I think most Telford waters are pony, yes. But only compared to the waters in north Shropshire – it's miles apart in terms of fish stocks. Half an hour up the A5 and you're in whacker country.
I haven't fished the local waters for some time but my trip to Apley was February 2008, so not that long ago. Maybe I had an unlucky day with the size of the fish? My folks used to live in the Apley Wood houses. (I'd since moved to Sheffield.) Even with a few doubles and a 20 or two, compared to the fishing at Merrington (where you can do nights) it's barely worth a glance, that was my point.
I'm pleased to hear about the Blue Pool. I must admit, after some lads told me to give them £20 or they'd set fire to my car I didn't really keep in touch with the place after that! Maybe that's tainted my view of the lake and others in the area? My comment about nicked tyres and tackle was a flippant one, by the way. But I would sooner leave my car at the end of a two mile lane in the middle of dense woodland on the outskirts of the back of beyond than in a layby next to a council house. And yes, I am a snob!
I've lived in Whitchurch and Oswestry since then and if you get a Prince Albert Card your fishing is sorted for life.
Fair play on tackling the Blue. He who dares wins, and all that!
Sounds like you've done a bit of fishing at Trench. Again, top bombing. I only ever braved one night up there and got tenched beyond oblivion. In fact, I'd argue the lake is the best tench water in Shropshire by some margin! Do they still catch crays in the cages? And does that fairly scaley mirror still knock about? I saw Reevesy with that fish on the bank and was blown away.
You're right about Hinkshay. It's a lovely little place (bottom pool). I don't know about 'well done', more like being a jammy git! That particular time most of the fish were grouping up to spawn so I just fished up the other end and got lucky.
I used to catch very little from there compared to the 'proper' carpers who turned up. One of the 20s I had came out all the time to this same bloke. Andy somebody, balding guy probably in his mid-20s, always wore a wax jacket. Ring any bells? He showed me what a Zig Rig was!
One water not mentioned is Horsehay. A school pal, Liam, used to tell me about some real monsters he used to see in there. I fished it once for the bream (of which there are plenty). My old Editor when I worked at the Star used to scuba dive in there. It's really deep, so the diving clubs used to use it a fair bit.
And the little pool up the end of the track off Wrekin Golf Course! I worked as a greenkeeper there for about two months when I'd finished college before I did my journalist training, and we used to ditch all the old grass cuttings down there. There were about a dozen of the oldest, gnarliest looking carp you've ever seen in that little lake. Nothing big, but lovely all the same. I tried in vane to catch one. One cracked twig and they'd melt away into the depths and you wouldn't see them again all day.