[JCP]

Is it necessary to go fishing looking like a raggedy- a*sed tramp? Obviously it is where you fish. Down here on the chalkstreams I have yet to see anyone even wear a tie. I certainly don't.

I came upon one of those RAT's on the middle Test one day.Turned out was Eric Clapton...?

 

[Guest]

There are one or two limestone streams in Austria and in Bavaria.

Some chalkstreams do carry a degree of colour. The lower Test is a classic example. Seeing trout in the water there is not a common event. The Kennet also carries some colour and spotting fish takes a fair amount of practice.

You are correct in your first sentence above. You'd think that anglers would be proud to have such a rare and delicate resource in this country instead of denigrating it, running it down and sneering at those who are lucky enough to be able to fish there. 85% of the world's chalkstreams - more than 200 large & small - and I get the impression that some on here would be happy to see them sucked dry and culverted over.

I'm no expert on geology, but my research has been illuminating and hopefully on the right track.

I recently saw an online reference to German chalkstreams. I looked into it eagerly, but concluded they were limestone rivers. I now appreciate the subtle difference.

 

[smallmouth]

Is it necessary to go fishing looking like a raggedy- a*sed tramp? Obviously it is where you fish.

Ouch! Although..........you do realise.........that's not actually me in my avatar?

I have yet to see anyone even wear a tie. I certainly don't.

In that case what do you use to mop your chin with, after you've eaten your, (mythical), cremated roast beef and baked beans?

 

[bonefishblues]

There are one or two limestone streams in Austria and in Bavaria.

Some chalkstreams do carry a degree of colour. The lower Test is a classic example. Seeing trout in the water there is not a common event. The Kennet also carries some colour and spotting fish takes a fair amount of practice.

You are correct in your first sentence above. You'd think that anglers would be proud to have such a rare and delicate resource in this country instead of denigrating it, running it down and sneering at those who are lucky enough to be able to fish there. 85% of the world's chalkstreams - more than 200 large & small - and I get the impression that some on here would be happy to see them sucked dry and culverted over.

I sense the last sentence is a bit of hyperbole, but it is a resource which may be beyond the reach or means of many who read these pages. They also carry rather powerful connotations, some of which have been aired (whether they be right or wrong).

 

[BobP]

Ouch! Although..........you do realise.........that's not actually me in my avatar?

In that case what do you use to mop your chin with, after you've eaten your, (mythical), cremated roast beef and baked beans?

I rarely bother looking at avatars. Could be Charlie the chimp and I wouldn't look at it.

Ouch! Although..........you do realise.........that's not actually me in my avatar?

In that case what do you use to mop your chin with, after you've eaten your, (mythical), cremated roast beef and baked beans?

And the beef & baked beans were all too real. My wife still shudders in disgust at the memory of it.

 

[BobP]

I sense the last sentence is a bit of hyperbole, but it is a resource which may be beyond the reach or means of many who read these pages. They also carry rather powerful connotations, some of which have been aired (whether they be right or wrong).

Just because I can't afford a Ferrari I don't denigrate those that can or wish for the car to be converted into Vauxhall Corsa's. There is plenty of chalkstream fishing at not exorbitant costs especially for grayling in the autumn and winter months as long as those who take the opportunity don't turn it into a cheap day's chalkstream out of season trout fishing which more than a few have done. That's the quick way to lose the opportunity, and THAT has happened due to the activities of a few idiots who think it's a clever thing to do.

 

[bonefishblues]

Just because I can't afford a Ferrari I don't denigrate those that can or wish for the car to be converted into Vauxhall Corsa's. There is plenty of chalkstream fishing at not exorbitant costs especially for grayling in the autumn and winter months as long as those who take the opportunity don't turn it into a cheap day's chalkstream out of season trout fishing which more than a few have done. That's the quick way to lose the opportunity, and THAT has happened due to the activities of a few idiots who think it's a clever thing to do.

I think our agreement is violent, but we express things differently

 

[Guest]

It's a shame that every thread about the chalkstreams tends to descend to the same arguments.

I pulled out Charles Rangeley-Wilson's book 'Chalkstream' and was delighted to read the following:

"If I try to think of the perfect trout river I know that it is a chalkstream. Limestone streams are more widespread, and often flow through less spoiled parts of the world but a chalkstream at its best is unbeatable. All the qualities of a spring-fed river - constant, equable, cool, fertile - are magnified in a chalkstream. Chalkstreams have a constancy that spans the seasons, they have a verdant opulance that the rougher-edged limestone stream cannot match, a sedate grandeur too. In this limpid environment of marbled currents wild trout thrive, growing fat and fantastically fussy."

He writes very well.

On the location of chalk deposits, he writes:

"Chalk occurs in the Anglo-Parisian basin, running from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire to the coast of Dorset, and across the Channel into Normandy in northern France. Some chalk occurs in the great Cretaceous deposits of Russia, and in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and S. Dakota in the United States. Hard white chalk occurs in Ireland in Antrim, and on the opposite shore of Scotland in Mull and Morven. There is chalk in Australia and Israel. But it is in England and Normandy that massive chalk deposits and a temperate climate have coincided to give us chalkstreams as we know them: a unique ecosystem."

I did read something, somewhere, whispers more like, about a Russian chalkstream. Now isn't that an alluring notion?

 

[bobmiddlepoint]

It is simply an expression. Personally I prefer "freestone" as it describes exactly what it is. It is better than what? Muddy ditch? Same as I prefer "leader" rather than "cast". I cast with a fly rod and I have a leader on the fly line.

When I were a lad they were never called freestone in this country, they were spate rivers. I just hate the use of Americanisms when we had perfectly good terminology here already.

My point about stockies was slightly tongue in cheek. I used to fish one of the true chalkstreams every Saturday & Sunday. It was mainly for salmon, sea trout, grayling, dace and pike as "my" beats were too far down to be much good for brown trout.

Andy

 

[Guest]

ps here is a link to the full text of Charles Rangeley-Wilson's brilliant essay, which is the introduction to his book. A good read.

Chalkstreams

 

[bonefishblues]

Good resource, thanks for linking. Likes a hyphen does Mr R-W, I note, including in 'chalk-streams', which I've not seen before.

 

[kevin55]

From my O level geology:
Chalk is porous
Limestone is pervious
Both are permeable

 

[Overmiwadrers]

I am lucky in my part of the World. I have Driffield and Foston beck both Chalk Streams ( I beleive Foston is the most Northerly ) I have fished them both a lot I was a member of Foston for many years. Sadly like many it is to full of stockies. they are both within 20 miles . Also we have limestone spring streams like the Oxfold / Costa becks at Pickering , Sadly both shadows of their former selves. We also have several rivers that are largely fed by springs coming from the limestone , ie The Yorshire Dove and Seven which I fish regularly and actually prefer them to the Chalk streams. They have very good water quality , high invertebrate levels and a lot more varied topography. Also they are both unstocked and have very pretty fish. ( see Avator)

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