Access - Avon Fishing Association

Access to Fishing Controlled by the Avon Fishing Association

This page gives details on how to access the fishing controlled by the Avon Fishing Association.

Please note that from 2017 the fishing on right bank (looking downstream) from New Bridge to Hatch Bridge is private. AFA fishing on the left bank ends at the tail of Bramble Pool. A ditch on the left bank marks this boundary. Consequently the fishing between the tail of Bramble Pool and Hatch Bridge is not available to AFA ticket holders.

Click on the access images and maps on this page to see a larger version of the various access and parking points.

We have also included some snapshots of the river in each of the sections to give you an idea of how wide the river is at various points, and the extent of the bankside vegetation. These snapshots are not available in a larger size.

Upper Water

The Upper Water controlled by the AFA starts below the old A38 bridge at South Brent and extends as far as the old metal bridge just below Avonwick Station. In the summer this is primarily trout water but salmon and sea trout can be found later in the season depending upon the height of the water.

There are four access points labelled 1-4 on this map and described in more detail below:

1. Left bank below the A38 Bridge close to the Sewerage work’s fence.

2. Kerrydowns Bridge

3. Avonwick Bridge-for right bank follow the riverside path from the lodge and for left bank there is easy access from the Avonwick to Diptford road.

4. Or via a tunnel that passes under the railway at Avonwick Station.

Snapshots of the Upper Water

Middle Water

The Middle Water at Gara Bridge is separated from the Upper Water by private fishing and can divided into that above the bridge and that below the bridge. Both sections provide brown trout, sea trout and salmon fishing but as with the rest of the river the best salmon fishing comes in the autumn.

There are three access points numbered 5-7 on this map and described in more detail below:

5. Access to the water above the bridge is by a path that leads from the parking space near the old cottages about 100 yards up the road from the bridge itself. It is also possible to enter the river at the bridge. A white marker can identify the top end of the beat. Water immediately below the bridge is privately owned.

6. Access to the lower beat at Gara Bridge is through a gate just before the junction of a minor road with the B3207 about 400 yards from the hamlet itself. The gate is locked by a combination lock the number of which is included on the map of the fishing. This should be locked after entry and on exit. Please keep to the edges of the fields near to the river when moving through the fishery. It will be necessary to cross the embankment of the old railway at the end of the first field in order to access the fishing. Fishing on the Right Bank above the old bridge can be reached by crossing the river provided the river is not in spate. Fishing below the bridge is restricted to the left bank and extends down to a white marker a few hundred yards into Storridge Wood.

7. Fishing is available on the Right Bank but further down the river. Unfortunately, this must be accessed from Topsham Bridge. It is mainly trout water and initially a little difficult to fish. It stretches from the bridge at Topsham upstream for about 500yards, ending in two large granite pillars. Please keep to the riverside and do not digress into farmland.

Snapshots of the Middle Water

Lower Water

Some of the best sea trout and salmon water is to be found in the Lower water. This extends from Silveridge Weir to Venn Weir although the river between Silveridge and Mill Bridge Nursery Pool is mainly brown trout fishing. There are fiveaccess points numbered 8-13 on this map and described in more detail below:

8. Access the river via the white gate between the station house and signal box. Park in the roadside lay-by just downhill from the signal box. Do not park anywhere on the gravel outside the garage and station house.

9. “The Flats” lie above the weir upstream of Newmill Bridge. Access is through a gate leading to a field on the true left bank just above the Newmill Bridge. There is limited roadside parking at this location. Take are to ensure that the gate into the field is not blocked. This location also provides downsteam access to the left bank of the river running downstream to New Bridge.

There are steps, on each side of the road between Loddiswell and Kingsbridge, to the left bank of the river at New Bridge. Exercise caution on this busy road. This picture shows New Bridge on the road to Kingsbridge.

10. After crossing New Bridge, heading towards Kingsbridge, there is a back road to Hatch Bridge. From the Loddiswell to Kingsbridge road take the right turn opposite the Aune Valley Meat shop, (Rake Farm TQ7 4DA).

There is limited parking on this back road. A stile from the roadside onto a public footpath gives access to AFA fishing on the left bank of the river. Important. Please note that from 2017 the fishing on right bank (looking downstream) from New Bridge to Hatch Bridge is private. AFA fishing on the left bank ends at the tail of Bramble Pool. A ditch on the left bank marks this boundary. Consequently the fishing between the tail of Bramble Pool and Hatch Bridge is not available to AFA ticket holders.

Below this, the Association water is broken by private fishing, which includes the pool below Hatch Bridge.

12. The next stretch of Association water is at Knap Mill. This includes pools like Beehive and Derby. It is accessed from a gate near the old garage opposite the road junction. Please make sure that the gate is secured after entering and leaving the field. A hedge runs along the right hand side of the field and marks the end of this section. This section contains good sea trout and salmon water and apart from one pool is best fished from the true left bank. The river is easily fordable.

13. Access to our fishing at Venn is via a gate next to an old cattle byre. This is about one quarter mile down the road from Knap Mill. A track leads down to the river. The river meanders considerably and it is easy to lose one’s bearing. It’s a good idea on a dark night to find a reference close to the river e.g. a tree, which can assist location of the track back to the gate at the end of the fishing. Short cuts across the field may be frustrated by the presence of draining ditches. The fishing starts above the weir and ends at a small copse, the Spinney. The river here is more canal like and deep. Care should be taken when wading because of the depth of water and soft bottom. The unacquainted should carry out a daylight preview before actually fishing the river. This is good sea trout water. A Stoats tail or Alexandra dressed on a tube or single together with a suitable wake fly, will catch sea trout.

Snapshots of the Lower Water