If you’ve been reading this website for a while, you’ll know that we like to provide our readers with a curated list of urban-related lots from the Wild Trout Trust’s Spring Auction each year.
That’s because WTT runs the Trout in the Town network of community groups that seeks to improve urban rivers everywhere (as well as all their other work on more rural waterways).
As usual, this most excellent annual fundraiser also provides some of the best opportunities to find other interesting fishing close to home and further afield: with 383 lots to bid on this year, and guide prices from £8 to £1,500, there’s truly something for everyone…
So, without further ado, here’s our pick of the urban lots in this year’s WTT auction:
Lot 2: Urban industrial art! An opportunity to acquire Chasing Gold (shown above) by Sam MacDonald, an artist whose work has become increasingly collectable. The background is patinated brass with a brown trout tail leaving the frame and a brown trout head entering the frame, both in pewter and gold leaf, beautifully depicted. A new, original artwork, 20cm x 40cm, ready to hang and signed by the artist.
Lot 79: A selection of dry flies and nymphs for use on rivers across the UK, tied by guide, fly-tyer and Fulling Mill ambassador Phillippa Hake (whose home water is a true Urbantrout favourite, the River Calder in West Yorkshire). All these flies are proven fish-catchers for Phillippa, and ones she wouldn’t be without in her box.
Lots 123 and 124: 2 chances to win a week’s permit for 1 rod on the Town Waters of the River Ness in Inverness, presented by the Inverness Angling Association. This beat runs right through the Scottish Highland capital, and is best fished for salmon with a fly.
Lots 153 and 154: 3 days for 2 rods fishing the waters of the Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association, which offers not just the urban upper Taff and the restored Taf Fechan tributary, but also beats on the Tarrell and Usk.
Lots 158 and 159: 2 permits to fish on 4 weekends of your choice (Friday – Sunday) or 4 weekday blocks of any 3 days (Monday – Friday) across the waters of the Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association, as above.
Lot 207: 1 day for 2 rods fishing the River Mells, also known as the Mells Stream, in Somerset, thanks to the Frome & District Angling Association. The Mells is a post-industrial stream with a history of iron milling, on the edge of the old Somerset coalfield, and its wild trout have been a (mostly) well-kept local secret for years!
Lot 210: I day for 2 rods fishing the waters of the Dulverton Angling Association on the southern edge of Exmoor. The club’s water includes some nicely urban stretches of the Barle, as well as much more rural beats on the upper Exe and Haddeo. Accompanied by a club member who will also provide a box of local flies.
Lot 226: One day for 2 rods fly-fishing the Wandle for trout and chub, in and around the beautiful and historic Morden Hall Park. You’ll be accompanied by Wandle Piscators’ Hector Rodriguez, the lucky man who accidentally landed a salmon earlier this year, and South East Rivers Trust officer, Jack Hogan. Fishing in Morden Hall Park has recently been leased by the National Trust to the Wandle Piscators, and is restricted to club members, with no day tickets normally available. This lot offers the full Wandle experience with the opportunity to learn about the Park’s history and explore the river’s past, present and bright future.
Lot 269: 1 day’s fishing for 1 rod, hunting barbel on the Wandle with Hector Rodriguez. Hector has been targeting barbel on the fly for the last 5 years, starred in a short film for the Wild Trout Trust’s Virtual Get-Together in 2020, and even landed a Wandle salmon earlier this year! With the chance of a specimen barbel, roach, chub or trout on these rejuvenated London waters, this will be a day to remember.
Lot 353: 1 day for 1 rod, streamer fishing with Martin Smith for trout or pike on a Yorkshire river. Martin designed the classic Martin’s Minnow streamer, and we’ve heard on pretty good authority that his favourite Yorkshire rivers are the urban ones…
Lot 360: 1 day’s fishing for 1 rod on the River Calder in West Yorkshire with Fulling Mill ambassador Phillippa Hake, targeting wild urban trout and grayling with simple dry fly and nymph tactics.
Everything you need to know about the auction is here on the WTT website: please click over today and place your bids in aid of an exceptional cause!
(Photo: Wild Trout Trust / Sam Macdonald)
