Sudbury & District Angling Association  Contd..

PECK'S MEADOW     Sudbury Suffolk

Peck's Meadow has a great reputation as a match venue, mainly because of is huge shoals of good sized bream, roach and tench. The most successful method is the quiver or swing tip with a variable length link leger fished over several balls of squat and caster laced red ground bait. Best hook baits are either worm and caster cocktail or double red maggot. When commencing fishing introduce 5 or 6 large balls of ground bait and fish for half an hour before introducing more feed. When the fish arrive in the swim use only loose feed casters for best results. Seed baits work well for the roach in summer and bread punch in winter. Big chub inhabit the river and backwater with several fish to just over 6 lb recorded.
Quiet areas along the far bank are your best bet during daylight with the middle of the river and near bank producing after dark. Dead baits, especially sprats, have sorted out the larger chub in past seasons, but please use a supple wire trace as several very large pike and zander frequent this stretch. Especially in the deep water fronting Lady's Island. Whilst mentioning Lady's Island, there is a locked gate giving access here for which you will need a SDAA key (please note the island can only be fished by members, no day ticket access).
The backwater gives good refuge to fish of all species during times of heavy flood, something the pike know only too well!!

BOUNDARIES:
Upstream from the concrete bridge over the ditch, downstream opposite the pill box at Cornard weir.


FRIARS MEADOW - BALLINGDON GROVE -  THE PRIORY     Sudbury Suffolk

The best river tench and bream fishing for miles around, especially on summer mornings and nights.
The roach fishing is especially good in the winter and there is always the chance of a very big chub. The best recorded being 6 lb 4 oz. Pike to 24 lb and zander of 11 lb plus also exist in this well balanced fishery. Carp to 27 lb have been recorded and even bigger fish seen. The best match weight was 124 lb in 5 hours!
Pole fishing is very popular here and the best method for the tench is to fish hard on the bottom at 5 - 9 metres over hemp, corn and casters. It is often a good ploy to put 5 to 6 balls of ground bait in on the 10 - 12 metre line and wait for the bream to move in. Another productive method is the feeder and quiver tip.

NOTE:  Access to Ballingdon Grove is via the footpath at the side of Grove Cottage in Middleton Road ( Essex bank ).


MILL MEADOWS      Sudbury Suffolk

A good summer roach fishery, but it is really in the winter that Mill Meadows excels, especially with chub.
Each year several fish over 5 lb are reported, with many fish in the 3 - 4 lb class. Large carp are also present, especially near to the second bridge. The best recorded being a common of 26 lb. Much of this stretch still has fishable swims when the rest of the Stour is heavily in flood.
The pike ditch is an interesting water, it is a paradise for the roving angler (see North meadows section ).
Note that this is common land and bylaws must be observed at all times.
Boundaries:     Upstream to Salmon ladder, downstream to Boat house Pub.

THE PIKE DITCH
Reached from Mill Meadows is a paradise for the roving chub angler who likes small overgrown streams. Here also, several chub of 5 lb plus are reported each year along with some very large dace. During the summer months one or two very large perch have been spotted feeding on the hoards of small dace, chub, gudgeon and roach. A carefully presented fish bait could turn up a surprise or two. Stealth and concealment are essential.
Parking in Brundon lane ( Do not cross the bridge ) or main Melford Road.
Boundaries:  Downstream of bridge 830 yards.

NORTH MEADOWS
North Meadows has a reputation for good roach bags on hemp and tares during the summer months. The two swims just past the Pike Ditch and the first swim after the first fence are probably the best. For the bream, catches of 100 lb are often recorded, fish opposite the boat house, either side of the Cattle Drink or opposite the last of the trees. These swims are especially good in the summer and milder winter days. Chub are regularly caught up to 4 lb with the occasional 5 lb fish not uncommon. The bigger fish tend to be caught after dark or very early in the morning and almost all from the far bank beneath the trees. Large pieces of bread flake or cheese paste fish best especially when the water is coloured. Lobworms and deadbait can also be killing methods for the larger fish. During hot summer weather great sport can be had taking chub from the surface using floating crust or pet food mixers, but you have to be quiet and stealthy.
There is also a good head of dace, gudgeon, and one or two respectable perch. In the past few years a good head of carp has become established along the North Meadows with several 20 lb plus fish recorded. Pike to 20 lb plus zander also inhabit this stretch.