Though Birmingham is probably the only major city in the country that does not have a river of any significant size running through it, ( think how many cities are synonymous with their watercourse, i.e Liverpool-Mersey, Newcastle-Tyne, London-Thames ), there are in fact four smaller rivers within the city's boundaries, the Tame, the Rea, the Blythe and the Cole.

I have not fished the Cole myself, but can confirm from both anecdotal evidence, and from my own experience, that the river now has a healthy, if somewhat localised population of fish, including brown trout. The fish tend to be in 'pockets' rather than throughout it's length, as in many places the water is scarcely more than a few inches deep.

I haven't seen any trout myself yet, but as another forum member has kindly pointed me in the right direction, I'll be having a look soon...

1962 or 3 I lived in Maxstoke , the family farm had 2 feilds bounded by the river ,it hels the odd trout ,more pike perch and dace though.I think powells the game shop in Birmingham had the fishing rights then.
At that time it had a good head of proper crayfish .
Not been that way for a few years but the last visit the river was a sad sight slow moving with little good weed ,did not look trouty at all.

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

Hi Fellow member,

I fish the Blythe at Barston as a member of S.P.A.S. and can give you further details if you wish. Just send me a private message

I'm assuming this is a reference to me!

This section of the Blyth referred to was run by me some 12 years ago. We operated under the name of the Hampton Fly fishers.
The syndicate was a success for many years and no the fish did not disappear! For many years we stocked the river some times twice a year with quality browns and rainbows. This supplemented the wild stock witch get introduced by the EA as fingerlings up at Earswood.
One of the issues I had was poachers and not just kids with a maggot or bread but adults and travellers with spinning equipment. They can wipe out a small river very quickly. My days were consumed with driving by 4 x 4 every day some times twice a day down the river. It became an obsession which spoilt the experience. However that was not the death of the river!
About 6 or so years ago an adjacent gravel extraction re developed as a bird reserve. This attracted the dreaded Cormorants. One winter there were over 15 pairs on the pool, every body said no problem they will go back to sea or the summer. But no they felt right at home with a ready food Source.
It’s not so much that they eat all of the fish but they chase the fish off. And here is how bad it was.
The EA undertook a fish survey every year around February. This involves electro fishing from a boat over the same 100 yard stretch. The year prior to the arrival of the cormorants they filled four large tanks with fish. The water was black with fish it was an amazing sight. It was so prolific they had to abandon the second run through the stretch because they would never have counted the fish in the day. (PS the records are available for the EA upon request).
The next year (after Id been pulling my hair out knowing things were not right) they did the run three times and only counted three small roach!! It was so bad even the EA on site said this was as bad as a pollution wipe out. Then they sweeped the whole stretch, nearly a mile. Two additional fish.
This bird still has protected status but is devastating out rivers in the midlands. I had to give it up in the end, it was like losing an old friend and still upsets me to this day and there is nothing effective you can do if it affects your river.
PS the Hampton fly fishers were none profit I charged an amount each year to cover the lease and the fish. If anybody fancies getting together a syndicate it can be very rewarding and not to difficult to do. May be if there are more post from people who fancy the idea I have a few venues in mind that could works very well.

---------- Post added at 05:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 AM ----------

I just read the last post re a "Sad sight and slow moving river".

We all have "English Nature" that wonderfull Qwango to thank for that !

http://www.solihullflydressers.co.uk/

These guys have some waters, not sure what they are tho as its a long time since I looked into it.

I lived in Kenilworth for 20 years and Finham brook and a few others have some brown trout in them....I only live down the road so if you fancy giving a few a whirl then would join you. I also know someone who gives me access to the Avon north of leamington, not sure if there are trout in there but I intend to have a look this season.

Be interested to learn your findings whatever happens.

Whiteknight is totally correct about the cormorant problem,they do eat alot of fish but the main effect they have is to drive the fish up or down the river as they try to escape.
Also poaching is a major problem,especially when Rainbows are stocked and the word gets round!
All in all its a sad situation as its a nice river.Have to say i fished the packington estate water for a couple of seasons and never saw any cormorants there. Think they shoot pheasants on the estate which probably deters the black plague,they know what a gun is!
The Packington stretch has stocked trout plus some good chub,its around £100 a year for 3 miles.
Sorry to hear about your problems at Hampton,must have been devastating.

Have been reading this thread with some intrest,I would be very intrested.
if any sort of get together/meeting is to come out of this thread please count me in
Thanks
SB

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He who dares wins, Rodney.

SB....you poor poor man....a sky blues fan....

I am afflicted with the same affection for the Coventry Rugby Team.....and I think the local tramp has more money than them.

We could always fish this:

Archived Report - River Sherbourne, below the streets of Coventry - UK Urban Exploration Forums

I used to fish that brook, @ lake view park many years ago.
all be it with a jam jar and a net from the local news agent.

Play up skyblues

SB

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He who dares wins, Rodney.

I did the same in Finham Brook in Kenilworth, sticklebacks galore.....infact I think I did a school project on them. I also wrote my GCSE geography project on the pollution caused by Stickleys Scrap Yard on Finham Brook.....and there were still brownies in the stream.

I have only been to see the sky blues once, 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Bruce Grobbelarr was in goal it was that long ago