey to poachers recently. The remains of a cooked Perch over 18 inches long (possibly once 4lb) was recently found on the fishery.
The Thames Valley Walkway has been constructed right along the length of this fishery. Access is very clear, although the platforms that feature were not erected by The Association.
Night Fishing is permitted at no extra cost.
Gatehampton Farm - Goring, Oxfordshire
On the east bank Gatehampton farm fishery is near Goring on Thames. This a middle Thames water slow and deep this makes for very good winter fishing. It is some distance to the fishery from the car parking but this consists of mainly public footpaths.
Good bags of bream and chub with sizeable perch always prepared to feed, mean heavy nets are possible. Ledgering possibly the favoured method but float can score with the roach and dace. Plenty of slack water close in during times of flood tree lined banks.
The famous child beale stretch at Pangebourne is opposite and their top weights in matches are often to anglers fishing across to our bank.
Night Fishing is permitted at no extra cost.
Bourne End, Buckinghamshire
On the north bank of the river between Bourne End and Marlow. This part of the middle to lower Thames is wide with slowly shelving banks into a river that is prone to heavy boat traffic in summer months.
A short easy walk from the car park this venue has good swims fishable from the bank at the start. These often produce fish when the river is a bit high, chub being the most reliable species in these swims. As we move up the venue the swims are shallow close in and waders are useful to make fishing easier due to banks and trees plenty of chub to be found along with roach and dace.
The alternative would be ledgering or waggler these methods both bring fish to the net in these swims, boats can cause problems with the wash and also the public tend to picnic on the banks in good conditions this can put some anglers of using the venue in the summer.
From the first gate for about 4-5 swims is the sewer outfall this area is known for bream bags often 50lbs plus, pike can also be found more plentiful at this point. As we reach the end of the venue the islands in the river give good features to fish to these are known for the chub they contain meaning many of our members often prefer to walk to this end in order to find swims that could perhaps be quieter and easier to fish. Chub, bream, dace and perch show well in catches, best bags can top 50lbs and usually consist of either bream or chub but good roach fishing can be found by the angler prepared to float fish.
Recently Bourne End has become a top Big Perch hotspot for lure anglers.
Night Fishing is permitted at no extra cost.
