Happy New Year from the Barton Court team.
I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful festive period and are looking forward to the year ahead. It has been a frosty start to the year here on the river, with temperatures down to –6°C this week and the potential for snow forecast over the weekend.
The trout have been making good use of the colder water temperatures, with redds already starting to appear on Park Stream and Dog Kennels. Meanwhile, daffodils and snowdrops are beginning to push their way through the frozen ground, a reassuring sign that spring is not too far away.
Perhaps the biggest surprise has been the water level, which, much like this time last year, remains unusually low. With Storm Goretti on its way, we may see some improvement over the next few days. Failing that, we are hopeful for a good top-up in January or February, which will set things up nicely for the start of the fishing season.
Winter work on the river is well underway, with several small projects progressing nicely. Most notably, the meadow ditches have received some well-earned TLC. Many long-lost structures have been rediscovered and reinstated, and a considerable amount of brickwork around the river has been tidied up. A small amount of tree work has also taken place, primarily along Parsons Ditch, including the annual pollarding of the willows and selective cutting back in other areas to improve back-casting room in tighter spots.
Finally, our calendar is now fully open for bookings for the coming season, including both corporate days and day rods. If you have any questions, please use the contact form on the website, and I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.
Here’s to a great 2026, with plenty of fish caught and good memories made.
See you on the river soon,
Harry