01367 253266 Web site

My friend Russ Doig and I travelled down to the fishery on the last day of March. It was a very cold misty morning with no sign of any breeze which meant the lake would be flat calm. These were not ideal conditions to start our new series looking at individual trout fisheries.We checked in and Nathan told us to concentrate our efforts on small nymphs on floating lines and to watch out for very shy takes, as the fish were often just mouthing the flies, conserving as much energy as possible. We walked round the lake and our worst fears were confirmed. It was absolutely flat calm with exceptionally cold water. We were later told that it had in fact snowed that morning in nearby Burford.Access to the swims was good and a moveable wooden raft on ropes provided a quick method of reaching the other side. The lake was well cared for, making it a very pretty looking natural lake. The water was gin clear.I tackled up with a 9ft fly rod with a WF6F fly line with a little piece of red wool treated with a floatant at the end of the fly line. This was to act as my float to detect any subtle bites. I fished with a 14ft leader with a size 12 gold bead hairs ear. I started off on a boat and worked in towards the bank but did not get any pulls. Then I worked parallel to the bank and on my second cast had an unexpected violent take. The rod gave a healthy bend as the fish tore off at a terrific rate of knots towards the island. I leaned hard into the fish, applying a lot of side pressure to turn it before it made the snags by the island. It then made several very long hard runs forcing me to give line and then play it back. This was certainly a fighting fish, that kept deep down even when virtually under the boat. Applying constant steady pressure, I could feel the fish gradually tiring and could now see it deep down. It took several minutes before I eventually got it to the surface to net it. No doubt about it – an excellent conditioned rainbow of 81b12oz.I only had one other pull in the flat calm of that morning and decided to walk back to the lodge for lunch. Coffee was laid on as we sat on the benches in front of the lovely looking pool surrounded by daffodils. It was full of trout for visitors to “pay as they catch” trout.After lunch we returned and a slight breeze had created a slight ripple on the surface. I cast out and let the fly sink, but as it was sinking, I noticed the wool move. I stuck into another good fighting rainbow that weighed 71b 8oz. It then went flat calm again and I cursed my luck as I could not get a take. Fortunately, much later on as light started to fail, a breeze started and I picked up two more rainbows of 81b 2oz and 71b14oz in consecutive casts on a size 14 gold bead hairs ear.ConclusionThis is a top class fishery that I fished in terrible conditions. It still produced some good fish but I feel that because of the poor weatherwe never saw the full potential of this fishery. No doubt bigger fish would have shown in more favourable conditions. I could not fish the River Leach as the season for brown trout did not open until the next day. However I did walk the length and saw some beautifully marked wild brownies. This would certainly be worth fishing when in season. Finally, I strongly recommend that readers try out this fishery with its excellent facilities and top class specimen trout lake. I saw a few very big fish close in and would imagine the fishery records of 221b 12oz (rainbow) and 14lb 14oz (for brownies) will soon be bettered. Lets hope it’s a reader of www.fishing.co.uk. If it is, please let Geoff or me knowDETAILS:Location-Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire. Post code GL7 3QQ. From Lechlade on Thames take the A361 towards Burford. The fishery is well sign-posted on the right hand side of the road just past the Carp Societies Horseshoe lake.Phone number: 01367 253266 Web site: www.fishlink.cam/lechlade e mail: tim@timtrout.co.ukThe FisheryThis comprises of a mature nine acre lake with gin clear water with a 250 yards of wild trout fishing on the River Leach. The lake and river are surrounded by pasture and woodland.The swims on the lake and river are all well maintained and cared for. Although not all the swims have good wheelchair access, there are plenty of swims that the physically disadvantaged can fish. I am told that Bushyleaze which is near by and under the same ownership has much better facilities for the physically disadvantaged.The lake has some nice deep areas with depths of between 12ft and 18ft whilst the River Leach appeared to be mainly shallow with a few nice holding pools.Season: Open all year for rainbows but normal close season for brown trout applies on the river.Ticket prices : Full day ticket with 4 fish limit – £37 Half day ticket with 2 fish limit – £25 Boat hire £10 per day or £5 per half day. Note – A boat can take up to two anglers. Advanced booking of boats is essential 2 Rod hire £10 per day or £5 per half dayTuition: Bookable in advance. 1 hour session £20. However there is a special offer where after tuition the angler can fish on for 2 fish and will be coached as and when necessary. This applies to beginners on Bushyleaze.Busheyleaze: This is close by and a more traditionally stocked fishery with an average stock size of 21b. Fishery record 131b 6oz. Tickets £25 full day with six fish limit: £17.50 half day ticket three fish limit and £14 for an evening ticket with two fish limit.Juniors Tickets for both Lechlade and Busheyleaze are available for juniors at approximately half the cost of the corresponding adult ticket with on average half the limit bag.Breakfast: Substantial breakfasts at £5 can be booked with fishing.Corporate days: These can be arranged and tailored to suit your clients’ every need.Other facilities: include clean W.C., gutting sink, coffee and tea making, tackle shopon site. This fishery has everything that I could think of and more.

Bill Rushmer