Birch Grove Memories – Back in the Day

Mar 07,2007 00:00 by Julian

After a chance meeting with Ian Higgs on the bank back in January it transpired we’d both ‘done time’ on Birch Grove and the stories started flowing. Ian, aka the forums ‘Rola Cola’, promised he’d get some pictures over to us to feature on NWC covering his exploits on the water back in the mid-nineties.

Ian fished the water in 94’ 95’ and 96’ with some spectacular results. On Ian’s first trip in 1994 he recalls the water had just done its first thirty-pounder a few weeks previous. The rest, as they say, is history and the water went on to contain and estimated thirty fish over thirty pounds!

The devastating fish kill that took place a few years ago was a sad ending for much of the original stock but those remaining, young and old, will hopefully go on to become a new generation of Birch thirty pounders. Besides, nothing should stop us reminiscing over what were truly awesome fish both for the area and the country, so sit back and enjoy a few of Ian’s favourite Birch images - I know we have!

19lb

22lb 6oz

23lb

24lb 7oz

24lb 8oz

The Angel Fish at 25lb 8oz

25lb 10oz

The Red Eyed Common at 27lb 11oz

The Lovely Common at 29lb 12oz

29lb 13oz

30lb 8oz

Fantastic images Ian, thanks for sharing!