Fishing in Stafford.

I have often wondered about the balance pools by the old Rugby Club, anyone know anything about them.

there is also the pools behind Sandon Road, they look very shallow and I have never seen anyone fishing them but might be worth a go.

Roland said:

I have often wondered about the balance pools by the old Rugby Club, anyone know anything about them.

there is also the pools behind Sandon Ro is ad, they look very shallow and I have never seen anyone fishing them but might be worth a go.

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The balancing pool near the old rugby club at Castle Fields, must be over 20 years old. It was created when the new estate was built. I am a former angler, over 30 years since I cast a line, but have maintained an interest in everything piscatorial. Often pass by this pool using the footpaths, and over the years I have seen lots of people fishing. Beware of fishermen's tales but here is a summary of what I have gleaned:- It's free! There is a reasonable population of small fish. Roach, & Perch. I have heard about Carp & Pike, and have certainly seen anglers with specialist tackle geared up for those species. Heard a story about a couple of Polish blokes targeting Pike and landing one of about 10 pounds, however a few years ago I heard a story of a 20+ Esox lucius caught from the Sow by a Polish Angler. in the area near the back of Lidle where the western bypass is going over the river.. The person who told me was also moaning about crews of Eastern European anglers targeting the Sow's pike for consumption, but id say on this occasion the fish had been returned alive! I don't think it will have been officially stocked by a club, but certainly imagine fish will have found their way there by a variety of ways. There has been flooding over the years, and there is a stream that runs through it that must run into the river down by the park. I have heard about birds inadvertently bringing fish eggs with them when visiting a lake, and there certainly plenty of bird life at times on the pool. My personal favourite as how the fish originally got there by people putting them there! illegal of course, has to be done with permission from The Department for the Environment. Something I never did of course! ((.... .,....pants on fire! Ed)

https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/astonfields-balancing-lakes Regularly walk/run/cycle past this. The only fish I have seen in it are Sticklebacks, as it is slightly saline that is not surprising. On a couple of occasions I have seen the flash of a Kingfisher. It is not surprising that Stafford and the areas around it populations of plant species more commonly seen near the coast. Not as prevalent as Cheshire, but look at the place names. I used to work at Salt Bank Court, just off Marston Road, and of course the village Salt itself. (Near Sandon, home of the Hollybush pub/restaurant.)There used to be Salt Works in Stafford near where the tip is now,. Apparently 100's of years ago cattle over Doxey Marshes used to dry white with salt when they emerged from the water. I learned to swim at The old Brine Baths over 50 years ago!

gon2seed said:

https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/astonfields-balancing-lakes Regularly walk/run/cycle past this. The only fish I have seen in it are Sticklebacks, as it is slightly saline that is not surprising. On a couple of occasions I have seen the flash of a Kingfisher. It is not surprising that Stafford and the areas around it populations of plant species more commonly seen near the coast. Not as prevalent as Cheshire, but look at the place names. I used to work at Salt Bank Court, just off Marston Road, and of course Salt itself. There used to be Salt Works in Stafford

near where the tip is now,. Apparently 100's of years ago cattle over Doxey Marshes used to dry white with salt when they emerged from the water. I learned to swim at The old Brine Baths over 50 years ago!

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When the balancing ponds were extended, in 1990, there were variation stipulations about what could and couldn't happen. No material could be removed from the total site, it was just moved around to create the extra capacity in the lower pond. There were, as you say, areas of 'maritime vegetation' and these was not to be disturbed at all. These fenced areas at the time were mostly in the western part of the lower pond. I haven't paid a lot of attention in recent years, but the inflow of Marston Brook, under the railway, could often have a very distinct 'farmyard aroma'.

The path of the brook north of the ponds was real Tales of the Riverbank territory up to that time, but then it got heavily 'improved'.

Interesting stuff, thanks

Another free fishing opportunity the features on my frequent dog walking exploits! The Moat, Coppenlall I follow the footpath from the Grammar School to Hyde Lee which goes past the pool. Anglers I have spoken to, say the Farmer knows about anglers, and merely asks that people don't abuse the privilege, damage the place, leave any litter and don't remove any fish. Holds a decent stock of small roach, perch to just under 2 pound, and the odd larger carp!
If I was an angler I'd go light, and it would take about 30 minutes to walk from Highfields. I have seen people parking on Bigwood Lane, probably come over the M6 over the bridge on Thorneyfields Lane, which is now opened after bridge strengthening and a renovation of the lane to Bradley that left it closed for 12 months.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...0x1b47b3d511d85808!8m2!3d52.806693!4d-2.12066

Latest tale of this river bank was that the lake also has Rudd in it & a decent head of bream, heard of a 4 pound example of the latter! Plenty of people down there currently! 'Tight Lines'

gon2seed said:

Latest tale of this river bank was that the lake also has Rudd in it & a decent head of bream, heard of a 4 pound example of the latter! Plenty of people down there currently! 'Tight Lines'

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Isn’t that illegal?

Closed Season?

Until June 15?

DeltaHotel said:

Isn’t that illegal?

Closed Season?

Until June 15?

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Moot point, last time I was interested in fishing law, (20+ years ago!) there was a National closed season, overseen by the Environment Agency for inland open waters, rivers, streams, drains, canals, ect. For many years, (I honestly don't know how many.) lakes, reservoirs and ponds have been able to sort their own. As far as I know, there is no owner of the balancing lake, its free fishing, so no one to set a Closed Season! I could be wrong, and there are certainly a fairly regular set of folk who take advantage of the fishing, there are certainly no signs up regarding fishing, and as far as I know never has been. Someone may know different!

This conversation brings me to a far more concerning concern of mine of a piscatorial nature, one that recently prompted a chat with an angler at this very balancing lake. I said that recently walking on the banks of the Sow I have been perturbed by the lack of fish I see in the river. I regularly walk in Victoria Park, and over Doxey Marshes, and have done for many years. I used to see large numbers of fish in the river, of a variety of species and sizes; Minnows, Gudgeon, & Stone Loach, through to Dace, Perch, Roach, Pike, and even 30 years ago, shoals bream!
What's happened to them? Has the sow succumbed to the malaise of many of Britain's rivers?

gon2seed said:

This conversation brings me to a far more concerning concern of mine of a piscatorial nature, one that recently prompted a chat with an angler at this very balancing lake. I said that recently walking on the banks of the Sow I have been perturbed by the lack of fish I see in the river. I regularly walk in Victoria Park, and over Doxey Marshes, and have done for many years. I used to see large numbers of fish in the river, of a variety of species and sizes; Minnows, Gudgeon, & Stone Loach, through to Dace, Perch, Roach, Pike, and even 30 years ago, shoals bream!
What's happened to them? Has the sow succumbed to the malaise of many of Britain's rivers?

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Polution and Cormorant

But Carp and Pike still grow to a good size in the Flashes

gon2seed said:

Latest tale of this river bank was that the lake also has Rudd in it & a decent head of bream, heard of a 4 pound example of the latter! Plenty of people down there currently! 'Tight Lines'

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Just re-read this, and just to be clear, the above is refering to the Castlefields balancing lake! I hear that Coppenhall Moat has Roach, perch, some carp & Pike! Recently while walking past it I have not seen anyone fishing. I pass a couple of times a month!