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Shropshire Anglers' Federation
THE COUNTY GROUND
The County Ground
This oblique aerial shot, looking north, shows the County Ground and the Frankwell car park (centre photo).
Access to The County Ground is via Frankwell Roundabout and Frankwell car park.
If approaching from the west (A458 or A488) or the south (B4380, then A488) follow the signs for Town Centre/Frankwell and then the signs for the Guildhall and Theatre Severn (Frankwell Car Park).
If approaching from the North or East then follow the A528 or A5112 turning right at the Railway station and follow Smithfield Road to the Welsh Bridge (the river will be on your right). Smithfield Road is the bold yellow line shown below the river with the Welsh Bridge shown on the left hand side of the photo where the road crosses the river. If you are approaching via Smithfield Road you will have to cross the Welsh Bridge and follow the one-way system up into Frankwell and around the Frankwell roundabout (clearly shown in the photo), before driving back towards the Welsh Bridge and the Frankwell car park (signposted). Make sure you are in the left hand lane when approaching the traffic lights in Frankwell and continue straight on towards the Guildhall with the Theatre Severn on your right. (This is where the yellow line turns white on the photo).
An overhead shot clearly showing the car park and County Ground cricket pitch to the right. Fishing is inside the loop, the lower limit is formed by the Welsh Bridge where it crosses the river. The upper limit is at the top left of the photo where the open fields meet the houses (Darwin Gardens). In this shot, the river flows in a clockwise direction.
The County Ground is a fantastic match venue and usually comes on form towards the end of the summer providing good fishing to the tip and pole for Roach, Dace, Bream, Chub and the odd Barbel. Good, comfortable pegs and easy access means this has been a popular competition venue in the past, with the Quarry now taking centre stage as match numbers have fallen in recent years. Excellent Pike fishing can be had on the lower section, near to the car park, through the winter months with the middle section providing some excellent sport through the summer to the roving Pike angler fishing lures. Some mild winter days can bring excellent results too. The upper limit offers a presently unlocked potential for the adventurous Barbel fisher.
There is a host of features along this long, sweeping right hand bend in the river that forms the top part, or neck, of the large 'Horseshoe' which encircles the whole of the town centre. The County Ground Itself is also of a similar shape, the river carving round through 180 degrees before squeezing under the Welsh Bridge. When Sabrina is in flood, the County Ground can easily be covered with over 6 feet of floodwater, and likewise on the car park!
Rougly divided into two parts, The car park section and the upper/showground or Mountfields section. The dividing line between them is formed by the hedge and kissing gate passing to the left of the Cricket Pavillion and pitch (roughly the 3 o'clock position in the picture).
The upper section enters over a shallow, clean gravel bed with a shallow beach on the opposite bank. From there on it deepens on a long glide before entering the 'bend'. Typically around 50 yards wide, it curves around to the County Ground with a variety of swims on offer. Once into the County Ground you will find firm, roomy platforms provided for the angler at regular intervals, however after floods the area may become slippery just 'behind' the platform. Please be careful.
As the river cuts around the bottom of the County Ground it deepens once more before passing alongside Smithfield Road and heading towards the Welsh Bridge. Angling below the car park is very limited.
Shrewsbury town centre is within easy reach just across the Frankwell footbridge and Riverside Shopping Centre. The town has plenty to offer. Over 700 shops, a host of high street names, shopping centres, pubs, hotels and B+B's, restaurants, Tudor buildings, Museums, The Theatre, Sightseeing, in fact plenty to offer someone wishing to spend a little more time here. The Stretton and Shropshire Hills are just a short car journey away, in fact the whole surrounding area has lots to offer the keen walker/bird watcher/naturalist/historian.................
..........and angler.
PLEASE NOTE FISHING FROM A BOAT IS NOT ALLOWED
A Maximum of two rods at all times
As with all of our fisheries, there is no night fishing
Grid Ref/GPS: SJ 49163 BNG 12945 (County Ground)
SJ 49107 BNG 12895 (Frankwell Car Park)
Sat Nav:
Length of fishery: (County Ground) 605metres
The County Ground and car park under about 5 feet of water... |
