Warwickshire Avon - The Untrodden Pt.3

I reckon an out of town disgruntled vocal vegan complained to the council, because when I noticed the artwork on the local Bulls Head Pub in Wootton Wawen when it was initially done, I thought it was rather befitting on this rather unassuming pub, where many people think it's a residential property. The staff are great and we've eaten plenty of times in there since it's been taken over. Not just proper Thai food but the usual pub fair too, and the Thai BBQ's they have from time to time are 👌. 

The Moo Ping especially with the spicy dipping sauce, distinctively flavoured sausage, and the chicken satay is some of the best I've ever had, oh and how can I forget the yellow curry, keep on doing what you are doing to keep those bums on seats, well maybe a better choice of proper beer wouldn't go amiss !! 😉

#SaveEddieBullMural

Anyway those lovely people at Stratford-Upon-Avon District Council have told them to paint over the Herefordshire Bull (£1200) mural on the Grade II listed 17th Century pub, or they will be threatened with legal action because it breaches planning rules for listed properties.

Since I've lived in the area it was also once Anderson's Steakhouse, which was absolutely superb with again some excellent staff, but after a few years they decided to concentrate on their Birmingham business, and it changed hands again. Times are hard for the trade these days with many having to cut their spending due to the cost of living, so give them a break I say, especially when there is great support from the locals for this establishment.

Anyway a trip to the untrodden post work and dinner was in order make a couple more swims accessible because the rampant nettles are hindering access. Luckily they are not that thick so my rather undergunned hedge trimmers didn't actually do that bad. 

The problem is often you cut the nettles down to find out the access is restricted by a huge length of reeds !!! so maybe a drone is needed to find the better areas to concentrate on. Still a bit of exercise is always welcome especially when I had to retrace my steps to get the tackle.

Anyway to the fishing, well after catching a near 5lb chub here on literally the first cast of the floating bread I decided to feed some freebies in a few swims to see if I could get some fish feeding. Sadly after a good while it was obviously a fruitless exercise, so I set the rod up to try some static fishing.

A pva bag of pellets and a paste wrapped boilie to try and get some scent in the water. I'd earmarked the first swim I made as the one I'd fish in to dark so tried another area upstream first with no success. On the final swim to fish It didn't take long to get some bites.

Only chublets that were determined to get the bait despite the long hair, but they were all in pristine condition so I wasn't complaining. Anyway I must have caught 6 or so before the swim went dead. The sun was setting by now so I was hoping that the bigger fish would now venture out because the water was gin clear. 

The swim had a willow to my left, cover over at the far side, reeds in the middle and to my right so a swim with plenty of features, and it carried some decent depth as well just off a crease caused by the reeds. After a clang after ten minutes I thought I would be on for some action.

But the sun set with a rather vibrant sky and then dusk came and went and I was looking at a motionless rod. Hmmmmmm....

To be fair I didn't expect to catch a big barbel which James seems to do rather regularly on his 40 rivers challenge (give it a watch, shows the dedication involved), but I did think the chub would at least show. 

Still not all about the fishing is it !!!

Because it's just nice being out sometimes isn't it rather than being sat behind a TV or stuck inside like many would be nodding in agreement to their social media echo chamber !! The sky just got better and better, this scene lasting only 10 minutes but wow, very impressive indeed.

I could have stayed longer but I had a niggling achy pain in my back which wasn't helping so I decided to call it a day when the head torch was just about needed. 

A little disappointed I must admit, but got to look at the positives, I'm going to have this area of river to myself most of the time, and considering this area was likely to have been affected by the pollution incident, there is signs already there could be some nice fish to be had.

Whether there are any barbel here, I don't know but this area wasn't renowned for numbers, much like the rest of the Warwickshire Avon to be honest, but manage to catch one, it's likely to be a good'un.