Summary
Epney sits on the east bank of the tidal River Severn in Gloucestershire, between Framilode and Longney, right in the heart of the famous Severn Estuary. It is a traditional muddy-estuary mark known for flounder, school bass and mullet, with dramatic tides and the occasional Severn Bore adding theatre. Patient, tide-savvy anglers are rewarded here, especially around outfalls and channel edges where fish forage over the silt and sand.
Location and Access
This is a rural riverside hamlet with narrow lanes and limited parking, so plan your arrival carefully and be considerate. Most anglers fish from the floodbank or firm margins; do not venture onto the mud.
- Area: East bank of the tidal Severn at Epney, between Framilode and Longney (Gloucestershire).
- Approach: From the A38 take lanes signed for Longney/Epney; expect single-track sections with passing places.
- Parking: Very limited roadside parking in the village. Park tight, leave gateways and farm access clear, and respect residents. If using the pub car park, ask permission and patronise the venue.
- Access on foot: Short walk over the floodbank to the river edge. Use stiles and Public Rights of Way; some fields are private. Keep to marked paths and the bank top.
- Ground: Grassy flood embankment above steep, eroding clay and silt. Foreshore is soft mud and saltmarsh — treat as out of bounds.
- Where to set up: Opposite the village and near local pills/outfalls where gutters run parallel to the bank. Position well above the high-water line and fish down the shelf into the flow.
Seasons
The inner Severn is a productive estuarine environment with seasonal movement. Expect modest sizes but good sport on balanced tackle.
- Spring: Flounder, school bass, thin-lipped mullet around outfalls, occasional silver eel (release advised); protected twaite/allis shad run through late spring (accidental captures must be released immediately).
- Summer: School bass with the odd better fish, thin- and thick-lipped mullet, flounder, silver eel encounters; occasional smelt.
- Autumn: Flounder peak, bass until temperatures fall; very occasional codling stragglers on big springs in stronger years.
- Winter: Flounder in settled spells; otherwise patchy due to freshwater spates and turbidity.
- Always release: Shad species, lampreys, salmon/sea trout if accidentally hooked while sea fishing here.
Methods
Fast tides and soft ground favour simple, secure bottom tactics. Accuracy and bait presentation beat long casting.
- Primary approach: Bottom fishing with sturdy tripod. Use breakout or watch leads (5–7 oz) to hold in the strong flow.
- Rigs: 1- or 2-hook flapper; 1 up 1 down; long-snood trace with small beads/spinners for flounder. Size 2–1 hooks for flounder/mullet bycatch; 1/0–2/0 if targeting bass with crab.
- Baits: Ragworm and lugworm top for flounder and bass; peeler or soft crab is excellent in late spring–summer; fish-bait slivers can draw eels; bread flake or tiny ragworm mops for mullet near outfalls.
- Casting: Often short to medium. Drop baits just onto the slope or into near-bank gutters rather than the main racing channel.
- Mullet tactics: Light float or freelined bread in back-eddies; feed small balls of liquidised bread to keep them interested when clarity allows.
- Timing: Build sessions around the last of the flood and first of the ebb for best bite windows and manageable flow.
Tides and Conditions
Epney is dominated by one of the world’s biggest tidal ranges. Reading the tide table (and the Bore forecast) is essential to success and safety.
- Tide stage: Productive from the last 2 hours of flood through the first hour of ebb; neap-to-medium springs are friendliest. Very big springs can be hectic and short-lived.
- Severn Bore: When a Bore is forecast, fish will be disrupted; wind in well before it arrives and reset after the turbulence passes.
- Water colour: Permanently coloured; slight improvement after a few dry days can lift sport, especially for mullet and bass.
- Wind: Light winds or offshore/east on this bank help presentation. Strong westerlies make it rough and messy.
- Seasonality: Flounder best spring to late autumn; bass and mullet May–October; winter reliant on settled, mild spells.
- Time of day: Dusk tides in summer often out-fish bright midday periods; overcast days generally better.
Safety
This is a serious tidal river with soft mud, fast currents and eroding banks. A cautious, shore-bound approach from firm ground is non-negotiable.
- Soft mud: Do not step onto the foreshore or saltmarsh. People and pets can become stuck rapidly.
- Bank edges: Clay banks slump; keep back from overhangs, especially after rain.
- Tidal surge: The Severn Bore and strong flood tides can overtop low spots; stay aware of escape routes and your gear.
- Current: Extremely fast; wear a lifejacket, use a sturdy tripod, and tether buckets and bags.
- Night fishing: Bring powerful headtorches; no lighting on site and uneven ground.
- Livestock and farming: Close gates, follow paths, and avoid disturbing stock; some stretches are private with no public access.
- Mobility: Access is along uneven grassy banks with stiles; not ideal for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Weather/comms: Exposed to wind and rain; mobile signal can be patchy in places.
Facilities
Epney is a small hamlet with minimal amenities; plan to be self-sufficient. A village pub provides a welcome base when open.
- Food and toilets: The Anchor Inn in Epney (check opening hours) offers meals and customer toilets; no public toilets on the bank.
- Tackle and bait: Nearest tackle shops are around Gloucester/Quedgeley by car; buy bait in advance, especially peeler crab.
- Parking: Very limited; no formal car park on the riverbank. Do not block farm entrances.
- Waste: No bins on the bank; take all litter and line home.
- Phone signal: Variable; download tide/Bore info before travelling.
Tips
Think like a flounder or mullet: work the near-bank features, back-eddies and outfalls, and time it right. Small details matter here.
- Recon at low water to spot gutters and little shelves; mark them and return on the flood.
- For flounder, use long snoods, small beads/sequins, and gently lift-and-drop to creep baits across the silt.
- Keep baits fresh and small; double ragworm tails or rag-lug cocktails score consistently.
- Bass often cruise the edge of the flow; a peeler crab bait just on the slope can be deadly.
- Mullet: Pre-feed with liquidised bread near outfalls and fish fine tackle; strike softly and use small hooks.
- Always reel in well before a predicted Bore; let the river settle, then get back out — bites often resume quickly.
- Travel light with a high tripod, long-handled disgorger/forceps (for eels), and spare leads.
- Expect snags from debris after floods; upgrade to abrasion-resistant leaders.
Regulations
This is a tidal estuary with overlapping protections. Know the basics and check the latest official notices before you go.
- Access: Stick to Public Rights of Way and permissive paths; some banks and fields are private. Obey any local no-fishing or no-access signage.
- Conservation: Parts of the Severn Estuary shoreline are SSSI/European protected sites; avoid bait digging on saltmarsh and sensitive mud banks.
- Bass: Recreational bass rules change periodically. Recent years have allowed catch-and-release only in winter, with a limited daily bag and 42 cm minimum size in spring–autumn. Check current MMO/IFCA guidance before retaining any bass.
- Protected species: Twaite and allis shad, lampreys and other designated species must not be targeted and must be released immediately if accidentally caught.
- Salmon/sea trout: Special EA byelaws apply; targeting them requires a game licence and is subject to strict seasons and method restrictions. Do not target them while sea fishing.
- Eels: European eel stocks are critically low; release any eels and follow EA guidance on handling.
- Methods: Rod-and-line only; no set lines or nets. Keep to sensible catch limits and practice good release.
- Litter and fires: Take all litter home; no fires on the floodbank.
- Always consult current Environment Agency and local IFCA notices for the Severn Estuary before your trip.
