The quest for traditional stillwater fishing goes on. After fishing council-run Browne's Pond in Bridgwater back in the summer, I found myself on another local authority water today. Wellington Basins consists of two ridiculously small ponds, but I did chuck a waggler out here for an hour once, when I first discovered it, and had a few roach.
The setting is not exactly picturesque as it's tucked away behind a leisure centre, and situated next to a mini skatepark, but if you're able to ignore the line in the trees and everything else outside the parameters of the water's edge, then the pond itself is actually quite pleasant. Like Browne's Pond, the water is clear, and there is enough weed growth to create some interesting features and support life below.
![]()
First impressions today were formed by the sight of fireworks strewn on one side of the smaller pond and a dog barking relentlessly at its owner on the other. The weather forecast was pretty shocking to be honest and it lived up to expectation with the wind gusting through an opening right across the lake. I tried to stave off putting up the umbrella but eventually the rain became too persistent and I had no choice.
This was the first outing for my new pole and I didn't want to risk any possible disasters in the wind so fished both of my lines at around six metres; one straight out in front and the other at a bit of an angle to the left (downwind). The first line was for fishing breadpunch, whilst I cupped in a single ball of groundbait and a few loose pinkies and chopped worms on the other. The first three fish on bread were tiny roach, followed by a bonus 10oz skimmer, then a few better 2oz roach before the wind picked up and I found it easier to fish the line at an angle. This time little perch and the odd roach showed. Jason's assistance was required when the wind got under my brolly and everything began sliding along the bank and my box nearly took off with me still seated!
Not long afterwards I was bringing in a perch, when it suddenly became a lot heavier a couple of metres from the bank. It was obvious that it had been grabbed by a pike, and we soon made out the swirls amidst the rippling surface. I've never been lucky in these sort of scenarios and I've had one or two decent pike grab fish on the canal, but they always either let go, or bite through the hooklength. As the fight went on, I suspected that the hook must have found a hold in the fishes mouth, and eventually its head popped up we could see a couple of fluoro pinkies tagged on the end of its nose.
I had to break down the top two and pull the (number 6-8) elastic through the top section with my hand, otherwise I would never have got it in a position to be landed. It was then a matter of deciding whether to chin it or try and land it. I had one go with my seemingly inadequate net, and somehow bundled it in first time. A fat, golden pike, which the gloomy pictures didn't do justice to.
![]()
After the pike, which weighed an ounce into double-figures, we packed the pole gear away - a decision dictated entirely by the weather - and had a brief go with sardines but to no avail, despite trying the obvious features. It could've been the only one in there for all we know, and that's the mystery about fishing these kind of venues. Even if the fish aren't enormous, there is always scope for a surprise or two.
The setting is not exactly picturesque as it's tucked away behind a leisure centre, and situated next to a mini skatepark, but if you're able to ignore the line in the trees and everything else outside the parameters of the water's edge, then the pond itself is actually quite pleasant. Like Browne's Pond, the water is clear, and there is enough weed growth to create some interesting features and support life below.
First impressions today were formed by the sight of fireworks strewn on one side of the smaller pond and a dog barking relentlessly at its owner on the other. The weather forecast was pretty shocking to be honest and it lived up to expectation with the wind gusting through an opening right across the lake. I tried to stave off putting up the umbrella but eventually the rain became too persistent and I had no choice.
This was the first outing for my new pole and I didn't want to risk any possible disasters in the wind so fished both of my lines at around six metres; one straight out in front and the other at a bit of an angle to the left (downwind). The first line was for fishing breadpunch, whilst I cupped in a single ball of groundbait and a few loose pinkies and chopped worms on the other. The first three fish on bread were tiny roach, followed by a bonus 10oz skimmer, then a few better 2oz roach before the wind picked up and I found it easier to fish the line at an angle. This time little perch and the odd roach showed. Jason's assistance was required when the wind got under my brolly and everything began sliding along the bank and my box nearly took off with me still seated!
Not long afterwards I was bringing in a perch, when it suddenly became a lot heavier a couple of metres from the bank. It was obvious that it had been grabbed by a pike, and we soon made out the swirls amidst the rippling surface. I've never been lucky in these sort of scenarios and I've had one or two decent pike grab fish on the canal, but they always either let go, or bite through the hooklength. As the fight went on, I suspected that the hook must have found a hold in the fishes mouth, and eventually its head popped up we could see a couple of fluoro pinkies tagged on the end of its nose.
I had to break down the top two and pull the (number 6-8) elastic through the top section with my hand, otherwise I would never have got it in a position to be landed. It was then a matter of deciding whether to chin it or try and land it. I had one go with my seemingly inadequate net, and somehow bundled it in first time. A fat, golden pike, which the gloomy pictures didn't do justice to.
After the pike, which weighed an ounce into double-figures, we packed the pole gear away - a decision dictated entirely by the weather - and had a brief go with sardines but to no avail, despite trying the obvious features. It could've been the only one in there for all we know, and that's the mystery about fishing these kind of venues. Even if the fish aren't enormous, there is always scope for a surprise or two.