As I enjoyed last years thread and I would already be a member but for an unfortunate administative cock up (OK I forgot to post the application form before I went on holiday) but will hopefully be a member very soon, wondered if anyone has been out on the river yet??
Here is hoping for a good season.
Cheers
dom

I will pass over the farm bridge tomorrow morning so will stop and have a look for you. Make the best of upstream of there before June as it gets overgrown and fishes poorly in the back half of the season.
When do they stock it this year?

Bri

From what I hear the 'powers that be' on the FDAS stretch read these forums (and apparently act on what they read) so hopefully this year they'll actually write and contribute to the updates and debates.

Although not a member this year and not likely to be in the future, I'll always have a soft spot for this stretch so keen to see how it develops.

I'd also be keen to see if they look at options such as to allow members to take a set number of guests a year and use the resultant funds to better the habitat which has the basis of a trully great stretch. I feel that once every few years the conditions combine to give a great season both for the fish and fishermen and it'd be nice to get to the stage where we maintain the habitats to give the river the best chance every year.

Bri

Chanced getting a few hours in on Saturday ahead of the bad weather by starting very early, finally got hailed out at about 3.30 so well worth the punt. Running quite high with a touch of colour, much more so below the Hart confluence, but otherwise looking good with quite a few dead trees removed over the winter and repairs to stiles etc. Trees budding and bankside vegetation just starting to get going. Bri you'll be pleased to hear there is some fencing planned to reduce cattle damage, and it is generally much less silty than a couple of years ago from horsejumps up.

At the last workparty I was told the stocks would go in 28/3. They seem to have dispersed already or have been spread further this year (Mick?) - last year they bunched in shoals around the farm for a few weeks.

As for my day, first trout about 8.30 a well-marked wildie of 8oz or so, which was a nice start. I landed about seven in all mostly stockie size, all on a small ptn nymph - pretty good going on a falling barometer I thought. In the odd sunny spells when the wind dropped it almost felt spring-like, and a few olives came off. Saw one rise all day.

Note there are pylon works going on above the Hart confluence and above the top hatch pool - river unaffected but some impact on tranquility. Also for anyone visiting from Reading or London, major junction works start at M4 J11 with the A33 in May.

tight lines
Mark

DEar all. is this thread about the whitewater that flows in the Basingstoke/Hartley Witney/Hook/S Warnborough area? If so i'd be extremely interested in what it's like now. I used to fish it approx 20 years ago in the stretch that flows through Lodge Farm in N Warnborough and also in the part that flows downstream from what used to be the Crooked Billet just off the A30? the lodge farm bit was lovely, but very small, and the Crooked Billet bit was also wonderful, but more prone to colour after rain, and was stocked with Rainbows as well as browns, which lamped up the cost?

I also had a couple of days on the stretch around Greywell Mill which was much slower but had some cracking browns in it.

I would Dearly love to fish either stretch again. does anyone know if day rods or seasons are available and if so where do i go to get one. it'd be fantastic to re-visit the river i 'grew up' on! THere was also a stretch downstream of Lodge farm which i used to walk along, if i remember rightly it led to a lake on which was a large house. much deeper than 'my' stretch, i remember drooling at the 2lb fish that were in there!!!

Any info would be greatly received!!!!

Cheers
Alex

Alex

This post relates to a 3 mile stretch upstream from the Blackwater junction. Season tickets only, max 30 rods, membership may still be available

http://www.farnborough-angling.org.uk/index.html

Also worth a read (bit a bit out of date as Ken now lives in Oz I believe) is
http://www.campoz.fslife.co.uk/ken/
Has a good map of the stretch
Would be interested to hear in any other stretches of the whitewater that are fishable especially as I now work a few days a week in Hartley Wintney.
Cheers
dom

Thanks chaps. I'll look that Farnborough piece up though in truth i'd really love to fish the bits i did as a child. This thread has stirred me out of my laziness though, and i'm going to look into it!!!

I've just joined this year and wondered about what stretch to try first - upstream or downstream of the Hatch Gate bridge. Any suggestions? Had a drive around on Sunday after the snow had cleared a little to check out the parking and access points and there seemed to be little parking room by the junction with the Blackwater so was thinking of exploring upstream from the Hatch Gate bridge first.

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Tha mo bhàta-foluaimein loma-làn easgannan.

Upstream is a better bet for a first visit, or park at the top access and go either way (especially if it has been raining as the Hart colours up much more). Bottom end gets overgrown by early summer and I believe is unstocked, can be quite silty and slow moving.