SOMERSET LEVELS and MOORS
At the heart of the county of Somerset, lies a beautiful area called the "Levels and Moors",which has international status as one of the most important wetlands of it's type in the world. Most of the area is no higher above sea level than 25 feet.Some parts,the coastal marine clay "Levels",are higher than the "Moors" which are further inland and often have peat as their central feature.These areas are protected from sea flooding only by the slightly higher clay ridge at the coast and by careful control of water through pumping. To the north of the Polden Hills the wetland is supplied by the rivers Axe,Sheppey and Brue,whilst drained by the river Huntspill,North and South drains. To the south the rivers are the Cary,Yeo,Tone and Parrett with drainage by King's Sedgemoor drain, river Sowey and Langacre Rhyne.SOME IMPORTANT FISHING VENUES River Axe The River Axe rises from the mendip hills at Wookey Hole and from here to below Wookey it is a trout stream.The river deepens as it crosses the low lying land at the foot of the Mendips to the sluice gates at Bleadon and Brean Cross,the tidal limit.Fish species present in the lower reaches include bream, roach,tench,dace and of course pike. Controlling clubs;(lower reaches)Weston-super-Mare A.A. Bridgewater & Taunton Canal Cut in 1827 the canal provided a good commercial waterway between the two towns.Recently restored there is still only infrequent boat traffic. Offers excellent coarse fishing from the towpath for roach,bream,tench,pike and perch. Controlling clubs;Bridgewater A.A.,Taunton A.A. River Brue The River Brue is a trout fishery from it's source above Bruton to Lovington.From here to Glastonbury a number of weirs provide deep water and coarse fish predominate, notably chub and roach together with bream,dace,carp and pike. Similar species may be found between Glastonbury and Highbridge where the river is channelled across the Somerset levels and connected via sluices to other major waterways like the Huntspill,Cripps and North drain. Controlling clubs;Glaston Manor A.A. The Kings Sedgemoor Drain The KSD is an artificial drainage channel dug in c1790. As well as draining a large area of moor it also carries the diverted water of the River Cary and excess flood flows from the River Parrett.The KSD is a very well known coarse fishery,fish present include roach,rudd,tench,carp bream and pike. Controlled by various clubs along it's coarse. River Huntspill/Cripps/North and South Drain The Huntspill is a man-made drainage channel,excavated in the 1940's and connected to the River Brue and South Drain via The Cripps River.The North Drain was dug in c1770 to drain low lying moors to the north of the River Brue.As well as being an important coarse fishery the Huntspill is also an important match fishing venue.Both venues hold many species including immense shoals of bream and large pike. Control is mainly held by Bridgewater Angling Association. Where Is Somerset?
To the north of the Polden Hills the wetland is supplied by the rivers Axe,Sheppey and Brue,whilst drained by the river Huntspill,North and South drains. To the south the rivers are the Cary,Yeo,Tone and Parrett with drainage by King's Sedgemoor drain, river Sowey and Langacre Rhyne.
SOME IMPORTANT FISHING VENUES
River Axe
The River Axe rises from the mendip hills at Wookey Hole and from here to below Wookey it is a trout stream.The river deepens as it crosses the low lying land at the foot of the Mendips to the sluice gates at Bleadon and Brean Cross,the tidal limit.Fish species present in the lower reaches include bream, roach,tench,dace and of course pike. Controlling clubs;(lower reaches)Weston-super-Mare A.A.
Bridgewater & Taunton Canal
Cut in 1827 the canal provided a good commercial waterway between the two towns.Recently restored there is still only infrequent boat traffic. Offers excellent coarse fishing from the towpath for roach,bream,tench,pike and perch. Controlling clubs;Bridgewater A.A.,Taunton A.A.
River Brue
The River Brue is a trout fishery from it's source above Bruton to Lovington.From here to Glastonbury a number of weirs provide deep water and coarse fish predominate, notably chub and roach together with bream,dace,carp and pike. Similar species may be found between Glastonbury and Highbridge where the river is channelled across the Somerset levels and connected via sluices to other major waterways like the Huntspill,Cripps and North drain. Controlling clubs;Glaston Manor A.A.
The Kings Sedgemoor Drain
The KSD is an artificial drainage channel dug in c1790. As well as draining a large area of moor it also carries the diverted water of the River Cary and excess flood flows from the River Parrett.The KSD is a very well known coarse fishery,fish present include roach,rudd,tench,carp bream and pike. Controlled by various clubs along it's coarse.
River Huntspill/Cripps/North and South Drain
The Huntspill is a man-made drainage channel,excavated in the 1940's and connected to the River Brue and South Drain via The Cripps River.The North Drain was dug in c1770 to drain low lying moors to the north of the River Brue.As well as being an important coarse fishery the Huntspill is also an important match fishing venue.Both venues hold many species including immense shoals of bream and large pike. Control is mainly held by Bridgewater Angling Association.
