Great, thanks for that. Hope it's not too overcast on Sunday.

Well it was a fun day. As suggested, it was near impossible to avoid the tail-less new stockies. Not many big fish about, spent about 4 hours chasing a double, no joy.
Ended up with 2 at 7lbs and 2 at 6lbs. Good first outing for my new rod.
John

The problem you had was the shyte weather. very difficult stalking conditions yesterday so you're not going to see many fish. you can avoid the small ones by either pulling the fly away from them, or not striking (they soon spit the hook) - Surprised though that you found the fish tail-less. Avington fish are usually spade-tailed. sorry the weather didn't help.

I don't want to sound negative, it was still great fun. The weather wasn't too bad so I could see the fish really easily, there just didn't seem to be many biggies patroling the margins. I quite enjoyed the avoiding tactics, very amusing to see 3 or 4 fish chasing the fly back - was using knobblers in a variety of colours most of the day.

I was a bit surprised by the tails, but they looked recently worn away. I'm assuming this was due to the 3 preceding corporate days.

As I said, it was a great day really glad to have had a go, I'll probably go back sometime next year - I need to work on my stalking first. So looking forward to the cold weather and heading up to Lechlade to practise.

Cheers. John

I too was suprised at the comment "tail-less". The fish are restocked every evening once the fishery is closed regardless of whether there have been several corporate days or not. I've fished there regularly for the last 16 months and have only encountered the occassional ragged finned fish. As Alex has said the fish are typically in good condition. This is a typical example (happens to be an 8lber):



Shame the weather didn't fully co-operate but it is fun trying to avoid the "smaller ones".

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Unfortunately all mine are in the freezer so can't get a decent snap at the moment, but none looked as healthy as that one. I'm not complaining, I was just surprised. It's good to hear that it's virtually unheard of though, so I'll expect to have my shoulder dislocated on my next visit.

Wierd one though, they have a similar sweet smell to the lechlade fish when you clean them, haven't noticed that at any other fishery. I guess that's an indication of the feed?

Having gone to a local fishery for a quick visit yesterday, I now appreciate my day at Avington even more, it might have been twice as expensive but it was at least 10 times better.

Does it stay good over the winter (assuming some bright weather), or is it very much a summer/autumn venue?

J

JB, re Have a look at the "Dever Yesterday and Avington Today" thread...some worthwhile advice from Neil Maidment on this subject around pages 6-7.

Dever yesterday and Avington today

Avington stays open and is stocked through the winter, but the shorter fishing day, and the fact that you will be fishing the water not stalking, means you perhaps won't get the best from the fishery, and also implies an expensive and possibly short days' sport. You can have a productive winters' day fishing the water on other Wessex small stillwaters for a lot less than £78.

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Thanks for the tip.

Might just wait for Lechlade then. Think my record from this April is 12lbs, need to better that.

Cheers. J