The River Huntspill

Back in the 1960’s very few anglers had cars so it was a real treat to fish further a field such as the Huntspill River, a five mile straight channel excavated during the early years of the second world war. It ran from Gold Corner, where it was connected to the South Drain, to a new outfall on the estuary of the River Parrett and had retention sluices at both ends, so that it acted as a long reservoir. It was intended that in the summer, when water supply was lower, it would serve as a reservoir with water pumped from the moors; in winter as a drainage channel, via gravity drainage. Pictures right looking towards railway bridge and Withy Grove on further to the Motorway Bridge.

The plans were for a 25-foot deep channel, with the excavated earth used to create flood banks at its edges. At this depth, water could flow into it from the moors by gravity, but problems were experienced with the design. Because the underlying soil was peat the weight of the flood bank caused it to rotate and push upwards in the bottom of the channel. Experiments were carried out to find the optimum size for a stable channel, and the result was one that was only 16 feet deep. The flood banks could not exceed 15 feet in height, and had to be set back from the edge of the channel by at least 30 feet. Because of the lack of depth, water from the South Drain had to be pumped into the river. The existing pumping station at Gold Corner could not cope with all the water from the drain, as well as flood water from the moors, so had to be enlarged.

The primary way to get there was by organised Coach trips (Charabancs). The pictured below typically shows one of these fishing trips with Granddad (with his usual bottle of Light Ale), Dad and me sat in front middle. Back then the river was very deep at least 12-foot and we fished it float ledgering with long home made wagglers. The problem was casting any distance as we were limited to using centre pin reels it meant pulling line off the reel through four or five rod rings. The river was absolutely rammed with “Bootlace Eels” so plenty of hook lengths needed.

Back then the River Authority maintained the River regularly letting the level drop considerable which I witnessed only the once, which was at a South West Winter League which Dad was fishing and he took me as spectator and general nuisance. The picture centre says it all. I remember Dad getting told off by Mum for allowing me to get mired in the grey Huntspill mud. There was plenty of flow so was fished very differently from when it was full.

Since then I have pleasured fished the Huntspill regularly with Dad and Granddad travelling in the back of my Uncle Dugs van.

I also fished a few matches with the likes of Dave Searle and Joss Saunders the Anglers to beat on the waggler and small fish.

The river was popular with Bridgewater AA running huge matches especially popular was the Huntspill Championship with anglers coming from all over the country to fish the match which was usually double banked and a sell-out. I fished a few of them but it was very hard to land on the winning shoal of Bream. I remember Les Evens endeavoring to collect 2000 worms before a Championship. I fished plenty of opens and team matches and framed up a few times but I was never consistent. I did qualify for the Woodbine regional final just up from Gold corner with 14oz!! The final was to be fished on the Gloucester Canal which I couldn’t fish due to other commitments.

I remember one pleasure session with Dick Hodges and Son Steve. Steve put up his umbrella and soon found himself 10 feet out in the Huntspill. The Huntspill is very exposed to all elements. It took a while to recover his umbrella. We fished on and when I got Steve home Mum wasn't amused with me because he was covered in grey mud - what goes round comes round.

The only match I have recorded was the 125 peg John Handley Memorial Match fished from Gold corner to the Railway Bridge. I drew the last peg on Withy Grove right up next to the Motorway Bridge just above the slipway and spent the whole day with the thumping of car tyres going over the bridge Joints. I only set up the pole at 13 metres fishing double caster over big pots of caster and initially caught well but couldn’t keep the Bream and Skimmers coming. The match was won by matey Tony Rixon who had draw midway along Withy Grove. At least I went home with more than a headache. Rixon Trick Em.

The river now is probably at less than half the original depth probable cause being the rising peat as originally discovered during construction.