fisherys in west sussex

[tomstone]

i am moving in the next couple of weeks into west sussex and have done the fishery serches on the web but now i am after some anglers recommendations
so which waters are worth a fling? and what ones are not worth a ping?
also whats the river fishing like in the area?

[FlyBri]

It's a big place - where abouts in West Sussex roughly are you and far are you happy to travel?

Don't fish small stilllwaters much but can recommend that you completely avoid the Blackwool farm fishery just north of Petworth. Even if it was cheap it'd be still worth avoiding - a muddy hole in the ground. Duncton Mill is just south of Petworth and is alright so far as a stocky puddle goes. There is also that Chalk Springs place in Arundel although I'm not sure if that's east sussex...

For rivers there's the River Rother which has brownies, loads of course fish and a good run of sea trout. There are a whole host of other rivers if you just look on a map - some very cheap day tickets available as the water is more suited to course fishing...

Also worth doing a troll down this list and making some phone calls:
www.1fish.co.uk/Fishery%20List/west_sussex.htm

Happy hunting

Bri

[bbandw]

Hi tomstone,

I live in Bognor, West Sussex but generally go out of the area to fish (normally to Cotswold area but that's a good couple of hours drive).

There's a surprising shortage of still water trout fishing in W Sussex (and I think even less in E Sussex).

Duncton Mill is pleasant enough with friendly people and nice club house. It does however have a members only policy in the non-winter months so ring and check before you travel.

Chalk Springs in Arundel is famous for its gin clear water but it can be a bit like fishing in a bathtub - you can see every trout in there but they can see you too. Some people love it, but I prefer Duncton.

You'll find a number of small places about and a few very expensive ones that seem to cater for corporate type outings.

I don't fish streams/rivers myself (would like to, just havn't got around to it) but I think Hampshire is the place for that.

If all else fails there's always flyfishing for sea bass at Chichester - there's guided trips if you fancy that.

Where are you moving too ?

[MrCrabtree]

I'd agree with the last posts, but look at this earlier thread as it might give some other leads for river fishing:

flyforums.proboards53.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1143481166&page=1

[tomstone]

cheers fellas. i am moving to storrington and i don't mind traveling one bit but i am looking for a couple of bolt holes to dissapear to for a few hours fishing depending on the wife ect duncton is sounding good! i am tempted to give chalk springs a bash for a couple of trips as well, many thanks for you help gents

[Bob G]

I've nothing to add to the Stillwater comments but have fished quite a lot of the Rother.
Petworth AC is mainly a coarse fishing club but I tried flyfishing their water on the Rother for a season without any success. Between Coultershall Mill & Selham Bridge is/was Pitshill Flyfishers & Leconfield Estate.
Pitshill used to be managed by Richard Etherington in Petworth but I think he is now part of Smiths Gore who manage the Leconfield Waters. Initially I fished the Pitshill water (about 10 years ago) then moved to Leconfield after a couple of years. The early years at Leconfield were very good indeed & I thought great value for money. However I packed up when fees reached £600 & now I think they are around £800. You can check with SG in Petworth.
Nowadays I fish the Salisbury AC waters & simply put up with the travel or tow a caravan/fishing hut and stay for a few days at a time.
If river fishing is your interest I urge you to get on the Salisbury AC waiting list.
Hope this helps.
Bob G

[twopiece]

:-[FlyBri,

In responce to your earlier comments, you are a hard man to please, whilst we in west susex do suffer from a lack of decent fishery's i think your comments on Blackwool, Duncton are a little harsh to say the least, we dont all have the benifit of being able to river fish ,and for those of who like to wet a line now and again there is nothing wrongwith the above mentioned places.

Let take the "Snob" value of it fly fishing, it is a sport for all ,what ever our pockets can afford !!