Littleton Pill Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Littleton Pill Fishing Map

A tidal creek and sea wall mark on the Severn Estuary at Littleton-upon-Severn, Gloucestershire. Anglers usually fish from the flood embankment and the mouth of the pill over soft mud with scoured channels. Expect powerful tides and huge ranges; plan sessions for the last two hours of the flood into high and the first of the ebb, especially on big springs. Use strong tackle with 6–8 oz grip leads and long snoods to hold in the run. Winter brings whiting and codling; summer produces bass and smoothhounds, with flounder and silver eels present most of the year. Thornback rays show occasionally on the bigger tides, and thin-lipped mullet can be targeted inside the pill in settled weather. Access is via footpaths from Littleton-upon-Severn with limited parking; the banks and rocks can be very slippery. Do not venture onto the saltmarsh or mud, watch for rapid tidal rise, and avoid getting cut off by creeks. Night tides are often most productive. No facilities on site; carry suitable lighting and leave no trace.

Ratings

⭐ 6/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 5/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Littleton Pill

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Peeler crab or lug to channel edges on the flood; best at dawn/dusk on spring tides. Use grip leads and move with the tide.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Ragworm/peeler on light flappers; fish muddy margins on the flood and first of the ebb, winter–spring. Keep baits small and static.
🐟 European Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm evenings on neaps; small fish or worm baits at the pill mouth after dark. Simple running ledger; unhook and release quickly.
🐟 Mullet (Thin-lipped) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Work a Mepps-style spinner tipped with rag strip up the pill on clear neaps. Daylight, last of the flood to HW; stay quiet and mobile.
🐟 Common Goby 5/10
🎯 Tip: LRF tactics with size 16–20 hooks and isome/tiny worm bits. Fish around stones and weed at slack water near HW.
🐟 Whiting 4/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights on the flood; small mackerel or lug strips on 2-hook flappers. Cast to deeper channel from firmer footing.
🐟 Dover Sole 4/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sept, calm neaps after dusk. Size 4–6 hooks with rag/harbour rag on long snoods; lay baits still on the mud close in.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 4/10
🎯 Tip: Bread flake under a float along the wall on calm neaps. Drip-feed bread; sight-fish at HW in summer.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 3/10
🎯 Tip: May–Aug on bigger floods; peeler crab over cleaner patches at the pill mouth. Fish an hour either side of HW; circle hooks help.
🐟 Shanny 3/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks with bits of rag/crab between boulders at HW. Probe holes and lift gently; best on neaps with reduced flow.

Littleton Pill Fishing

Summary

Littleton Pill is a small tidal creek on the English side of the Severn Estuary, just west of Littleton‑upon‑Severn in South Gloucestershire. The pill’s mouth forms a natural food funnel on big tides, drawing bass, flounder and mullet within casting range, while the floodbank gives elevated, relatively comfortable fishing if you respect the mud and tide.

Location and Access

Reaching the mark is straightforward via quiet lanes from the A403 or Thornbury, with the final approach on foot along the Severn Way. Expect a short country walk and soft ground underfoot, and please keep to signed rights of way across farmland.

Seasons

The inner Bristol Channel/Severn mix gives a compact seasonal portfolio, with bass the headline act. Flounder and eels are reliable warm‑season targets, and mullet graze around the pill in calm spells.

Methods

Ledgering from the bank is the staple, with strong tackle and reliable grip leads essential in the Severn’s powerful flow. Lure and float tactics are niche but can work in brief slack windows right at the pill mouth.

Tides and Conditions

Tide is everything here: the Severn’s vast range and speed dictate when and how you can fish. Aim for manageable ranges, fish the flood, and build your session around short bite windows.

Safety

This is a committing estuary venue: fast‑rising water, deep mud and floating debris are the real hazards. If you keep to the bank, time your session, and wear a lifejacket, it’s a rewarding and safe mark.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the floodbank—plan to be self‑sufficient and carry out all litter. Nearby villages and services cover the basics within a short drive.

Tips

Littleton Pill rewards accuracy more than brute distance—placing a bait on the flow seam often beats launching to mid‑channel. Travel light, fish the window, and be ready to move 20–30 m to follow the crease.

Regulations

You do not need a rod licence to fish for sea species from the shore in tidal waters in England, but several important rules apply in the Severn Estuary. Always check current official sources before your trip, as byelaws can change.