The challenge of weir pools
The combination of rushing water, quiet eddies and swirling undercurrents, which between them are home to numerous species - including barbel, bream and eels - makes weir pools exciting places to fish.
Safety first Water is always dangerous, but weir pools are especially treacherous places, with their swirling undercurrents, weedbeds and deep basins. The wall of the weir is particularly risky, especially if covered in slippery silkweed. |
Weirs are man-made structures that regulate river flow. Although they vary from simple walls to complicated designs with several sluice gates, they all have certain features in common. The powerful currents that tear at the river bed create a range of habitats from the boiling cauldron at the outfall to the quiet stretches of water at the sides.
The white water of the outfall is too turbulent for all but the occasional hardy brown trout, while further on the fast flow is ideally suited to streamlined dace. By contrast the quieter eddies and backwaters are the favoured haunts of browsing bream and of pike lying in wait to ambush their prey. Between these extremes, the steady flows of water play host to a mixed brew of fish, all competing for the food washed into the weir from the main river way. |
Reading the water
All stretches of water, from a pond to a river, have surface clues that provide a detailed map to the hidden world below. Being able to read the map is part and parcel of catching fish - the better your 'water craft 'the better your catches will be. The weir pool angler must look at the surface clues held in the current and try to visualize what is going on below. The bed: you'll need to know what's on the weir pool bed to have an idea what sort of fish you can find there. For instance, a fine, soft surface will encourage the bottom- feeding bream, while barbel and roach are known to favour gravel. Surface boiling indicates boulders or other large obstructions. The faster the current, the larger the obstruction on the weir pool bed. The slowest currents allow sand and mud to be deposited, the fastest only large rocks and boulders. To find out what's at the bottom, drag a leger across the bed to see what it's made of-sand, gravel, stones or rocks. Plumb the depth to identify runs, ledges and hollows. |
Undercurrents: you also need a picture of the lower currents. Those on the surface can be misleading, as the slower water below may move in the opposite direction and any loose feeding may be well off the mark.
Use a heavy balsa float with the shot bulked near the hook to beat the surface currents and show if the lower currents are pulling in a different direction.
Use a heavy balsa float with the shot bulked near the hook to beat the surface currents and show if the lower currents are pulling in a different direction.
Fishing the weir pool
Weir pool fish can grow to very large sizes, so don't use too fine tackle. For example, hooking a large barbel in fast water requires line of about 10lb (4.5kg) breaking strain, with a strong rod and forged hook to match.
Weir pool pike are also tremendous fighters and put their still water cousins to shame.
Light gear can be used at the tail and run-off but you'll be in trouble if your fish sets off up the race.
One of the most productive areas of the weir pool is the tail. Regular feeding here can draw fish from the eddies and basin. These areas usually have a clean gravel bottom, giving you a choice of leger, swim feeder or float. A great day's fishing can be had by trotting maggots or sweet corn during the day then swim feedering maggots for an hour or two at dusk. All manner of fish can be caught this way. If the current over the tail is turbulent you'll need a chunky balsa float taking several swan shot. In smoother currents use a stick float.
If you are lucky enough to have the weir pool to yourself you can rove it with a rolling leger and fish from any number of different points. Use a main line of 8lb (3.5kg) and have 6lb (2. 7kg) and 3lb (1.4kg) hook length line with you. Take a range of baits such as lobworms, cheese, luncheon meat, bread flake and sweet corn. Finally, if you have a selection of leger weights from 1/8oz (3.5g) to l l/2oz (42.5g) with you, you are set up to catch every type of fish in the pool except pike - and even they will occasionally take lobworms. Bites will vary from the rod-slamming takes of barbel to the gentle plucks of wary chub.
Weir pool fish can grow to very large sizes, so don't use too fine tackle. For example, hooking a large barbel in fast water requires line of about 10lb (4.5kg) breaking strain, with a strong rod and forged hook to match.
Weir pool pike are also tremendous fighters and put their still water cousins to shame.
Light gear can be used at the tail and run-off but you'll be in trouble if your fish sets off up the race.
One of the most productive areas of the weir pool is the tail. Regular feeding here can draw fish from the eddies and basin. These areas usually have a clean gravel bottom, giving you a choice of leger, swim feeder or float. A great day's fishing can be had by trotting maggots or sweet corn during the day then swim feedering maggots for an hour or two at dusk. All manner of fish can be caught this way. If the current over the tail is turbulent you'll need a chunky balsa float taking several swan shot. In smoother currents use a stick float.
If you are lucky enough to have the weir pool to yourself you can rove it with a rolling leger and fish from any number of different points. Use a main line of 8lb (3.5kg) and have 6lb (2. 7kg) and 3lb (1.4kg) hook length line with you. Take a range of baits such as lobworms, cheese, luncheon meat, bread flake and sweet corn. Finally, if you have a selection of leger weights from 1/8oz (3.5g) to l l/2oz (42.5g) with you, you are set up to catch every type of fish in the pool except pike - and even they will occasionally take lobworms. Bites will vary from the rod-slamming takes of barbel to the gentle plucks of wary chub.