Otterspool
Last Update September 2022
A promenade around 2 miles long with good access and parking for most of its length. A renowned winter venue for
Last Update September 2022
A promenade around 2 miles long with good access and parking for most of its length. A renowned winter venue for
Otterspool Prom at the Jericho Lane end.
Image courtesey of Colin Ellerton
Image courtesey of Colin Ellerton
codling and whiting fished from late September through to April the main target species are codling and whiting. Otterspool has started to build its reputation as a summer venue in recent years with some good-sized thornback rays. Reports on local Facebook Groups indicate the occasional smooth hound and bass are being caught. The two species are not yet abundant enough too make them realistic targets at this current time.
During the winter months, it is a popular match venue and can be quite crowded at such times. Although it can be fished at LW in a few places it is best to fish the period 3.5hrs up to HW and an hour or so after HW.
Large tides over 8.5m can be difficult but not impossible to fish due to the strong tidal pull. Most evident as the tide begins to ebb.
Summer
Thornback ray, dogfish, silver eels, flounder, plaice, small whiting, and small codling.
Winter
Codling and whiting. Thornback rays will be realistic prospect into December.
Philip Corbett with a nice 6lb Cod on his first visit to Otterspool - Dec 2020
Guidance
The promenade is 2 miles long and there are any number of hot spots. The area starting around 250m from the Britannia pub and running for approximately 850m towards Jerihco Lane is a very popular area to fish. The closer you get to the Britannia pub the rougher the ground.
Otterspool is a quite snaggy mark along it's whole length but some places are worse than others. The snaggy ground is is the attraction for the coddling. Long casts are not needed so fishing a heavy line straight through or using a braid will make life easier and offers the best chance of pulling out of snags.
For codling big baits of worm and squid or baits of peeler crab offer the best chances. For whiting anything fishy, mackerel, bluey or cocktails with segments of black lug will be successful.
Fishing the incoming tide up to HW is the easiest. Once tide and river flow are working together holding the bottom becomes very hard and you'll get dragged into snags that hadn't seemed to be there on the incoming tide.
As the tide ebbs cast fairly short distance to avoid having lots of line out in the tide and helping you hold bottom. It also extends the time you have a bait in the water. The weed here can be a real problem at times and fishing a light line with a shock leader can be a pain when the weed builds up around the leader knot. Leads 170g to 190g are normal for this mark. I always make sure I have a couple of 210g leads just in case they're required.
Disabled Advice
The main Otterspool prom close to Jericho Lane is ideal for disabled anglers and wheelchair users.
Nearest Post Code
L17 5AL
During the winter months, it is a popular match venue and can be quite crowded at such times. Although it can be fished at LW in a few places it is best to fish the period 3.5hrs up to HW and an hour or so after HW.
Large tides over 8.5m can be difficult but not impossible to fish due to the strong tidal pull. Most evident as the tide begins to ebb.
Summer
Thornback ray, dogfish, silver eels, flounder, plaice, small whiting, and small codling.
Winter
Codling and whiting. Thornback rays will be realistic prospect into December.
Philip Corbett with a nice 6lb Cod on his first visit to Otterspool - Dec 2020
Guidance
The promenade is 2 miles long and there are any number of hot spots. The area starting around 250m from the Britannia pub and running for approximately 850m towards Jerihco Lane is a very popular area to fish. The closer you get to the Britannia pub the rougher the ground.
Otterspool is a quite snaggy mark along it's whole length but some places are worse than others. The snaggy ground is is the attraction for the coddling. Long casts are not needed so fishing a heavy line straight through or using a braid will make life easier and offers the best chance of pulling out of snags.
The author with his first Otterspool Codling
Fishing the incoming tide up to HW is the easiest. Once tide and river flow are working together holding the bottom becomes very hard and you'll get dragged into snags that hadn't seemed to be there on the incoming tide.
As the tide ebbs cast fairly short distance to avoid having lots of line out in the tide and helping you hold bottom. It also extends the time you have a bait in the water. The weed here can be a real problem at times and fishing a light line with a shock leader can be a pain when the weed builds up around the leader knot. Leads 170g to 190g are normal for this mark. I always make sure I have a couple of 210g leads just in case they're required.
Disabled Advice
The main Otterspool prom close to Jericho Lane is ideal for disabled anglers and wheelchair users.
Nearest Post Code
L17 5AL
Authors Advice
“Pick a winter's night in December or January where HW falls around 11pm. Fish big baits of 3 or more black lug with a strip of squid. Avoid the large spring tides"
