None Provided...

Adwick/Harlington free stretch

Many years ago I read a book of cartoons by Bernard Venables, called Fishing with Mr. Crabtree. Yesterdays trip to South Yorkshire was just like those early cartoon strips. Reed beds, gravel glides, deep holes, and small weirpool run offs, were all there in just a few hundred yards.

The fish Mal and I managed between us would have gladdened the heart of any coarse angler:-

Chub, aggressively tearing into the pieces of bread I had tossed in at the top of a glide.

Roach, each pristine with that new minted look, they can have in the right environment.

Bream, stately in their progress along the bottom vacuuming up all the loose feed.

Gudgeon, some swims were simply carpeted with them, making it hard to get a bait through to anything else.

Dace, fast biting miniature versions of the bigger Chub.

Perch, plump, bold looking, bullies of the river world.

Finally, one of my all time favourites, Rudd, with their deep golden flanks and crimson fins, gleaming in the sunlight.

Of course all of these fish didn't come from one swim. This small river, scarcely the width of a good size lounge, would not take well, I suspect, to sitting all day fishing in one spot. No if you come to this length, come prepared to fish and move. Bring a good selection of baits too, e.g. Bread, Meat, Corn, and Worm. Catching the odd fish then moving on quietly to the next feature, and starting again.

I did return to earlier swims, to good effect, so it may be a good idea to put some loose feed in as you are leaving. But bear in mind those Gudgeon, and Dace, if you are using maggots for the Roach and Rudd. Too much feed can turn a Roach swim into Gonk central. Parts of the run off from the weir are that anyway!

This length, downstream from Mexborough at Adwick on Dearne is unbelievably, !!FREE FISHING!! There is a tarmac car park at the river bridge park there. Cross the road and fish either side of the river wherever you can get down to the waterside.

Good Fishing - BOF