FISHING ALONG THE SID RIVER:
When we think of fishing in Sidmouth, we think of boats going out into Lyme Bay and beyond – as captured in a recent piece in the Sid Vale Association’s newsletter from spring 2022 by Margaret Taylor (Ankins):
As for fishing along the River Sid, there have been opportunities – as recorded on this thread from a decade ago:
River Sid | Devon Rivers Forum
Here is a lament from a regular fisher on the Sid from 2011:
I live near the river Sid which runs into the sea at Sidmouth. Its always had a reasonable head of brown trout and in the past ,eels.I learnt to fish on the Sid as my childhood home was just up the river from my present home. In recent years we have had runs of fish trying to get over the weir ,known as School Weir, but not successfully. The poor fish will never ever make it as it is too high even in the biggest of spates. For the last few years some local people ,with help from the EA ,have been netting the weir and transporting the fish upstream. Last Saturday we had our record catch and were able to transport 21 brown trout (up to 2lb),7sea trout(up to 5lb) and two salmon(5lb).These are incredible results for the size of the river and will hopefully lead to even better runs of fish. There is also the possibility of funding for a fish pass.
River Sid | Devon Rivers Forum
FISHING ALONG THE TEST AND ITCHEN RIVERS:
There are hopes to restore salmon and trout along the River Sid:
The past, present and future of trout on the Sid – The Sid
In the last decades, the fish caught along the Sid have been by ‘amateurs’ – as per above.
Might there be the possibility or even desire for some sort of commercial fishing along the Sid? It is happening in sustainable ways further along the south coast:
ChalkStream®️ sources fine English trout on the world famous Test and Itchen Rivers in Hampshire. Slow grown for 2 years in farms built on fast flowing pure chalk stream water, our trout are fit and lean with a unique, clean taste. ChalkStream®️ supplies a range of fresh and smoked products to top restaurants, iconic events, fine fish counters and direct to your door.
ChalkStream®️ Fine English Rainbow Trout
Sounds idyllic:
The River Test is world famous; considered the cradle of English fly fishing and epitomising the chalk stream experience. Just the mention of its name conjures images of gin-clear water, bright, clean gravel, lazily waving Water crowfoot (more commonly known by its Latin name, Ranunculus), and sturdy, speckled, almost-golden chalk stream Brown trout.
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