Urban Trout - River Arrow Pt.1

Now a like-minded angler recently put me on to some urban fishing spots that contain a reasonable head of trout. As much as I enjoy fishing canals flowing water is where my heart is really so with coarse fish off the radar I thought I'd see what I might be missing. 

It helped that it was close to a local'ish tackle shop so might as well give it a go before the world wakes up. !!! The location sees plenty of foot traffic because much of it is a public space so I arrived at 6.30am and fished for a couple of hours. 

Considering all the rain we have had recently when I eventually found the river it was very low indeed, but I was given exact locations to try so it didn't take long to find some water to cast a lure in. Rivers like this can vary so much in such a small distance but there is always somewhere where the fish are holding up. 

I have some spinners now in my armoury as well as plenty of small crankbaits, oh and my Tenkara rod with some mayfly imitation's to a nice little trout set-up. However it was the every faithful Salmo Hornet that deserved the first cast. 

It was a chilly start but when the sun came up it was very pleasant indeed and with the wellies donned I got fishing and in to the river to try and catch a trout or two.

An hour in the first likely looking spot without a hit I got back in the car and went to another spot that apparently had a pool either side a fast run. There is plenty to go at here but thankfully some pointers meant that I was in a good spot sooner than I would have been if I was fishing blind. 

It was mostly very shallow but it's surprising that any change of depth can hold fish., those darker areas quite easy to spot. Now the pool above was probably only a foot and a bit deep at it's deepest, but the first cast of the Salmo Hornet I had a decent hit from an aggressive fish. 

Only a small fish but most welcome indeed and on light tackle a sporting fight. Another fish followed shortly after and that was my lot. Cast after cast there was nothing doing so I decided to get back in the car and headed to the tackle shop for a few bits and pieces. 

The Salmo Hornet proving again what a trout catcher it is, the action and rattle is superb and the fact you can fish very shallow water without getting snagged means for me anyway they have the edge over a traditional spinner. 

Only a short exploratory session but with so much water to go at I'm looking forward to trying a few more spots especially the weir pool which looks great, I just need to find out how the heck to get to it !!!  Thanks to Buffalo Si again as it was he that put me on the right track !!!

As to finding local trout fishing to you, I think there is a definite system for doing it that can save a whole load of trouble.

Take your own district for example, unless you happen to live in a highly industrialised area there are almost certainly brooks and small river near to you which hold trout. Google Earth and the like are invaluable in the search, give it a go for something different in the closed season, I love this sort of fishing, a fish is often a bonus.