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New area help required

Andy Payne

Active Member
Having just moved to Wootton Bassett and as normal leaving everything until the last minute I now require some help from the barbel people. What I am looking for is somewhere to focus my season I don't won't to head back towards reading/Newbury for the loddon and the Kennett having been with rdaa for years and need a new challenge. I know I have the Wiltshire Avon on hand around me here any pointers on clubs to join or not join? Good spots and the bad? Is it still worth the effort for anything in double figures?

Thanks for any help in advance

Andy
 
Yep, as Stuart says Amalgamated probably has the best of the BA of the main clubs. You could also look at Chippenham AC. They haven't got loads of water, but what they do have is nice - with some confirmed doubles out of there last season - and it's a bit closer to you. You've also got your much smaller clubs with only a couple of miles of river each - Riverside AC, Avon AC and Swindon Isis - all of whom have stretches previously owned by Bathampton or Amalgamation. Barbel present in all.

Further North, but still within relative spitting distance, you have the two big Gloucestershire clubs - Ashton Keynes and South Cerney. Both have mainly stillwaters, but also stretches of the upper Thames and, in SC's case, the river Ray, which have always been pretty much ignored by members. Barbel in both, but probably nothing huge.

My suggestion would be to go for Amalgamated and/or Chippenham - for less than £100 (if you join both) that gets you close and easy access to about 15 miles of barbel holding BA, several more miles beyond if you don't mind a bit of a drive, and a couple of nice stillwaters. If you only want to join one, I'd go for Amalgamation, UNLESS Queenfield Farm goes (the farm has recently been/is in the process of being sold), in which case I'd probably choose Chippenham.
 
All good advice, Wootton Bassett, (now Royal) was home for me whilst I was serving in the RAF locally, and then living in the area for many years I have some fond memories of the Town.

As said South Cerney is a good bet, apart from the brilliant gravel pit tench, the River Ray is a cracking little river, chub abound.

Chippenham AC have some good stretches of the Avon, not least Langley Burrell, caught my first barbel there, but alas BA not so good now, but hopefully on the way back.

Almagamated also has Tockenham just outside the town, a big stillwater that really does produce, I know it's not a river but hey! sometimes a change is as good as a rest.:)

Hope you settle in and enjoy the area, what's not too like?:)
 
Thanks guys great info. I think I am going to go out this evening and take a walk around some of the closer amalgamated stretches. Nice evening for a walk a bit later.

Again thanks very much for your help, very valuable.

Andy
 
Andy

Further to my post yesterday, I've confirmed today that the Amalgamated club has lost Queenfield Farm, so some 2 miles of quality fishing near you shorn off (ticket price remains the same, of course). That being the case, if you're only looking to join one club for now, I would suggest going for Chippenham.
 
Andy/Steve,
Sorry to hijack the post but Steve, do you know whether there are any day ticket stretches on the Ray around the Cotswold water park area ? I'm up there for a couple of weeks every year and believe the Ray runs beneath the A419 nearby, was just wondering if there was any access that you knew of ?
Many Thanks
Dave
 
Sorry Dave, no idea. I live too far away from that area for it to be a consideration for me (Lacock is about as far North as I go) so, whilst I am aware of both clubs' existence and the waters they offer, I don't know anything about the specifics of membership, nor about other rivers/stretches in the vicinity.

Neil mentioned the chub sport in the Ray, so he may know more...
 
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