River Mease, Croxall

Brief description of fishery:

This beautiful stretch of the River Mease starts at Croxall Mill Farm on the A513 between Tamworth and Alrewas and extends downstream to the Walton road bridge. Parking is available at Croxall Mill Farm, turn off the main road into the farm entrance, you will cross over the river and then be able to park immediately on the left at the entrance to the meadow. Parking is also permitted in this meadow but beware of getting stuck if it’s muddy. You can also park on the road side at the Walton road bridge.

The fishing is on the left bank downstream from the farm car park and on the right bank in the 3 meadows above. Expect mainly chub, to 6 lb, roach and perch with the occasional carp, tench and barbel.

Like the Anker at Amington this stretch suits the wandering angler however there are good single peg weights recorded, the best in matches being over 30 lb.

Running line with a small to medium wire stemmed stick float, 3-4BB, is a good general rig. Depending on depth and flow you may need to switch to a slightly heavier balsa. Generally speaking keep the float as light as you can get away with as long as it runs smoothly through with the current and can be held back without wavering in the flow. Maggot, caster, bread, meat and worm work well. Larger baits help avoid the many minnow. Summer means a lot of weed which makes this a very popular winter venue, however choose your swims carefully and you will catch well in the summer, just be prepared with stepped up tackle to avoid losing the better fish in the weed. On the shallower straights where there is a lot of weed just feed some bread crust and watch the large chub take it off the surface. If you can find a way to get them to take it on the hook – let us know!

In winter the pegs above and below the bend opposite the car park are excellent for roach. Here you can comfortably fish the pole and should also come into contact with some large perch.

SSSI

Please remember that the River Mease is now a designated SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Please familiarise yourself with the SCAS rules to ensure there is no infringement of SSSI legislation, which could lead to prosecution and loss of our fishing rights.

The Bullhead, Stone Loach and crayfish in the Mease are protected species and we must protect them and their environment. If caught they must be carefully returned to the water and NEVER retained in a keepnet. These protected species do not of course count in a match. They must also not be used or removed for use as bait. Any material which has fish eggs adhering to it and is brought to the bank with your tackle or a captured fish should also be returned carefully to the water.

For the pike angler please note that no coarse fish can be used as dead baits. Sea fish species of dead bait are permissible.

PLEASE READ AND REMEMBER THE FULL RULES RELATING TO SSSI LEGISLATION.