Around 10 years ago, just after the boom in popularity of carp fishing - the rivers became deserted, and there were many stretches that were unfished and
neglected... there were many places that could be fished for free. Since the upturn in the interest in the rivers (barbel fishing in particular) free spots are
harder to find. Does anyone know of any decent water that can still be fished for free?
I would like to add that I have no objections to putting my hand in my pocket!! - its just interesting sometimes to fish somewhere different on occasions
without being stung for a season ticket.
Is there any such thing as "free" fishing these days?
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 ChrisCheshire |
Is there any such thing as "free" fishing these days? |
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Posts: 8 (25/05/08 19:13) |
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 dik30 |
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Posts: 197 (25/05/08 19:24) |
dofreefishing.com
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Thames bloke |
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Posts: 71 (25/05/08 19:25) |
Down south there are a couple that spring to mind, the main one being the Thames from runnymede (roughly) all the way down to the seas. Also near me there is a
nice section of the colne.
It was this BIG
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shippo |
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Posts: 1653 (26/05/08 07:27) |
Chippenham free stretch from the town down about 1/2 a mile on the Bristol Avon...
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chrispons |
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Posts: 554 (26/05/08 09:21) |
And full of pikeys,chavs and Eastern migrants,like most free bits.
Pons |
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NeilD |
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Posts: 108 (26/05/08 10:24) |
Cheshire Chris
Think the Pons has a point re free stretches, why not try asking on here for someone to guest you on their local club water, many do guest tickets and I'm sure lots of people would help out. You'll just need to choose which river you fancy. |
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Tigersman |
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Posts: 1204 (26/05/08 10:56) |
To pikey's and immigrant poachers all fishing is free. They don't care if it's club controlled or not all they do is plead ignorance.
Paul |
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wigan stu |
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Posts: 792 (26/05/08 11:19) |
a couple on the ribble spring to mind
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dik30 |
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Posts: 198 (26/05/08 11:44) |
if you google my earlier post there's lots of free fishing but i agree with what others have said, the guy next to you maybe using a harpoon
 so not my cup of tea
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manu31999 |
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Posts: 932 (26/05/08 11:53) |
Were there is lots of Rubbish ever were on the banks and people still fishing now.
Then you have found a Free Stretches. 
Tight Lines and Happy Barbel Fishing
Mitter |
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sneydbill |
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Posts: 983 (26/05/08 12:09) |
Severn Trent still have a small stretch on the Tern. No Barbel tho.
There used to be free stretches of the Severn in quite a few places. Atcham was one of them and there used to be free water upstream in Wales. These were mostly town stretches, don't know if they are still available. There are still loads of free still waters available just by approaching the farmer/landowner. I discovered a pit recently stuffed with roach some tench up to 3lb and a few carp, It is very overgrown and will need some work with a rake in a couple of weeks time as the weed growth is very heavy. This was as a result of a conversation with another angler followed by a bit of research. Ordnance Survey maps are a pioneers best friend, along with Google Earth. Bill |
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davhall |
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Posts: 1886 (26/05/08 13:26) |
Tigersman wrote: here we go again. but in part..true. there is no such thing as free fishing as with the licence unless you want to fish the sea.
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Nicepix |
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Posts: 651 (26/05/08 15:16) |
There's loads of free fishing on Yorkshire's lesser known rivers - Dearne, Don, Rother, Calder and Colne to name but a few. You can find stretches that
contain trout & grayling right through to carp and double figure barbel. And you will hardly see anyone else, let alone other anglers.
Keep it quiet though 
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richp |
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Posts: 392 (26/05/08 15:29) |
chrispons wrote: It's nice to see we don't like to perpetuate stereotypes.....sometimes less is more, if you catch my drift, even if one's attempting to make a valid point. Rich |
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Bait Boat |
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Posts: 644 (26/05/08 15:38) |
There are number of area's on the Lea Navigation that are free at the moment !!
But pon's is correct about the promblems, the Lea Nav being a prime example unfortunately ? Bob |
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barbusfisher |
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Posts: 165 (26/05/08 16:44) |
On the Dorset Stour we have Longham & Muscliffe free stretches.
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davhall |
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Posts: 1887 (26/05/08 20:20) |
i read on another forum that muscliffe in the evening gets full of local idiot kids trying to nick your gear.
i feel a pattern forming here!
Last Edited By: davhall
26/05/08 20:32.
Edited 1 times.
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Leo |
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Posts: 329 (28/05/08 07:17) |
chrispons wrote: Says nothing of that on the EA website Chris The EA have done a very good job in some areas and none more than the Lower Severn, the staging is first class and is safe.
If there is a problem in these areas ''you da man''
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Leo |
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Posts: 330 (28/05/08 07:19) |
richp wrote: Agreed. |
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