Fascinating stuff Dave....and nice to meet you.DaveM wrote:Just noticed this thread, I have fished the Lea all the way along since I was a boy. The
particular stretches around the olympic park always looked polluted and devoid but were actually
teeming with roach, dace, bleak, bream, carp, pike etc, there is quite a lot of water to go for, but even in its heyday, you would rarely see more than the odd angler on these bits. Some bits were tidal some not, it was a whole network of waterways, don't really know where it becomes tidal now?
I grew up in Hackney and on a sunday morning, I would walk up to the corner of my road to pick up the coach, willow basket stephens rod bag, canvas bait bucket (remember them?) and I would see up to 10 coaches from various clubs picking up anglers, but these clubs would all be heading for the Thames, the Fens, the Broads, Ouse, suffolk stour, the mole, in fact everywhere except the very local Lea. Most anglers fished the Lea midweek or summer evenings.
There were also all the docks and they all had fish and anglers on them, though sometimes you felt like you were taking your life in your own hands being there, they were very rough run down places back then.
Further up, all the stretches above Tottenham locks were fished much more. In the summer there would be an evening match every night and two matches at the weekend plus pleasure anglers all along the towpa
I can remember fishing springfield park stretch on the Lea and there was a permanent oil slick on it so bad that your eyes would sting, yet we would catch roach and dace through it!
I would love to take a trip down memory lane and fish some of these places again. maybe I will in the not too distant future.
I live in Hackney and fish the Lea as often as I can. Which is not enough..... The places that you mention Springfield pk etc I know well. Ive fished at Hackney marshes( Tidal and Navigation) and the river is still fished abit.
Living local yourself as a lad, I would love to know where the tackle shops were?And any other local anecdotes . Roman tackle is still there in Roman rd Bethnal green. But all others have Gone!!!
Fishing has of course changed. In my view life( including Angling) moves on and evolves.Those who live local now, and I know a few, do not fish local but like before they travel. Nowadays out to Essex, commercials, carp gear on board, wearing camo gear. And in my view goodluck to them.They are anglers and thats fine.Ive fished a few meself.
But I love the Lea, and now Ive discovered the Roding!
Did you ever fish at Tottenham up to Stonebridge and Pickets Lock?
