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Shropshire Anglers' Federation
Sydney Avenue Fishery
"Jewel in the Crown", Our premier fishery affording excellent fishing, Game and Coarse but excelling in the Barbel department. Easy roadside access makes this a very popular venue. Not however without limitations. The fishery is extensively policed by the Bailiff team, as all waters are. This one has to have particular care.
SPECIAL RULES APPLY TO SYDNEY AVENUE
NO WORMS
NO PIKE PLUGGING, SPINNING OR PRAWNS.
Coarse angling is strictly bannned one hour after Sunset until Dawn.
Litter in particular is a BAN risk for all anglers with no exception.
A Coarse angler must give ground to a Game angler on the very rare occassion that the need arises.
Salmon anglers have priority at all times (Feb-Oct)
No bait allowed in tins, bottles or jars. Please use a plastic container or bait box.
A maximum of two rods at all times irrespective of how many rod licences you have.
Rods may be placed a maximum distance of 3 metres apart.
You may NOT leave your rod unattended at any time.
You may NOT reserve swims with tackle etc
You MUST vacate the fishery at the end of each day,
Fishing the same swim on consectutive days is forbidden. You will be requested to move by one of our Bailiffs.
No Barbel to be retained in keepnets
No camping, tents, bivvies, stoves, BBQ's etc.
No fixed lead/feeder setups
Bolt rigs must use a safety clip
You must use an un-hooking mat if fishing for Carp, Barbel or Pike
As with all of our fisheries there is strictly no night fishing.
Fishing is permitted from sunrise to one hour after sunset.
All of our Bailiffs carry charts for the sunset time on any given day.
Please ask if you are not sure.
Please bring an un-hooking mat
WEIR POOL
SPECIAL LOW WATER RULES
On the entrance gate to the Weir Pool you will find instructions relating to low water fishing rules for coarse fish.
To the left of the gate is a large set of steps. When the seventh (or bottom) step marked with a thick yellow line to the left of the entrance gate steps is dry and above water, Coarse fishing is allowed on the weir pool. The gate carries a sign ' SALMON PERMIT HOLDERS ONLY'. You may fish upstream of the steps to the white 45 metre line painted on the concrete below the Toe of the Weir.
You may also fish downstream of the entrance gate to the second set of steps, where there is a white line marked C and S. This depicts the normal Coarse and Salmon limit line, beyond this line downstream, you can fish normally for Coarse fish. At all times you must give ground to Salmon anglers if the need should be evident.
* If fishing at Sydney Avenue we request you bring with you an unhooking mat. *
This is due to the hard stone covered platforms. Do not place fish upon hard uncovered suraces.
This applies to all specimen Pike, Chub and Barbel.
The Sydney Avenue fishery
This shot (below) shows the entire length of the Sydney Avenue fishery looking roughly north-east. The river flows from the bottom of the photo to the top.
Entry to the fishery is via Sultan Road and New Park Road. You will then approach the fishery from the top of the photo on the left hand side of the river (photo), right where the 'scale' crosses the river. This is the downstream limit of the fishery where the road takes an abrupt 90 degree turn to the right. When approaching the fishery you will notice a SYDNEY AVENUE FISHERY sign directly in front of you when you approach this 90 degree bend. The road then closely follows the river bank, past the Island, gravel 'Shingle' area and eventually to the Weir pool. The weir marks the top limit of the Sydney Avenue fishery.
Ample parking is available either side of the road however we would ask you to refrain from driving up on the 'River Bank' side when conditions are wet, slippy or muddy. This to prevent damage to the footpath that is also used by the public. We would prefer you to park on the other side of the road underneath the trees whenever possible.
If parking on the 'River Bank' side please park as considerately as possible so as not to make an obstruction of the path.
Toilets are situated by the car park at the weir and are open daily from around 8am.
Please read the signs situated at intervals along the fishery. There are also further NOTES FOR ANGLERS on the wooden bollards situated along the fishey. Please take the time to read them and please aquaint yourself with the fishery rules before fishing.
In this overhead picture (below) you can see the road swings to the left (situated top centre of photo). It is at this point, the hedge and rails create our downstream limit.
Upstream of the weir is the CASTLE WALK FISHERY.
REMEMBER YOUR UNHOOKING MAT
Sydney Avenue is well renowned for its Salmon and Barbel nationwide. It attracts anglers from as far away as Kent and Essex, London and the home counties in the south and as far as Sheffield, Yorkshire and Cumbria, even as far as Galsgow in the north, all hoping for one of our clean, fit, hard fighting specimens. And there are specimens to be had. The water thunders over the weir at all but the lowest levels. The weir Pool is normally the haunt of the Salmon angler, hoping for a young Grilse or 'Silver Tourist'. The white water really pounds through here at times making fishing tricky at times or even impossible if not loud. Below the Weir Pool rumours of Monster Barbel, plus good Pike and Perch fishing in the many slacks and eddies falling away either side of the tail race as it rushes away from the Weir Pool. The river here flows over a wonderful, clean gravel bed as its mood changes and the pace lessens as it slows to a lovely wide, streamy glide above the 'Shingle', before squeezing past the point of the island and passing either side. Fantastic summer fishing for Chub and Barbel in specimen proportions so do not forget your un-hooking mat and be prepared for a surpirise.
The Island stretch is typical Barbel country. Plenty of far bank cover where the keen Barbel angler can enjoy good sport. In the summer months Barbel can be spotted swimming across the shallows. The average size of the Barbel on this section is 6lbs with larger specimens not uncommon. As a result we request you use mainline with a breaking strain of at least 8lbs or even 10lbs.
Sydney Avenue is NOT the place for light hooklengths and light tippy rods. The fish here fight hard and will wrap you round a snag in no time, that is assuming they don't pull your rod in before you can grab it. Believe us, this does happen. 7 rods lost summer 2008 alone. If fishing exclusively for Barbel we recommend a heavy feeder or Avon style rod with a test curve of 1 1/2 to 2lbs. A range of leads and feeders in sizes from 1 to 3oz stepping up to as much as 5 oz or more when in flood. Minimum recommended hooklength B/S of 8lbs.
Please fish appropriately otherwise you will end up loosing fish and leave line trailling from fishes mouths and unwanted tackle in the river. We cannot stress this enough.
As the river passes below the island it forms a giant slack area in its lee. This area has produced Specimen Carp, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Perch, Roach, Dace, Salmon and Pike. A very weedy area indeed, Carp can, at times be seen basking here in the summer months especially early morning when they root about in the prolific weed growth. At this point the river is approximately 60 to 70 yards wide. It is possible to fish beyond the weed but again stronger tackle must be used. A feeder cast short of the weed will often produce plenty of Chub with the Barbel preferring the mid-river flow.
Keep nets are not allowed for retaining Barbel, Pike or specimen Chub.
SPECIAL RULES APPLY TO SYDNEY AVENUE
NO WORMS
NO PIKE PLUGGING, SPINNING OR PRAWNS.
Coarse angling is strictly bannned one hour after Sunset until Dawn.
Litter in particular is a BAN risk for all anglers with no exception.
A Coarse angler must give ground to a Game angler on the very rare occassion that the need arises.
A maximum of two rods at all times irrespective of how many rod licences you have.
Rods may be placed a maximum distance of 3 metres apart.
You may NOT leave your rod unattended at any time.
You may NOT reserve swims with tackle etc
You MUST vacate the fishery at the end of each day, No overnight parking
Fishing the same swim on consectutive days is forbidden. You will be requested to move by one of our Bailiffs.
No bait allowed in tins, bottles or jars. Please use a plastic container or bait box.
No Barbel to be retained in keepnets
No camping, tents, bivvies, stoves, BBQ's etc.
You must use an un-hooking mat if fishing for Carp, Barbel or Pike
As with all of our fisheries there is strictly no night fishing.
Fishing is permitted from sunrise to one hour after sunset.
All of our Bailiffs carry charts for the sunset time on any given day.
Please ask if you are not sure.
Eels are common along this stretch.
Please handle them with the utmost care and if deep hooked, follow the procedure for deep hooked Pike outlined in the NOTES FOR ANGLERS situated on the wooden bollards along the fishey.
All fish, including Eels are to be returned
Failiure to comply with any of these rules is a ban risk.
GRID REF/GPS: SJ 50419 BNG 13651
WEIR: SJ 50088 BNG 13068
SAT NAV:
FISHERY LENGTH: 0.5 Miles
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