Nice shot of a peacock butterfly on one of the many Bird Cherries that have been planted at Mockbeggar.

Just one or two shots to capture today in teh form of a cock Chaffinch collecting food for nestlings. Cuckoo pint or Lords and Ladies, what ever you choose to call them there are thousands now coming into bloom all around the lakes. the final shot captures a male Blackcap singing his heart out in an effort to impress the ladies. Blackcap numbers seem buoyant at the moment, lets hope it continues in a similar fashion.

New arrivals on one of the woodland ponds in the form of the first Goosander brood of the year. I was aware she had a nest close by as we had seen her out for her early morning constitutional flights around the park when we were out with the ewes. Interestingly Pete Littleworth text me that he had seen a brood down on the river at Ellingham this evening, which may well have been the same brood. He also reported the first cuckoo of the year, calling down at Ashley, which hopefully is the final proof we need that summer is at last arriving. Thanks Pete, pity no fish to add to the report!

Andy Jackson was enjoying today's sunshine when this 27 common joined in, making a fine addition to a perfect day.

It wasn't only Andy out enjoying the sunshine, his intended quarry seemed to appreciate the sudden lift in temperature. There is something similar in the last two shots in that they both show that we have some way to go before we have the stock levels at a point where we will be happy. The middle shot is a shoal of bream in Meadow, where several similar shoals could be seen dotted about the lake. The final shot shows about a dozen commons, which were part of a couple of hundred I spotted enjoying the sun today. Of those fish I would estimate 75% still need to be removed, so we still have quite a way to go.

What a great shot, Lewis's smile perfectly capturing the magic of such a bright Avon cock fish. At this point the bank high water, the mud and goo in the fields were just minor inconveniences. Well fished Lewis, braving the river with the fly under such conditions deserves every hard earned reward. Thanks for the photo, very much appreciated.

An entry just to keep readers updated with the state of the river. The East Mills Flume measurement is still way over the spinning height and the river is still way over the Harbridge road and the bund between the bridge and the weir at Ibsley. At 21.82 on the water height gauge beside the bridge buttress the Bridge Pool looks like possibly the most likely fish holding water on the estate, definitely one for the carefully presented Devon.. The snails in the water meadows have taken to the higher ground and every stalk that remains above water. Finally, I recognise the tree that is caught on the Ringwood Weir I just can't remember where it was previously hung up. Was it the one in Sydney Pool or from Penmeade, it may have been the one from Blashford Island. Where ever its from its a pointer to the possibility of changes in some of the pools that we may find when this water eventually drops back. One other change is that the old canoe that has moved from "Harbridge Corner" to "Park Pool" to "Blashford Island" over the past ten years, was last seen grounded just "Above the Break Through" I'll be interested to see just where it finishes up after the flood.

Up on higher ground, the lambs are looking well and growing by the day and the primroses are also putting on a brave show in the previously thinned woodlands.

I don't want to even think about the height of the river, to say its running at unseasonal levels just doesn't go near to describing events in the valley. We will have to wait and see just what the impact of such a flood will be but one immediate blip is that the Kingcups that should be creating a mass of yellow in the meadows are under a foot of water! Just what is to become of our salmon season remains the question on many lips.

Whilst the valley is flooded the lakes are high but remain fishable. They are also endeavouring to bring a little normality to the season with the wildlife of the surrounding meadows getting on with business as normal where ever possible. The photos above are related in that they both show the next generation. Firstly young rabbits grazing the new growth under the canopy of trees felled to keep the deer from over grazing the scrub and some of that new growth in the form of a mass of cowslips. Pleasingly the cowslip population is expanding across several of the paddocks at a satisfying rate, lets hope the rabbits don't have them on the menu. One of the important roles of those rabbits is to be part of the menu for our many raptors and carnivores. The rabbit population has long been the staple diet of creatures such as the fox and Buzzard. If that population is under pressure from diseases such as myxomatosis or hemorrhagic disease the balance is thrown out of kilter as other species become predated at a higher rate. Just going to add further proof that Nature's never as simple as it may at first glance appear.

The link below connects to one of Paul Greenacre's video. As I'm sure most of you know Paul goes festooned with multiple recording device to film the salmon he catches. The video below isn't of one of his many successes with the rod but of a chance encounter with the family of otters down at Ringwood weir. Regulars down at Lifelands and the weir will be familiar with this family but I for one have never seen them put on such a prolonged show. Great video Paul, well filmed.

Otter footage

Spot the salmon rod; to say he deserves a fish is an understatement! The North Marsh at Hucklesbrook currently has more in common with the North Sea. The river is slowly dropping back but it will take several more days if not weeks to clear the flood plain. The Lapwing and Redshank would normally be well underway with their nesting just what the impact of this flood will be is anyones guess. Will the birds wait for the flood to recede or will they move out of the valley onto drier ground? The Curlew have been moving north and having to make their usual stop with us at the shallower northern extreme of the marsh, twenty one were up on the top meadow last week. This weeks oddity has been the appearance of several Garganey. We often get the odd one drop in as they move through to their breeding grounds, this year we have at least seven moving up and down the valley.

What a wonderful day. Its quite amazing how much better I feel with a little sunshine on my back and judging by the response of the wildlife I have bumped into on my travels today so do a great many other creatures. The river has actually continued to rise and spread further out across the valley, which without the sunshine would have been a pretty depressing turn of events. As it turned out in the sunshine we were able to move the ewes and lambs back into the paddocks. Soon looking more like the lambing paddocks we had envisaged, contented ewes and lambs resting with bellies full of grass and milk. All seemed well with the world.

Despite the sunshine the river still remains out in the valley making access very tricky. At least the woods took on a carpet of colour as the celandines caught the sun and the ewes even sought shade in the early afternoon.

To add to my feeling of goodwill to all men and those of you that know me will realise how rare an event that is, Peter Littleworth rang to tell me Paul Greenacre was into a fish on the far bank, upstream of Ellingham. Keen to get a shot or two I set off for the pool in question, the realisation that my Wellington boots were not going to be man enough for the job dawned as I worked out the quickest route to reach him. I did have a pair of chest waders in the back but I had managed to poke a hole in them when I was chainsawing up some semi-submerged timber a couple of days ago. If I wanted a photo it was going to mean I was in for a soaking! Luck was on my side as I pulled up and was dragging the soggy waders out of the truck the phone rang and Peter told me the fish had already been released. I have to admit feeling relieved at not having to wade across several hundred meters of flooded valley to record the capture. I'm sure Paul will have more than adequately recorded every possible angle for another video where I can catch up on events. As it turns out Paul took the fish on the same pattern fly as his earlier Dog Kennel fish, yellow remains the key to success it seems. Also the stamina to wade about in that flood helps considerably well done Paul, if you did well with that first fish this one takes on a totally new dimension under present conditions.

Paul with his second salmon of the season taken under the most difficult conditions. Congratulations paul and thanks for the photos Peter.

The first week of the butterfly transects and the lunchtime sun was just what the doctor order, absolutely spot on.

Finally one of Nature's anomolies in the form of a Wood pigeon squab that was walking about in the garden today. If you take the 18 days incubation and about 30 days to fledge that makes it a nest in the rain and snow of February proving it takes more than a little inclement weather to stop Wood pigeons.

Phil keeping an eye on events in the lambing shed. We had intended to lamb outside but this unseasonal weather has rather forced our hand. The thought of trying to sort out the ewes and keep the lambs warm in the pouring rain, in flooded paddocks, doesn't bear thinking about.

Despite the high water I did see three or four salmon rods out to experience the Avon floodwaters at the weekend. Interestingly, despite being well above the spinning threshold, the majority were still using the fly. Credit to all you brave souls, if it were up to me you would each land a Springer of at least thirty pounds! No matter how much rain we get one thing is for certain and that is the lambs will be arriving this week. They are due and there is no stopping them. The photo is the first arrival this morning, being meticulously cleaned up by the ewe in the relative warmth and safety of the lambing shed. Finally Jack proving that he has the touch when it comes to Mockbeggar, here holding one of a couple of twenty plus fish he landed last week. Well done Jack and thanks for the photos.

Whilst many of the resident birds are now well underway with their nesting this pair of Lesser Black-backs are having to wait for the water to drop to expose the island where they nested last year. It could be some time! The bumblebees are also having a rough time of it as the large queen bees seek this years nest sites the cold and wet are making life pretty unbearable.

The river continues to rise so keep an eye on the East Mills flume website for the latest info, especially as we have more rain forecast in the week ahead. With the Somerley Lakes complex closing for a rest period Mark Browning finished in style with this 38+ mirror. Nice way to finish Mark, congratulations on a cracking fish and thanks for the photo. If the ground ever dries out we will be rebuilding several of the roads and swims so fingers crossed for a few weeks without rain in the next month or two.

I'm beginning to feel this weather is my fault as I spent most of last autumn praying for the seasonal floods to clean up the gravels that never came. When the rain did arrive, at a time when we might expect the coldest time of year in late January we were definitely pleased to see it, as it held out the hope of a good flow for the new salmon season. I now think we have received quite enough and could do with some seasonally warm spring weather instead. Woodside is bank high and by the time we get down to Blashford the water is out in the flood plain. Not only does it make access to the river difficult it also prevents us getting on with all the ground work and reseeding required to get the parks in good order for the coming summer events. Patch up and grade the roads to get rid of the potholes and perhaps most pressing at the moment is the lambing that is due to get underway within the next few days. We deliberately chose to run a flock of sheep that are best left to lamb outside as they are a particularly hardy breed. Hardy they might be but asking any creature to lamb in conditions such as we have endured in recent days is expecting a little much. Most of the paddocks and the majority of the parland is now saturated if not flooded and the forecast for the coming week to ten days tells of more rain to come. Plan "B" involved Kevin and Phil preparing the Dutch barn as an emergency maternity wing just to give the new arrivals a day or two without the rain on their backs.

Creating new lakes that may never become fisheries. Yesterdays otters supper at Mockbeggar in the shape of this socking great eel. I'm not speculating on its size but that's my size 9 next to it. The carp also came from Mockbeggar and was taken out in open water, at ten in the morning in a swim one of our anglers was actually fishing at the time. It was a fish of about 14 pounds so its not as if we can't afford to lose one or two at that size but there is no guarantee the next won't be 40 plus and worth three thousand pounds.

The photos above show new lakes taking shape out in the old quarry workings. Just what the future holds for such waters is the topic of much internal debate at present. One of the pressures that has to be taken into consideration is the ever increasing impact of our otter population. Is it worth the estate investing tens of thousands of pounds in stocks just to feed the otters. Numbers of otters on the estate are reaching numbers that must be nearing saturation point as we have dozens of them. Just what determines the size of an otters territory is not a fully understood equation. If we keep filling lakes with food I imagine they will just continue to expand their numbers making fisheries unrealistic. With our many trail cameras that are dotted about the estate for various reasons otters sightings are probably as frequent if not more so than foxes these days. Whilst we enjoy the presence of otters that have been with us for several decades, a population that continues to grow at an unlimited rate has serious connotations for the fishery. When the river is in flood or the water too cold for their favoured crayfish diet to be available, our fish stocks become a natural food source. We use the stock pond as a distraction that works to a certain extent but not a reliable means to safeguard stock that in many cases has an individual value in excess of two or even three thousand pounds for the larger specimens. I spend hours collecting buckets fulls of dog crap from a local kennel and covering the otter sprainting points and slides with as thick a layer as possible in an effort to keep them away from selected areas. It works for a while but again not reliable enough to guarantee protection of a multi-thousand pound investment. Fences I hear you all cry! Apart from the fact I hate the things as they divide the lakes from their natural surroundings not only keeping out otters but every other mammal the sightings of which make a days fishing a complete experience. I have seen so many miles of head waters totally destroyed by being fenced, instead of Defra getting farmers to control their stock levels, it beggars belief. The farming lobby won't wear that when it can have its subsidised cake and eat it too, some fluff chucker or maggot drowner can be left pick up the bill. There is also the little snag in that we would require sixteen and a half miles of fence to keep them out of our fisheries. Fence the lakes and forget the river? They're full of pesticides, phosphates, micro-plastics, rainbow trout and societies detritus anyway. Defra gave up any pretence of maintaining, improving and developing them, in line with their statutory duty, years ago. Excluding the otters from the lakes and forcing them onto the rivers will soon sort out our wonderful chub and barbel fishing and just about sound the death knell for our struggling salmon population. Thats what I mean, the dull bugger who came up with the idea of fencing fisheries needs to experience the real world beyond their myopic view out of the window of their ivory tower. All that policy does is let Defra and the EA conveniently off the hook. If we stocked with cows and a government policy gave rise to losses of stock and peoples livelihoods, such as the case with TB, Defra would compensate for the full value of the cow. If a fish that is worth twice as much as some over bred, inbred, milking machine gets taken they don't give a fig. They along with the EA, have washed their hands of the problem, hiding behind that conveniently erected otter fence.

That reminds me, thrice joy, I have to fork out £80 odd quid this week, to renew my government rod licence to pay for the protection my fisheries of choice receive!

Sights that will become a thing of the past if we fence the fishery.

Mike Stead with a fine looking cockfish, which amazingly had an unwanted passenger when it was landed. Responsible for the hole just behind the fishes pectoral fin a lamprey had held on throughout being landed and only came adrift in the net. That is a pretty disgusting looking set of teeth, they wouldn't look out of place in "Alien". The fish also had what appeared to be a large jaw impression on its flank with a single tooth mark, hopefully suggesting this fish is destined to reach the redds whatever befalls it. Thanks for the call Mike, most appreciated.

This is a photo I wasn't expecting to be able to show this year. It shows Dutch Elm Disease resistant 'Ademuz' and 'Lutece' elm cultivars, planted in the hope of providing a sustainable food source for our fragil White Letter Hairstreak butterfly population. I hadn't expected to be able to source them when I started to look this side of New Year, fortunately help was at hand from Andrew Brookes over at Portsmouth Uni who had all the necessary contacts and passports for the trees. The Estate were willing to purchase them, Natural England provided the necessary consents and hey presto, we have them in the ground a year earlier than I expected.

Top and bottom of the estate today and whilst down the bottom I dropped in at the heronry to see how they were getting on. Its not a problem spotting the nests in the leafless trees but deciding which are occupied and which are empty is a little trickier. Unless of course there's a thumping great heron sat on it!

.......and up at the top. The Southern Marsh remains flooded proving attractive to the newly arrived Redshank, visiting Curlew and remaining Teal and Snipe. With Teal and Snipe in mind the Marsh Harrier is a regular visitor in search of food as it quarters the marsh in front of the Old Man and watching Wigeon and geese. Hovering for a closer look at something that catches its attention before moving of to search more of the rough ground and ditches.

"Hooray" Congratulations to Paul who stayed on for a last cast by the Lodge and was rewarded with this super 18 pound cock fish. The first Springer of the year for the estate. A very fresh, bright fish, no lice but recently off the tide. Interestingly it had a deformed gill plate exposing the gill rakes but this didn't seem to detract from its fight or its enthusiasm to return to the river. Well done again Paul, perserverance justly rewarded.

Paul kindly sent through a pic of the fly that did the damage. I believe it's called a RS Allisters Gold. Thats as may be but I'm sure it looks very similar to that old time Avon favourite the "Avon Eagle" There's the clue, big, bold and fluffy yellow. If you look back to the diary entry for the 3rd April 2005 you will find Mike Twitchen's traditional dressing for the Avon Eagle. I'm sure there are tiers amongst you that could tie the modern equivalent.

The first colours of Spring are struggling to get going with the Coltsfoot and primroses putting on a brave show.

A roe buck watches from the shelter of the firs as I go by on my rounds.

The wretched stuff is back! I disliked it last time and I dislike it even more this time around. My morning round found just one stillwater member on the lakes. Sharing the desolate scene with a hundred and twenty Shoveler, which appeared to have left for their breeding grounds last week, reappeared today as if they had never left. On the river not a sign of a salmon rod, given the bank high water, brass monkey air temperature and biting downstream north wind, I'm not really surprised. Having said that the vis was remarkably good, with two or three feet clarity and I have a new line that needed a field test. I have to admit to being a real dinosaur when it comes to my fly lines, still preferring to use a double taper to aid my lazy approach to salmon fishing. Unfortunately the tackle trade seems to have decided that DT salmon lines are no longer available and I had invested in a state of the art Spey line. I have worked out that as the need for long casting isn't necessary on the Avon the forward taper on this particular line will allow me to continue with my minimal retrieve casting technique.

I headed home for a warming cup of coffee and to collect the net and rod before heading back up to have a look at Ibsley. Unfortunately the wind had failed to ease, if anything adding an extra edge. I walked downstream along the valley path, punching black foot prints through the virgin snow into the flooded meadow beneath. As I rounded the corner under the willows I was greeted by the sight of over forty swans on the tail of Tizard's. Not the most inspiring sight as they trashed the pool trying to avoid the resident cob who appeared intent on drowning any he could get hold of. Not to be daunted I made up the rod leaning on the willow and threaded my shiny new line before attaching an old Willie Gunn I had in the box. The gold tinsel in the body had come undone and had combined with the multicoloured wing, adding a bonus sparkle. Bound to catch in such water! Double Spey, single Spey, over head the new line didn't make a jot of difference, all I could do was a flat upstream loop under the wind and keep it low on the cast to try and avoid being blown out onto the field beside me. Passing flotillas of swans every five minutes added to the casting interest, the prospect of lassoing the angry cob certainly concentrated the mind. Despite the difficulties the river looked spot on and every cast down the tail of Ibsley and into the head of Tizards felt as if it should have found a fish. The height, pace and colour just couldn't have been any better, every cast deserved a solid pull. As it turned out it wasn't to be, I blame that mob of swans as I'm sure the river just had to be full of bright Springers.

More wretched snow, northerly wind and swans made for a tricky but strangely enjoyable hour.

My new line had performed as well as I could have expected but I didn't feel I had mastered its finely designed properties so perhaps a further pool was called for. I drove around to Ellingham and walked out across the field towards the run into the head of Gypsy. By the time I had crossed the field my right eye had brain freeze and my right hand carrying the rod was beginning to feel numb. Once around the corner at the tail of the pool I was in the shelter of the trees on the far bank and things were a little more comfortable. On under the power line and down towards Dog Kennel, the line was responding well and I was enjoying every cast. The run into Dog Kennel corner must have held a fish? For some reason it didn't take my fly, nor did the ones that must have been under that far bank as I fished through the pool and out of the tail. Oh well, that's fishing and I wouldn't change it for the world.

For some reason that Springer failed to take! Time, me thinks, for a reviving lunch of freshly made borscht and warm, buttery sourdough to clean up the bowl.

Andy Jackson with a fine looking Mockbeggar opening day common.

The toads spawning is in full swing with pockets of enthusiastic couples dotted around the lakes. The frogs finished several weeks ago yet the cold weather seems to have put hatching on hold as the spawn remains undeveloped in masses all around the lakes.

At least we enjoyed a river in good order and decent weather for the last day of the river coarse season as this morning the river is out in the fields again. Last night's rain brought the forest streams up over the fords within hours. The high colour of the forest soon reached the main river and today's salmon rods found a totally different river to that we enjoyed yesterday.

The migrants are moving north, I only hope its not too early in light of the forecast return of cold weather at the weekend. The majority of the wildfowl have left us and the garden birds are changing daily. Along with our resident Blackbirds, Redpolls, Brambling and Blackcaps are moving through with different birds arriving every day. Not the best shot through the window, which unfortunately makes the ring on the Blackcap illegible, so no recover this time around.

The douglas stands are starting to green up after the devastation of the recent thinning and as if to welcome spring the Goshawk were chanting in the depths of the wood and the Crossbills were calling from the top of the firs, it cut a fine picture in today's weak sunshine. A couple of days ago four Brimstones emerged from their overwinter hibernation to enjoy the sheltered warmth this suntrap beneath these mighty trees provides. We have a return to cold and snow forecast for the weekend lets hope after that Spring can get on with warming the rest of us.

I don't usually put up "Fish on a Net" shots but I am prepared to make an exception in the case of this fish. Its the 7.08 chub that Mike Skittrall landed on the last but one day of the season, which my earlier photos failed to do justice. The shot above was taken on Mike's camera and he sent it through today and I feel its deserves showing off as it captures the stature of this incredible fish.

Well thats the river coarse season behind us and it certainly went out in style. The chub catches have been simply staggering, with some fine barbel putting in a late appearance. I couldn't have wished for a better season, which is a rare thing to be able to say in this day and age in the angling world. Once I get the full feedback I'll try and put together a review of the year.

As the river coarse season finishes, the salmon season continues with nothing as yet to show for all the effort. I do have reports of lost fish that do nothing for my equilibrium but it least it shows there are one or two fish in the system! On the stillwater front Mockbeggar is opening, requiring the removal of the winter grazing stock and a general tidy up of the wind blown willow. Its at this point I have the anxious wait to see if we have got the level of grazing correct.

The paddocks have been subject to their winter haircut where we now have a month or so to wait to see if plants we wish to thrive have survived. The fauna we seek to promote is aimed chiefly at the invertebrates, which require a very diverse menu. The grassland for the Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers, the vetches, ox eye daisies, sorrel, nettles and dog violets for the Blues, Small copper, Comma, Peacock, Tortoiseshell and Fritillaries. Add in the requirements of the bumblebees and moths and we have a pretty long wish list so fingers crossed for a flower rich summer.

The penultimate day of the river coarse season.

I had a call this evening from Mike Skittrall hoping I was about the estate, close enough to take some pix of his new PB chub of 7.08. Fortunately I was only five minutes away and I was only too delighted to hop in the truck and head over to find him. What a fish, seven and a half pounds of gleaming perfection, I'm afraid the pix I took do not do that fish justice, it was simply stunning. Well done Mike, congratulations on your PB, it was a delight to see such a fish. The second is another cracking example of our Avon chub, caught by Steve Kenchington when he and fellow syndicate member Mark Sherborne came down last week. They spent their time with a single rod each roving the estate dropping traditional baits into chubby looking spots. Steve tells me they had over thirty chub between them, each managing a brace of sixes, with a 6.12 to Steve being the pick of the bunch. Simply amazing, is there any other river in the land that can produce such fishing. Be it trotted maggot or lumps of cheese paste on a size six what ever takes your fancy. One further point worthy of note is that certainly Mike's fish and if I'm not mistaken also Steve's fish were caught from swims that haven't had a bait cast into them all year. In today's pressured angling world that is a very rare event indeed.

Another shot of young Elian, this time with a skinny Jack that took his home made jelly lure. I'm reliably inform mum's none too pleased with the new found use for the micro-wave, with the associated smell of melting rubber. I suppose thats the modern day equivilent of us trying to hide our maggots in the fridge!

A couple of other recent shots. The first showing Mark Woodage's super looking 14.7 barbel from last week. Landed on double maggot, four pound line, to an eighteen hook required some delicate handling. Finally nostalgia day for me when I headed down to one of my favourite pools to enable me to say I did get to fish the river this season. In actual fact I fished it twice, once this morning for a couple of hours when I landed the same 8 to 10 pound Jack twice! Later I came back to catch the hen I had seen roll whilst landing the Jack for the second time! All in all, despite some low water temperatures and high water levels its been a good last few days. You've still got tomorrow if you wish to add your name to the role of honour so make the most of it.

For the sake of our Chalk Streams a petition that really does need our support

It only takes about thirty seconds

Its all happening in the world of fishery politics. As well as the T&I abstraction challenge once again we have the EA using the fisheries as an easy option to excuse its total failure to maintain, improve and develop our fisheries. If you are one of the readers who bothered to buy a rod licence last year you presumably will have been sent a copy of the proposed salmon and sea trout byelaws. If you look back to the 10th October last year you will see my disillusionment with the EA as a fishery protective body. I also commented on the byelaw consultation venting my frustration on the underfunded and effectively emasculated Fisheries Division.

Whilst you may agree with the coastal net restrictions further byelaw restrictions on the rods is simply box ticking. Totally incapable of evaluation, any perceived or statistically arranged improvement will be blindly attributed to their actions, as they desperately clutch at straws. A national approach is not the way forward for the rod fisheries. I have repeatedly said on here that the multidimensional, voluntary approach across the fisheries of the country will more likely find answers to the problems we face. The Rivers Avon & Stour were way ahead of the field in the introduction of catch and release. On a voluntary basis supported by rods and riparian owners. Salmon haven't been killed on these rivers by either rod or net for well over two decades, yet we see further national restrictions being seen as the way forward and the answer to our problems.

What is even more depressing is the latest publication on the micro plastics front, that surely points to a more likely culprit, or at least a clue to the problems with the water quality we expect our fish to spawn in. Ask any commercial hatchery manager, whose livelihood is dependent on his output, to hatch his fry using Avon water. I doubt he would bother to reply, yet our fish are totally dependent on the water that the river carries and society use to dispose of their chemical waste. I mentioned that back in the October entry and it would seem the curses of society are most definitely coming home to roost. What is so depressing about the plastics issue, apart from the fact our larval stage fry eat the bloody stuff, is that compared to some of the chemical pollutants its hardly difficult to spot. I'll put up the link to the paper so I'm not alone in being fed-up with the level of protection our rivers receive from Defra.

Plastics in our rivers

Plastics, antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, phosphates, what levels impact on the invertebrates?

There are two or three further issues that will raise their ugly heads in the not too distant future but for the time being that should sufficiently depress everyone. I do my best to hide away in the estate and run the finest and most diverse fishery in the land but attached to that role comes the politics. I spent thirty years running around in circles as the government did its best ignore our problems along with its statutory obligations. Just how priorities can be assigned when lobbiests with self interest and political expediency drive our political masters is a problem beyond my resolve. Calling on those that wish to over abstract and pollute our rivers, to supply societies needs, to pay for the damage they inflict will take a different breed of politician than those we have today.

Despite the rain the lads felling the tall douglas fir beside the power line are making good progress. These trees threaten the power supply and have to go, to be replaced with native hardwoods. To give an idea of the scale thats a fifteen ton machine and the tree centre shot, just to the right of the machine, is over one hundred and twenty feet. Trees to be taken very seriously when felling them.

All sorts going on but little time to add much this evening, except a note to the pike lads who are running low on dead baits "Yon troots r oot" The river has plenty of suitable size rainbows if you have a pint of maggots and a couple of hours to spare next years supply of deads is assured! Just in time for the smolt run so just have a second look before you clout it on the head. The EA are aware :-(

Yesterday despite a rising, coloured river, full of melt water and salt from the roads, Mark found a steady paced bend and managed a fine brace of chub on the float. The best of which at 6.05 can be seen in the photo above. Well fished Mark and many thanks for the super pic and the report.

Interesting shot taken by Mike Short of the GWCT whilst he was engaged in one of his surveys at the weekend. It shows a Water Rail eating a chublet, as to whether it caught it or found it the jury is still out. This begs all sorts of comments about fish eating birds but I shall resist the temptation! Thanks for the photo Mike, certainly a first for me.

I've just heard the sad news that Vic Beyer has passed away after his brave struggle against his long illness.

Vic enjoying the margin feeding carp.

Vic epitomised the very best in traditional angling both on the lakes, with a float just inches from the margins as he sought out tench and carp, or on the rivers trotting for his beloved roach. Always supportive of any initiatives that protected the lakes and rivers he so loved, giving freely of his time and experience. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this sad time.

Vic Beyer, he will be missed by his many close friends in the angling world.

WeBS day started early as I counted the Cormorants and Herons as they arrived for their breakfast. Although not the patch that I count I did call at Mockbeggar at lunchtime to check the livestock and whilst there couldn't break the habit of counting the waterfowl. The Shoveler were busily engaged in their strange feeding groups, the particular group in the photo made up a total of over 250 on Mockbeggar today.

I have a WeBS count tomorrow and it looks as if I may be in luck and this wretched snow will have gone. I didn't fancy finding our one hundred plus swans if I had to pick them in out in the snow drifts!

The top and bottom lines are the birds seeking a drink from the pond at home; armchair birdwatching but little satisfaction from seeing the struggle they face. Some of the thrushes, in particular the Redwings and Fieldfares, are looking as if this hard weather is causing some difficulty. The middle line illustrates that snow has absolutely no redeeming qualities or saving graces. The view across to the Forest only acts to remind that the Lapwing and Stonechat are struggling to find food and the Snipe are being forced onto the lake and ditch margins in the more sheltered spots.

Spot the bivvie, only the strong wind kept the lake from freezing over, the sheltered bays went yesterday. It was Frank's bivvie as he did last night in that minus God knows what temperature and driven snow and just to prove the point that Meadow has always been a good winter water he caught. A thirty plus at 32 or 33, I've forgotten which, a 29 and a mirror of around 17, possibly one of the new generation. I will be interested to see the photos when I next see Frank. The other shot is a reminder to keep the bird feed going little and often so they can keep the snow scratched away. At lunchtime today well over 200 birds were grateful for the helping hand.

Just what you like to find bobbing about in the hatches! "Poisson" poison, this stuff is only sold to professionals who have to sign for it and its only for use indoors. If it were empty it should have been washed out and sent to landfill. Its states; "unlikely to be hazardous to aquatic life." That's a cracker of a statement! I feel totally reassured having heard its "unlikely" to kill any aquatic life that ingest the grain. It goes on to say; "Prevent access to bait by children, birds and non-target animals, particularly dogs, cats, pigs and poultry." That's okay then, its unlikely to kill any barbel or roach that eat it, taking it for some of their favourite cereal food, so the professional involved just lobbed it in the river! Its probably serial number traceable but I haven't got the time or patience to hear the crock that the guilty party involved would come up with.

A bit of a bird day in that I have changed the wallpaper on my screens to the Wren, which I photographed through the front window out in the garden. I spent several hours before the rugby getting the Swift cabinet underway in an effort to cope with our expanding flock. Finally the Oystercatchers are back in the valley in preparation for nesting over at the lakes in the coming months.

I am often told by syndicate members, as they head for the river at Harbridge, how much they enjoy seeing Robert Sampson out with his wonderful working Percherons. Today in the sunshine, as I passed on my rounds, Robert was working beside the drive with eight of his magnificent horses in hand. The wonderful scene almost took the breath away it was such a rural idyll it was beyond my ability to describe. As many of you know Anne is “horsey” and it was just too fine a sight for her to miss, requiring me to head home to collect her.

The sun continued to shine, Robert and his team remained hard at work and he kindly invited us to join him on the drivers seat. I have watched Robert, his wife Barbara and their family go about their work with the horses for many years yet today's experience served to reinforce just how close they work with the land they farm. The friable seed bed that enveloped the grain, as it began the journey to this years harvest, was perfection. What brought home the connection with the land was the flock of Wagtails that had found the freshly turned soil to provide rich pickings to keep them through the chilling cold of the coming nights. The well publicised decline of our farmland birds across the country isn't difficult to understand when you compared the sterile monoculture of an autumn sown barley field up on the plain with the natural balance this scene captured today.

The wonderful scene at Harbridge today, Robert with eight in hand with discs and harrows.

The flock of Wagtails that followed the harrows. The view from the drivers seat and Anne in her element as she marvelled at Robert's control.

Readers may wish to keep up todate with events on the farm.

Sampson Percherons

Sampson Percherons Facebook

That scene also captures the dilemma that our countryside faces today, especially as we approach the dreaded “Brexit” If we force the farming community into self sufficiency, through reducing or removing subsidies, economy of scale will win the day. Farm units will become bigger and maximising return will be seen by the farming lobby as the way ahead. The token gestures of today's buffer strips and beetle banks will in the furture be made to look like significant environmental measures if the modern farming community isn't kept in close check. Future farm payments must reward farmers who can clearly demonstrate their benefit to the environment, our wildlife has to fit into the working world, not kept in artificial reserves in token gestures at green wash. Our hill and upland farmers who struggle to make ends meet and those that minimise the application of agricultural pesticides must be valued and rewarded. If we continue to pander to the super markets and reward the barley barons to destroy our downland we walk a very dangerous path.

The wonderful photo above is of Andy Muir with a new Meadow Lake record carp in the form of the "Three-quarter Linear" at 42.8. Andy achieved this feat several weeks ago when he was fishing as a guest of Dan Wrigley. Andy went on the land a further 30+ and I believe six 20+ fish, a fantastic piece of angling. Congratulations Andy and thanks for the wonderful photo, a great looking fish and session. The reason I've put this eye catching photo up is to catch the attention of our "Stillwater" and joint "Coarse River and Stillwater" Members. ONLY THESE TWO CATEGORIES. This is necessary as we are currently sending out the renewal notices, which by now you should have received. If you have not received an email with the review and renewal slip please firstly check your spam file and if its not there, contact Jane in the office and we will sort things out.

......and then there are some photos that aren't quite so wonderful!

The first shot will cheer up Harry! It shows a clean Harbridge Bend with all the dead nettles and docks cleared away. The river looks in perfect trim at the moment and with a Spring tide just past I imagine there are one or two salmon in the river. It just remains for someone to have Lady Luck on their side and bump into one. Whilst the salmon are keeping a low profile the chub and barbel have continued to provide some great sport. The middle shot shows Mark with a pristene five pound plus chub safely in the landing net. One of ten fish, including three six plus specimens, all taken on teh float. Lovely bag of fish, great result Mark. On the right Darrel with a 14.7 barbel, that responded to the slight lift in water temperature at the weekend. Thanks for the photo Darrel, much appreciated.

Refurbishing four of the fifteen Starling and House Sparrow nestboxes than adorn our house. Better late than never, the birds have been trying to occupy them after I had taken them down a fortnight ago and they stood on the drive in front of the garage door. Our local birds stay with us right through the winter, the resident birds roosting in the boxes through the cold weather. I don't clean them out every year but when I do I go over them with the blow torch to rid them of parasites such as lice that can build up over time. This year I will be repositioning several of the boxes to make room for a Swift cabinet I am currently constructing. I am having to add the extra nests the cabinet will bring as my four Swift boxes are occupied and the off spring from previous years are seeking sites to establish their nests. At one point last summer there were more than twenty Swifts screaming around the house and upsetting all the Starlings as they examined every box on the building.

After reaching the highest levels of the winter the river is dropping back quickly and will be off the fields within days. It rose sufficiently to reach the trigger level for early season spinning and I was pleased to see one or two members tried their hand with the Devon Minnow, in traditional early Avon fashion. Whilst the minnow fished well no rod was lucky enough to grass a fish, it was however good to see the minnow being fished in such heavy water once more. The river has dropped back below the trigger level and I will be surprised if we see such heights again this Spring. If ever a statement tempted fate that one has!

The habitat work continues apace as Spring rapidly approaches. The entire thrust of the habitat work is to bring a holistic approach to the lakes wildlife. We are keeping the reed beds and bramble beds from being shaded out by the aggressive willow and alder growth to provide food and cover for our warblers, rails and herons. A maze of vole runs keeping the Barn owl and the Kestrel busy and the remaining aphid covered willow providing vital winter food for the Long tailed tits and the alder seed for the Siskins. Nest sites for the Dunnocks, Blackbirds and thrushes and of course food and cover for the countless invertebrates. Particularly my butterflies, as today's first Peacock and Brimstone of the year brightened the day.

A further look at one or two of our amazing trees in the form of this multi-stemmed Douglas fir that stands in an avenue of about twenty such specimens. They are not the tallest in the country but they must be very close to being soem of the first to be imported from the States and planted across the UK. When I say they are not the tallest they do give a good account of themselves soaring to well over a hundred feet and they have that dramatic majesty huge trees possess. The shot of the very frosty Lower Park was taken by Phil on his early morning round of the ewes, which also shows some of the fine specimen trees to be found down there. On the right of the shot a Common Lime with the enormous clump of epicormic growth that provides homes for owls, stock doves, Eygptian geese and Kestrels to name just of a few of its inhabitants. A huge Cedar of Lebenon and two spreading London Planes, simply stunning. Nice pic Phil, not a bad office!

Whilst the lakes are brim full the Shoveler, Gadwall and Goldeneye and geese are enjoying the extra water the river is even higher. We are seeing the river at the highest mark this winter, the meadows are well under but the water remains relatively clear due to the earlier flush we have received a month or two ago. Not ideal conditions for fishing but this is exactly the conditions we anticipated when we requested the consideration by the EA of high water spinning. With the priciple of high water spinning now excepted it was pleasing to see rods out today looking for a fish in far from perfect conditions yet feeling their devons were covering the water with a chance.

The overnight rain had pushed the river well out into the valley. Blashford Island Run was only for the brave whilst Park Pool was a vision in white with the resident swans and Little egrets joined by a Great White. I believe the white van in the back ground of the first shot is Mark's, braving 'Cabbage Garden' in search of a barbel or chub. I hope he caught as anyone braving that flow deserves every success.

The feeders are still proving very popular with the birds whilst I also feel confident in saying I have the noisiest tree in Britain in my front garden. Having had their fill of white millet from the feeding station the House Sparrows retreat to the front garden shrubs where they shout and chirp to their hearts content. Even through the double glazed front window, through which these photos where taken, the din is all too apparent.

Catch 22 - the three foot head of water makes unblocking the hatch too dangerous, so we will have to wait for the water to drop. Unfortunately the water can't drop because the hatch is blocked!
With the slight drop of water in recent days the day couldn't be put off any longer. Armed with rakes, poles saws, pruning saws, crowbars and spades the start of hours of cutting pulling and getting extremely wet ensues. Mostly willow limbs that had been too long to get through the hatch, thank you who ever sent them down. One or two points of extra interest, one being a complete picnic table, that had to be cut up under water. Also a bird table, that has developed quite a patina through being submerged for a few weeks. Once it has dried out I may even patch it up and take this home for my flocks in the front garden. Finally and thankfully the cleaned hatch.

It may have been on the chilly side but the sun did put in an appearance and with Anne just finishing her nights a walk seemed like a good idea. It also gave me the opportunity to look at one or two of the magnificent trees that can be found dotted about the estate parks and woods. Many of the great trees are getting a little long in the tooth, which gives rise not only to concerns over safety but also just how we preserve these massive specimens. In their winter state, without their leaves, we can get a better idea of just what is required or involved in keeping them in best order.

A massive poplar down beside the river, dwarfing Anne and the ancient tangled robinia out in the park. One hundred feet of elephant grey beech and the noble oak beside the Salmon Lodge. A small sample of the wonderful, aging specimens that can be found about the estate.

Having today emptied the footwell of my truck of its week's collection of bottles, coffee cups and general crap that arrives where ever the Great British public come into contact with the river - the plastic dog poo bags ride in the back of the truck with the otter deterent! Today's anthem is sung by 'Swamp Dog' which I think he wrote it in about 1967 - we don't seem to have taken the message onboard!

....and the anthem for today is

Between Penmeade and Ashley Old Weir is now looking a little tidier after another good morning with the strimmer. One pool that looks well worth a little more attention is the right bank of Blashford Island. With the division of water around the island becoming more equal in recent years the bottom end looks extremely fishy, well worth a chuck. The Island leads almost directly onto the top of Blashford. Whilst Blashford is traditionally fished from the left bank I've always felt it should be possible to take fish at the top of the pool just above the gravel shelf. It would probably best be fished with waders on, down to where the pool restricts 50m below the old seat on the far bank. Certainly worth an hour or two of any rods time. On downstream to Above the Break Through which is a great pool and should be high on the visit list of all Somerley rods, today it looked absolutely spot on. Access is a great deal easier after the wind blown willow beside the King's inception is now cleared away.
I mentioned the seat at Blashford, fear not I haven't forgotten that I need to replace and add a further dozen seats. With the fields remaining water logged getting materials out to the river is difficult. Its not the actual materials but the chainsaw and slammer that are required to cut and drive the posts that risk becoming my death knell. The wretched thing weighs a couple of stone and by the time you've sploshed, gasped, cursed and wheezed out across the meadows for the third or forth time the appeal of angling and the wellbeing of the rods is starting to take a back seat against my own survival!

With the water gradually draining off the land we are able to get on with the backlog of groundwork that has built up over the last couple of months. The timber work is almost finished for the year and after several thousand tons of timber have been extracted we are tidying up one or two sections of woodland that have to be made ready for summer events. With the drying land the river has also fallen back and we can once more get on with cleaning the salmon pools. The shot of Dog Kennel shows its looking a great deal more angler friendly after half an hour with the strimmer. Whilst the salmon pools take on the top priority the work on the lakes still has to be completed before nesting starts in another month. As well as keeping the fishing areas clear we also need to ensure the surrounding meadows remain in good order. Its all a balance as we attempt to keep the brambles and scrub thickets healthy, despite the attention of the forty odd fallow deer we have about the place. Left to their own devices the deer will completely destroy the understory, along with the vital nesting sites for many of the birds and feeding sources for our invertebrates. Many of the plantations that were left at the time these gravel pits were restored, contain trees that are not indigenous to the valley. These foreign oaks and pines are felled and left as tangled as possible to keep out the deer. The woodland clearings also allow light to penetrate the canopy, stimulating new understory, providing vital food sources. Along with the coppicing, pollarding, layering and clearing alder and willow regrowth from the reedbeds, so important to Brenda's warblers, there remains lots to complete in the coming weeks.

A further heavy frost last night and this morning the valley has taken on the proper feel of winter. The frost and ice remained in the shade until lunchtime in many sheltered spots yet the sun came through early on quickly raising both temperature and spirits. A pair of Red Kite were displaying over their nest site and the Buzzards soared across the entire Estate. A Kestrel from one of at least five pairs that nest on the Estate was enjoying a vole out on his feeding perch in the water meadows as a Goshawk circled up into the air to join the Buzzards. The sun was out and valley residents were keen to enjoy it.

Despite the frost nature seems to be of the opinion that the worst of the winter is behind us. Fingers crossed they haven't got their signals crossed.

Just a note to who ever left their seat in the Ellingham car park early last week, I have it. I can't for the life of me remember whose car was in the car park. If the owner reads this give me a call or drop me a text and I'll arrange to get it back to you.

On the fishery front we have yet to see any sign of a fresh salmon. A couple of beautifully silvered kelt gave rise to a skipped heart beat or two but nothing with true Avon Springer credentials.
The lakes are difficult yet continue to throw up one or two great fish with a 35 plus common by Woody being the pick of the bunch. The bream appear to be back on the feed in Meadow, which calls for a further blitz if we are to continue with the fishery stock plan. Once we get this latest cold spell behind us a session of two with the feeder would seem time weel spent. I'll let you all know how I fared if I manage to get either salmon or feeder rod out in the next week or two.

Woody with his 35+ common. A lovely looking fish and thanks for the photo Woody.

We're off! The salmon season is underway and a river in great condition and a sunny day provided us with one of the busiest days on the fishery. With a dozen rods out on the banks it was good to see such enthusiasm, fingers crossed we see a fish before too long to keep spirits high.

Wildfowl out on the lakes looking more relaxed. I have mentioned on here before and it still remains a mystery how the geese know the shoot season is now over. Overnight at least four pairs of Canada's took up position close to their usual nesting sites. I'm afraid we haven't reduced their numbers sufficiently this winter, which probably means we will be over run with goslings overgrazing the meadows in the summer.

The only splash of colour about during today's grey drizzle came from the feeders in the front garden that continue to support a multitude of our feathered neighbours.

The river is slowly dropping back but remains coloured and high. The spillway is running at its maximum but the water is not overflowing the bank between the hatches and the bridge today whereas yesterday a couple of inches was finding its way over. The rather poor photo taken with the mobile, in the rain, shows that we have dropped back about 80mm. The final pic shows the northern marsh at Hucklesbrook still covered in water, to the delight of the gull and wildfowl population. I should stress this high water is exactly what we need and the river and valley are looking magnificent at the moment. It may make our outside work difficult but this is a small price to pay for a river in good heart having flushed the accumulated grot of society and the summer out of its system. I have also added the East Mills Flume website page to the headers to make access easier.

As I mentioned in the salmon review a few weeks ago and in light of the estate agreeing to take part in the early season high water spinning trial, I am bringing readers up to date with matters as they now stand. To which end the EA have agreed that the level above which spinning can take place before 15th May will be 1.24m at East mills Flume.

Water height at the East Mills Flume

I must emphasise that its the East mills Flume and not the East Mills Weir, the link above will take you directly to the correct site.

One or two members have asked me recently for a Somerley water height at the flume when Somerley would offer the best chance of a fish. The only problem with this is that I am not familiar with water levels at Somerley in relation to the East Mills gauges. I have always used the flow at Knappmill as a guide, along with the spring tides they are probably the most reliable indicators of success. In an effort to resolve this in recent weeks I have been looking at the levels at Ibsley Bridge and comparing them to the flume and now feel I have a reasonable understanding of the relationship between the two.

Firstly let me give you an idea of just what Somerley will look like when the levels at the flume reach the critical height to allow spinning. As an example, Today's level on the flume at 16:00 was, as in the photo below, 1.23m that is just below the permitted level. The two bordering photos show the levels out on the bank. Judging by the height at Island run and Blashford pool I'm sure not many will take advantage of the opportunity to spin. In the event you do make sure you are properly equipped and I would strongly suggest you do not venture onto the banks without a stout wading stick.

Downstream towards the corner at Blashford Pool. Toady's reading at the East Mills flume and upstream across the meadows to island run.

From the responses to the review that we received from syndicate members there would appear to be only a minimal interest from members in taking advantage of the facility. It is however an opportunity we shouldn't ignore if we see high flows through until May as we did just a few season back. It will provide the opportunity to visit the water with a chance of a fish, even if actual fishing time is perhaps secondary to just being there! I would request that spinning effort is guided by the existing etiquette that we adopt at Somerley for the fly. We would not wish to see any water fished repeatedly, by which keeping on the move and covering different water at every cast must be the way forward.

With the river continuing to run high and coloured, with further rain forecast, it looks as if we will have a river in good order when the salmon season gets underway in a fortnights time. Today's showers and sunshine, perfectly captured in this shot of the Old School House at Harbridge.

We have seen some good pike this season, I certainly know of fish to 29.02 pounds. The photo above shows Adam Martin with a 22 pounder to go with a 19 pounder he had on the traditional start of the pike season back on 1st October. Adam has also managed an absolute beauty of 28+ a month or so back, which points to a pretty good season to date. Well done on the fish Adam and many thanks for the reports and the pix.

Every day beside the river is a good day and clipping up the salmon pools is a great way to spend it. Looking upstream from Gypsy to The Reeds, Pile Pool down to Park and upstream to the Bridge Pool.

.........and there I was worried about micro-plastics! Just where we are heading with individuals such as the one-watt that dumped this in the river I have no idea. Especially when fly tipping in the New Forest District Council area incurs the wrath of the council with a FPN (Fixed Penalty Notice) and an £80 fine!

This might prove interesting. We know there is a lie just off the seat as fish have been lost there in the past. I've extended the fishable length of bank by 20m and will take the top off the brambles so that fish running downstream can be followed down to Pile Pool if the rod is held high.

One of the odd things about my role is that I do not have an obvious end to my year. The river coarse season retains a beginning and a separate ending, as does the salmon, the trout, the wildfowl, the pheasant and the deer to name but a few. Most run in harmony with the natural cycle of events in the valley. Migrants come and go, be they summer or winter visitors, there is however no clear point of change. If my year were to have a beginning and an end it would probably be the winter solstice. Not because I am some sort of practising Pagan but because it simply is the shortest day, with all the photo-period implications for the Natural World. The regeneration of the Avon salmon gets under way, foxes begin their barking and screaming, to accompany my night rounds and our swans along with other of the valley early birds begin to establish their territories.

Perhaps, on consideration, with Stonehenge in the catchment with its millennia of influence and filtered essence percolating down through our chalk the Avon is tainted? I have been immersed in the waters of this river for over fifty years it has probably seeped deep into my bones. Does this mean I should stick to my personal preference of the solstice? In light of my dilemma adopting that which the vast majority, along with Pope Gregory, feel to be the first choice would seem most logical.

A frosty start to January saw the lakes cowering in the face of the freezing north wind and the exposed sections of the valley proved a trial for all but the bravest souls. An improvement in conditions made the river more attractive with the fish coming back on the feed between the frosty night time temperatures. To prove a point Darrel Hughes landed what for me was the fish of the month with a stunning roach of 2.09. The chub and the pike continued to provide some wonderful fishing and great specimens. By the end of the month the north wind had given way to rain bearing south westerlies. The river levels rose and the water coloured making the February start of the salmon season a challenge with such heavy flows. Hopefully the early salmon made the most of the perfect running conditions to reach the higher river. It wasn't until the 9th that the first Avon Springer graced our banks when Paul Greenacre landed a magnificent twenty plus fish.

Right up to the end of the coarse season on the rivers the Avon continued to produce chub fishing that is hard to believe has ever been bettered. Its almost impossible to chose the best example but I think Ollie Johnson's float caught bag that included two seven plus, three sixes and a big five has to be the pick of the bunch. As the water temperatures continued to rise our barbel also joined the fray with doubles showing throughout the fishery rounding off a perfect river coarse season.

A warm ending to March provided a spring boost for the valley wildlife and the butterflies in particular enjoyed a far better start than the spring of 2016. The arrival of Spring is good for the soul and it was a particularly pleasant time to be in the valley and around the lakes. The appearance of the sun and a light southerly or westerly wind soon put the memory of the long grey winter behind us. With the close of the coarse river the salmon and stillwater syndicates came into prominence. The early flows of february collapsed by the middle of May. By the end of May the water temperature had also reached the critical 19 degrees centigrade cut off point for salmon fishing. The flow never recovered, continuing to bump along at low summer flows for the remainder of the season. Whilst the water temperature did drop below the conservation limit in reality the salmon season ended for us in the middle river by the beginning of June. One other fish I should mention was a great looking twenty pound cock fish landed by Ray Finch from Cabbage Garden. When the phone rang and Ray told me he was into a fish I was on the far side of the world out in the jungle somewhere north of Chiang Mai, in Thailand. A little distant for me to rush to Ray's aid so a quick phone call to Kevin on the estate produced the necessary assistance and honours with the camera. The wonders of modern communications. In total we did see seven fish over the magical 20 pounds mark banked in the early season, which wasn't too bad on consideration. Unfortunately it wasn't to be maintained and numbers and size dropped off dramatically making the salmon season a difficult one best put behind us.

The capture of some stunning carp from Mockbeggar with multiple catches of 30+ fish gracing the bank on several occasions went some way to lift the spirits. The Somerley Lakes complex continued as it has for decades providing some wonderful fishing. Our efforts in removing the bream are starting to show positive results with the tench getting the chance to reach the bait and as for the carp even the resident old girls are putting on weight in leaps and bounds. The tench in Meadow are getting very long in the tooth but with new blood safely installed in the complex the future looks well. We still have some way to go in removing excess carp and bream, hopefully this summer will see the carp numbers in King-Vincent sorted out at least. If all goes to plan the biomass in Kings-Vincent will be sufficiently back under control to see the crucians introduced in the not too distant future.

With the arrival of 16th of June the coarse river season just couldn't have had a better start. Paul Allen's incredible 8.02 chub gave a flavour of the chub that inhabit this amazing river. Once spawning was out of the way they put their condition back on quicker this year than I have ever seen. As autumn arrived the number of six and seven pound fish throughout the length of the fishery has been staggering. It often requires a second take to ensure I had heard the correct details of some of these catches. There seem to be shoals of younger year classes in the carriers, which would seem to bode well for the future. I would suggest that if you have access to the Avon you should make the most of these astonishing fish as I find it hard to believe we will enjoy them indefinitely.

Paul Allen's staggering chub.

The summer turned into a vintage one with warm weather providing perfect growing conditions for the valley flora and fauna. Mockbeggar continues to delight with the winter grazing regime producing a blizzard of wild flowers for the pollinators to feast upon. Butterflies drifted and danced in every meadow with three new species being recorded on the Mockbeggar transect. The valley not to be outdone produced massive hatches of both Small Tortoiseshell, feeding on the creeping meadow thistles and Green-veined Whites on the mint of the floated meadows. Its a further therapy for the soul to walk through a meadow surrounded by literally hundreds of butterflies.

Wild flower meadows at Mockbeggar.

The resident bird populations seemed to enjoy an equally successful breeding season with several species appearing in good numbers as they fledged. Not perhaps the stuff to excite the twitching fraternity but our Blackbirds, Bullfinches and Goldfinches appeared in numbers I haven't witnessed for years. Brenda Cook, of recent warbler ring recovery success, produced further evidence of the successful summer with her Mockbeggar warbler study. If only such information could be attained for all our species, not just the birds but the insects, fish and valley mammals as well. The sooner we understand and are educated in the needs of our valley wildlife the sooner we will be able to ensure their sustainable future.

As with the chub the barbel soon recovered their condition after spawning and we witnessed some superb fish even in the height of the summer. The low summer flows and clear water visibility meant fishing became harder as the summer turned into autumn and we failed to get the expected rains. Eventually we did see one or two decent spates and the barbel responded as we hoped with some magnificent specimens. If we include the fish north of Ibsley we could be looking at five fish in excess of sixteen pounds on the estate. One of the Ibsley fish certainly in excess of seventeen and one south of Ellingham possibly equally impressive. Simply wonderful, long may it last, just ensure you make the most of it. If we add a healthy pike population that has seen some superb specimens landed things are definitely looking okay on the fishery front.

Keeping the infrastructure of the place up together is always a balance between Estate events and the weather. We continue to clear fallen and dangerous trees, pollard willows, reinforce roads, renew hatches and replace bridges and styles that fall into disrepair. Conservation projects such as the Ellingham oxbow, Harbridge wader splashes and the Mockbeggar meadows add a further element. It all takes time and along with trimming the paths and pools keeps me extremely busy. Hard work and time consuming it might be but I for one can think of nowhere I would rather be.

I look forward to seeing you all on the banks in 2018, whatever your chosen pursuit lets hope for a good one.

Only the other day I was wishing for more swans to help with the weed clearing and today over a hundred were present in just a couple of fields. There were sixteen cygnets in one small area, which would seem to point to the swans having had a good summer. Add two Great white Egrets, hundreds of geese, plus numerous wildfowl and the wet meadows were looking more as they should at this time of year. The river is still high but if you have wellies it is now possible to cross the oxbow again at Ellingham, making it possible to walk around the Ellingham Island copse. The old scaffolding bridge has been dismantled and is laying close by on the mud. Once the soft ground, after all the recent rain, has hardened up we will get a tractor down to remove it.

Mid-day today and I was clearing hatches when this chap insisted on passing.

Our troublesome oaks looked a great deal easier the morning after than they did at midnight in the rain and gales. A couple of hours with the chainsaw and the 4CX soon had them cleared and awaiting preparation of the trunks for the timber mill. Our planned efforts with the timber thinning is progressing well as about half of the forwarded material safely roadside awaiting hauling away. Finally, as I walked back from the hatches this evening on my last weed clearing round of the day, the Starlings put on a great dislay as a Sparrow hawk kept them on the move. Numbers have dropped to roughly half that at the time of the peak counts before Christmas but they still looked very dramatic. As grandaughter Katie said a week ago when she visited, the sound of their wings as they wheeled overhead sounded just like waves on the beach.

As regular readers will be aware in recent weeks I have been doing my rain dance at every opportunity in a bid to encourage Mother Nature to replenish our aquifer up on the plain and provide us with a good flush through to clean out the summers detritus. Well, things are most definitely looking up. First Dylan and now Eleanor have been doing their very best to meet my requests. As I said yesterday the river is well up and flushing through beautifully, lovely height, water temperature and colour. It really is looking spot on.

Whilst we are delighted with the conditions there are also less desirable consequences that we have to put up with for the overall good of the river and its inhabitants. It is certainly the end of sight fishing after the prolonged low clear water of the summer and autumn we are now under real Avon conditions. If the flow remains high the fish will also have moved from their summer haunts dropping into the deeper slacks and glides. I have to admit to never being a fan of sight fishing, I always feel I'm cheating or gaining unfair advantage over my intended quarry. My idea of the Avon is when its running bank high and what I refer to as winter green. If the rain eases off in the next day or two and the flood water clears the river will then take on the wonderful grey-green slate colour of winter. In the early sixties when I first fished the river, on what was then the White Horse water at Charford, if we could we would trot bread for the roach by the old boathouse. Or ledgering lumps of cheese for the chub just above the weir. That was in the days when a good chub was four pounds and most were in the three to three and a half stamp. Enough reminiscing, back to our current river and the problems associated with our floods.

All summer long the weed in the carriers and the side growth in the main channel has been growing thicker and denser with no pace of colour to curb it. Now the rising water, following one or two decent frosts, has loosened this growth and sent it swirling on its way downstream. Rafts and islands of Fools Cress and Sweet Grass are heading line astern for every hatch on the place. Add a few wind blown willow branches and an uprooted tree or two and we have a recipe for the perfect storm. No sooner is one hatch cleared than another blocks. As the rubbish is dragged out and cut up, the flow increases and sucks another half ton of trash straight back in. My day is spent patrolling the gates and hatches sending one lot after another on their way downstream. Why bother? You may well ask. To enable the flow to do its work and clear out the mud and weed from the river bed. If left water upstream of blocked gates quickly rises and spills over the banks dissipating its flow in the process. Once we have scoured the gravels its fine to allow it to carry its silt burden out onto the flood plain but first it must collect the mud and rubbish to do its work. Once again a potential downside is that it risks taking the salmon redds that were so recently laid down with it. As we stand at present the flow hasn't reached that critical point and the eggs remain safely within the gravel mounds. Fingers crossed it remains in that happy state of balance.

Yet another downside to storms Dylan and Eleanor as the ancient oaks give up their grip on life. Fortunately the roads were empty at the time, although Andrew probably needed removing from his lounge ceiling having that mighty oak crash down just yards from his front door.

Rafts of weed heading downstream to block every hatch and culvert. Its a time when we could actually do with more swans to break up the masses of weed and enble it to pass through the hatches. Unfortunately the twenty or so resisent pairs will not tolerate the flocks of non-breeders anywhere near the river or carriers in the heart of the estate.

As its the first of the new year I feel that an entry should be added if only as an update on river conditions for any members heading this way. As can be seen the oxbow has an extra couple of feet in it but in the background the river is well within its banks. It is carrying plenty of colour and today the water temperature was in the region of eight degrees celsius, which means everything should be on the feed if you can just find them. It also gives me the opportunity to test the new HTML page!

Roger Priddle looking justifiably pleased with himself, smiling over the top of a fabulous looking hen pike. Roger is a member of both the stillwater and the river syndicates yet finds little time to enjoy the river, which makes this super fish even more special as its his first fish from the river. Thanks for the report and the photo Roger, congrats on a great result.
I'm currently putting together a review of 2017 that I'll share in a day or two. Looking back as I write it makes for some super memories and good reading, despite the low summer river its been yet another great year for the syndicates.