PP always says I'm a "Puddle Plugger" at heart and I certainly started my trout fishing on smaller waters and still fish quite a few bank comps, but arriving at Barn Elms reminded me of all the issues of small water Hampshire venues - catch and kill only, expensive four fish limit (£33, actually not that bad for the area), restrictions on methods (single fly only), five feet deep and pretty weedy.

Don't get me wrong, for this style of venue, it's very nice - pretty landscaping with nice vegetation, lovely lodge with tea, coffe AND cakes and biscuits all included, and an extermely friendly "family" atmosphere and the fish are actually in extremely good nick, with proper tails and put up a decent fight.

The problem is that you can cast half way across it, the fish are very visible early on and you could bag up very quickly, so you inevitably find yourself hoping fish come off, "resting" the good areas from time to time and generally trying not to catch fish. Of course, as more anglers arrive the opportunities to move around reduce, and every fish gets covered, resulting in a much harder venue by about midday.

Having said that, it was an ideal venue for my starter friend who caught his limit on damsels and daddies and was encouraged to be able to see fish to cast at. I got my fish on a size 12 picric cruncher, which felt very lonely swimming on its own but did the business anyway

Overall, if you like this sort of venue, in this location I would recommend it - cheaoer than many in the area and certainly more friendly and well appointed than most. Just don't expect to get a full day's fishing !

Charlie

Back to top

__________________
Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

I visited Barn Elms a few weeks back, it was quite overcast, but although I couldn't actually see any fish, they were still pretty easy to catch (2 in about 20 mins). Couldn't get anything with a dry, but as soon as I switched to something orange and lary the fishing improved.

I will certainly go back at some point, but at the moment I'm enjoying going to Felix Farm in Binfield. John

Well I went back this evening and it couldn't have been more different, absolute blank, tried various. Probably saw about 3 fish jumping in about 3 hours. Was a very enjoyable evening though, if anything it was better than when the fish were biting last time. John

Visited Barn Elms again today, caught one on a pink blob after a couple of hours. Then blanked for the next 4 hours, plenty of fish chasing my fly but no bites. Others were having success, not sure what they were fishing with.

Nice day out again though. J

I caught one rainbow there yesterday on a sunk daddy. Had some fish looking at black gnats and klinkhammers but they turned away at the last minute.

One chap must have caught 4 in the space of about an hour, casting just from that islandy bit. Saw another chap on the opposite bank catching 3 pretty quickly too (probably 30 mins). Apparently damsels fish well there, didn't work for me though, the fish just didn't want to take them - I was using 8lb leader, not sure if going lighter would have helped.

The islandy bit always fishes well - I think the deepest water is between there and the opposite bank.
I didn't have any luck with damsels either yesterday. I used 4lb leader for nymphs and a tapered 4x for dries as the fish seemed very picky.

Good to know, I'll have to head straight for that bit on my next visit.

Might invest in a season ticket at some point, though probably not worth it until March. J

Anyone been over the past few days? Thinking of popping along on Friday, just wondering how it was fishing?

Cheers. John

Went along last night, very windy, but fishing well. Must have seen a dozen or so caught in the space of an hour (about 6 people there). Managed to catch my 2, one of 2lbs 2oz and one a 1lb 10 both on olive damsels. J