Page 22 - Anglian angling on the broads

22 Environment Agency Angle on the Broads Environment Agency Angle on the Broads 23

Fish City – tackling urban Urban Roach fishing

angling in the Broads

If you’re fishing on the Broads you’re close to one of the country’s premier roach
venues, where, whilst some good summer fishing can be found, it is the winter

fishing that really hits the headlines.

In the autumn and winter double some clonkers too. Some of us
figure bags of prime roach are specialising in hunting them out have
commonplace. Catches of 20lb plus had plenty over 2lbs, with a number
are needed to get in the first three over 3lbs. If you can locate them,
frames of the many matches held on bream shoals can give you some
this fishery. So, where is it? bumper weights; match records have
gone through the roof to around
Well, mention of a holiday angling on 70lb when a good angler gets a hot
the Broads usually evokes images of peg. With so many prey fish about,
sweeping expanses of open water, pike anglers can find good numbers
reedy bays and wooded riverbanks. of pike as well as specimen fish. The
Yet significant stretches of the marvellous thing is that there really is
Fishing from the riverside Broads waterways are in urban areas something for all tastes and angling
and around boat moorings and abilities, if you fish it you will find a
boatyards, running through villages, really mixed and very friendly bunch
towns and right up into the centre alongside you; pike anglers with rod
of the city of Norwich. They can offer pods sitting next to match anglers
some fantastic fishing for both local and kids with a few bits of tackle. It fished static over feed or eased This awesome fishing was nearly enough job of selling itself but
and visiting anglers, particularly for is simply stunning that it’s all free through. Feeding with groundbait, lost to angling though; in 1997 a having made so many people
those fishing early in the day or in fishing! Matches in the allocated hemp, maggots and casters, concerted anti-angling campaign aware of the enormous social
the holiday off-peak season, when zones, where casual anglers should bread and corn will catch virtually in the city centre coincided with and economic value of angling
the banks and boat traffic are much give way, have to be booked at a everything, though the perch love plans being announced for the on the Riverside the future of it
quieter. The autumn and winter modest cost via Norwich City Council. the chopped worm and worm redevelopment of the Riverside. was secured.
months bring some spectacular sport hookbait approach. Being a free fishery with no
when fish, particularly shoal upon When it comes to fishing it, you will controlling club or association Please come and enjoy this
shoal of roach, congregate in urban find that tidal forces channelled It is always worth regular feeding it had no effective voice to fight fantastic fishery but play your
areas and around boatyards and in the banks are probably the on more than one line and for it. part in it by acknowledging
boat dykes. biggest factor to come to terms switching between them if bites that conflicts between angling,
with, influencing depth of water and drop off, in order to keep up a Determined to protect a fishery conservation, boaters and other
The jewel in the crown of urban height from the high banks, flow rate steady flow of fish. The banks are so vital for winter match fishing, user groups is often most acute
Broads fishing focused upon here and even direction of flow. virtually all hard surfaces, so those easy access for kids and other in urban areas. Read and heed
is the river Wensum from behind with seat-boxes with adaptations beginners, the Norfolk Anglers the advice in the Environment

It is simply the Norwich City football ground. It So it makes for very active and for rod rests, bait box stands, etc, Conservation Association (NACA) Agency’s Golden Rules and
BASG’s Catching Fish on the
stimulating fishing, where you have
launched their resources into a
will be more comfortable.
runs along the Riverside walk beside
stunning that the Riverside developments, clubs, to be constantly changing depth and Those same hard banks make fish lengthy campaign to save the Broads leaflets.
rig, to present the bait in whatever
multi-storey car parks, restaurants,
future of angling here. Others
it’s all free shops, cinema and houses, to the manner the fish want it on the day. care an issue and any specimen rallied to the cause; people like Colin Smith
hunter must have some kind
Yacht Station and up past historic
local match ace Steve Borrett,
fishing. buildings such as Pulls Ferry and Cow Virtually all fine line running water of padded unhooking mat with who organised a petition and
them. It is always worth a polite
techniques are relevant from strung
Tower into the heart of the city. presented the case at a meeting
and bulked stick and waggler floats inquiry to local tackle dealers for
While roach are the real draw, there with a steady stream of loose feed, up-to-the-minute advice on hot- of Norwich City Council. Angling
as a sport does not do a good
are also plenty of obliging perch, feeder fishing or long pole methods spots and methods.