Stirchley Bottom Pool

Brief description of fishery:

Stirchley Bottom Pool is a 2.6-acre lake, positioned immediately below the Top Pool and connected by a small stream that runs in at the southwestern corner. Like the Top Pool, it is owned by Telford & Wrekin Council, which has leased the pool to the Society since 1952.

It’s believed that this pool was created when the Top Pool, a reservoir to maintain the level of water in the newly opened Shropshire Canal, flooded the excavations below. Divers who have surveyed the pool, report that there are remains of brick walls in the middle of this pool, remnants of the flooded industrial site. A section of the original canal runs alongside the bottom pool but isn’t available for fishing. The bottom pool is much larger than the Top and pegs are provided on all four banks (see map).

This pool offers a very different angling experience, largely down to the water clarity being exceptionally clear due to a large bed of mussels that have settled in the pool. Environment Agency staff who conducted water quality checks on the pool, reported that the water is some of the cleanest that they had tested … the mussels are obviously doing a very good job!

Depths alter according to which bank you fish. The canal side is the deeper side of the pool, with depths of 10 to 12 feet within a few metres of the bank. The depth drops away to 20ft at the deepest point in the middle. Pegs on the Top Poolside are shallower, with the deepest pegs positioned on the section of the bank where the steps come down from the Top Pool. The mussel bed is positioned in front of the stream and heads back down the pool for several pegs. Careful plumbing is advised to locate the bed.

This pool is stocked with mainly specimen fish, which due to the clean water quality are in exceptional condition. As a result, the pool tends to be targeted by specimen anglers, but honorary members and day ticket holders are welcome to fish in the pool. The main species of fish are Common and Mirror Carp, with the occasional Leather Carp that were stocked many years ago. Carp sizes range from 8lb to 24lb. There are also Tench around 4lb in weight and silverfish, including a good head of Perch.

Favorite methods tend to be ledger and swim feeder, allowing you to present a static bait on the bottom, easily seen by the fish in the clear water. Popped-up baits can work well. Float tactics can work, however, baits fished shallow have less success.

At the time of writing, the Council has allowed us to trial a night fishing syndicate on this pool only, however, numbers in the syndicate are limited during the trial and it is due to be reviewed during Spring 2022.
Please keep an eye on this site for further news.