Any of you chappies or chappesses fish Avon springs of late, or can you give me an idea of the quality of fishing there

There are a few good fish in the water but also a lot of average sized stuff. If you want to get the better fish then do not fish blind, target the better fish. My favourite spot is the far end of the first lake, fishing the corner on the right hand bank. There is a nice channel between the bank and a large weed bed where the fish patrol from under the tree in the corner. It is like a goldfish bowl as you can see every fish if conditions are right. Fish a heavy GRHE, buzzer or stalking bug, keep a close eye on it as the fish will take it on the drop without you knowing. Be quick to set the hook as they soon eject the fly.

Cheers Geordie
How would you rate the fishery, is it worth a chuck, does it get busy

Very quiet through the week and still plenty of space over the weekend. You will find most people fish the first lake nearest the lodge, but good fish can be found all over if you are willing to go looking for them. I used to fish Avington and Dever but now drive past these two as IMHO their stocking policy is not as generous as it used to be (that's a kind way of saying they've turned a bit pants!!) I hope to be proven wrong about these two, especially Avington as it's probably my favourite venue, but for now Avon Spings is the place to go.

Don't neglect their nice stretch of the upper Avon either, well worth fishing at mayfly time or around now for wild and a few stocked browns, and grayling.

An excellent fishery, at its best in the autumn, winter, spring and early summer. For some reason Avon Springs seems to suffer rather more than other small fisheries in the area if we have a very hot dry spell in the second half of the summer - as this year.

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"Depend on it Sir, this is a battle you sometimes win, and sometimes must expect to lose" - the Compleat Angler
JH based near Southampton

Thanks you guys, i will be taking a trip down there friday i hope

Ive just phoned Avon springs and the guy reckons the waters coloured up abit , any changes in tactics for coloured water ,im going to stick to an orange marabou tailed monty first off ,slow sink with a few jerks and pulls, after that if its not working what do you recommendYuo might have to take into account it might be raining too

Fished Avon Springs on Sunday to try to get a few bigger fish to be smoked.

The water is still a bit coloured, but the fish are definitely there.

I had my (4 fish) limit by 11.15, all from the spot in the first (club?) lake mentioned by geordie.

Best fish was 4lb 6oz and the smallest 2lb 12oz. One caught (second cast while just trying to loosen the arm up) on a black nomad and the other three on a size 12 goldhead black damsel.

The suggestion from JohnH regarding the river is a good one. The river is a bit low, but there are plenty of fish in there and they were rising freely at 11.30. So a lake and river ticket may be a good bet.

If you are planning to fish at the weekend though it is worth phoning to check availability as both the lakes and the river were fully booked last Saturday.

Cheers me dears will be fishing there friday,fingers crossed. ill be taking two rods one set with a monty on a 12ft leader the other with a black marabou goldhead on a 12-15ft leader both with 6lb floro How picky is the boss about the dress lenth of the flies, when i phoned he really didnt give much of an answer, most of mine are 12 long shanks with a total of about 1 1\2 in dressed lenth Gaz

In theory you could be chucked off for using a fly greater that 1.000000001" long...the published rule is "one inch".

In practice as long as you don't outright take the p155 with a four inch long size 4 hot lava pink dog nobbler you are unlikely to be troubled, and you may well find that a smaller, imitative or suggestive fly like a buzzer, ptn or hares ear is a better bet anyway.

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"Depend on it Sir, this is a battle you sometimes win, and sometimes must expect to lose" - the Compleat Angler
JH based near Southampton