Introduction to the Club
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The Club began in 1950 with the aim, still maintained, of providing trout fishing on Cotswold rivers at reasonable cost. There were twenty six members, little water, and a subscription of £5 (the average weekly wage of the day). We now have over two hundred members, a waiting list and hold leases on five rivers, some sixteen miles of bank and three lakes. The subscription is still in line with other trout fishing clubs, mainly because of the voluntary work done by the Club's own members.
On the Windrush we have six beats: the first is at Sherborne and is part of the National Trust Water just off the A40 on the Burford to Cheltenham Road. The clubs most popular river beat is just below Burford and extends most of the way to Swinbrook, the next runs from the bridge at Asthall down to Worsham Mill, then there are short stretches below Worsham and from the Minster Lovell ruins towards Crawley, and a longer beat on the eastern arm below Witney, roughly level with the gravel workings above Stanton Harcourt. We also have three beats on the Leach downsteam and upstream of the A361 road bridge and beats on the Coln below Whelford and at Coln St Aldwyns, the Dikler between Upper and Lower Swell (including two small lakes) as well as Bourton on Water and the Glyme above Blenheim. We have also the four lakes in the grounds of Cornbury Park , near Charlbury, to give members the opportunity to fish a stillwater (one of these lakes is very well stocked with quality tench and pike).
The Windrush beats (except the Sherborne water) are stocked with both brown and rainbow trout; some browns are also stocked in the Coln, Cornbury Park and the Glyme. The top two beats of the Leach are preserved as a wild fishery with the lowest beat stocked with small browns averaging around 12". Many of our waters hold Grayling and include the Coln at Coln St Aldwyns as well as the Windrush at Widford and Asthall. Dry and wet fly fishing is allowed on the Windrush, the Glyme and the lakes; the other fisheries are dry fly and upstream nymph only. Members may fish freely throughout the season, which runs from 1st April to 30th September (30th November on the lakes), though on some of the smaller waters there are daily rod limits. The annual bag limit is fifteen fbrace. Members may have up to six guest tickets, which are available outside the Mayfly season for the Windrush waters and the Coln.
The current subscription is £395. There is also an entrance fee of £300, half of which is payable on application, and the remainder payable on the first renewal. Junior members between the ages of 12 and 17 pay £98.75, with no entrance fee for those under 17.
For information or any questions about the club please contact wildbrownie@yahoo.co.uk
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