Longney Fishing

Summary

Longney is a classic upper Severn estuary mark in Gloucestershire, set on the muddy, fast-flowing tidal reaches between Gloucester and Frampton/Arlingham. It’s fished from the floodbank and old timber groynes (“cribs”) for bass and flounder, with powerful tides and the famous Severn Bore adding drama and danger in equal measure.

Expect challenging, rewarding fishing in coloured water, with simple bottom tactics, fresh estuary baits and careful tide timing making all the difference.

Location and Access

Longney sits on the east bank of the River Severn opposite Arlingham, reached via narrow lanes off the A38. Access is along public footpaths on the floodbank, with various stiles and gates across farmland; please respect livestock and signage.

• Approach from the A38 via lanes signposted for Longney/Longney Green; aim for the church (St Laurence) area and adjacent lanes for on-street parking. Use a GL2 postcode for satnav and then follow local signs.
• Park considerately without blocking farm gates or tracks; there is no formal car park at the mark.
• From the floodbank, expect a 10–25 minute walk to different cribs and bays. The ground is grassy, uneven and can be waterlogged after rain.
• You fish from the floodbank or firmed ground by the cribs. Do not venture onto the mudflats; they are dangerously soft.
• Some stretches pass through working farmland. Keep dogs on leads, leave gates as found, and stick to the signed Severn Way/right of way.

Seasons

This is a brackish, highly tidal estuary venue. Bass and flounder are the staples, with seasonal visitors and protected migratory fish moving through.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass (schoolies building through May, often on crab)
  • Flounder
  • Smelt and twaite/allis shad migrate (protected – release immediately if hooked)
  • Sea trout/salmon moving upriver (protected – not to be targeted)
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (1–4 lb typical; odd better fish on crab or worm)
  • Flounder (good numbers in settled spells)
  • Eel (incidental; release carefully)
  • Mullet (occasional thin- or thick-lipped in slack bays/eddies)
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass (often the peak, especially on medium–big tides)
  • Flounder (bigger fish as temps drop)
  • Whiting (occasional on clearer, salty pushes)
  • Codling (now scarce but still the odd fish late Oct–Dec in cold snaps)
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Flounder (mainstay on smaller tides)
  • Whiting (sporadic)
  • Smelt present at times (release)
  • Expect long quiet spells between small windows of activity

Methods

Simple, robust bottom fishing rules here. The flow is fierce on springs and the bottom is soft mud with timber structures, so tailor rigs and leads accordingly.

• Rigs: 2-hook flappers for flounder; running ledger or up-and-over with a 2–3 ft snood for bass. Add a weak-link (rotten-bottom) if casting near cribs.
• Leads: 4–6 oz wired/breakout leads to hold on the flood; step down on neaps. Streamline baits and clip down for casting into the tide.
• Hooks: Size 2–1 for flounder; 1/0–3/0 for bass. A pennel works well for crab or larger worm baits.
• Baits: Fresh lugworm (blow/black), ragworm, peeler/soft crab in spring/summer, prawn/shrimp, and worm–squid cocktails. Sandeel or mackerel strip can pick out bass on the push.
• Lures: Generally low visibility; only try on neap tides in calm, clear spells—shallow-divers or weedless soft plastics fished in eddies tight to structure.
• Distance: Often under 40–60 yards into gutters and runs; don’t cast over the fish. Work baits along the crease lines around the crib heads.

Tides and Conditions

Tide choice is everything. The Severn’s range is among the highest in the world, with violent currents on bigger springs and the Severn Bore on certain tides.

• Best states: The first two hours of the flood and the last hour of the ebb are prime. Many anglers fish 2 hours before to 1–2 hours after high water.
• Tide size: Medium to large springs often fish best for bass; neaps can suit flounder when the flow eases.
• Severn Bore: Do not fish when a bore is due. Vacate the foreshore well in advance of predicted times.
• Freshwater influence: After heavy rain, drops in salinity and debris can kill sport—wait 1–3 days after levels fall.
• Light and wind: Dusk into the flood is a banker for bass; daytime is fine for flounder. A light SW breeze is fine; strong NE winds can suppress feeding.

Safety

This is a serious tidal venue: fast water, soft mud and rapidly rising tides. Plan ahead, keep high on firm ground and have an exit route.

• Severn Bore and surge risk: The bore and rebound can swamp low spots. Never stand on, or low beside, a crib when a bore or big spring is due.
• Mud and cut-offs: Do not step onto the foreshore/mudflats—quicksand-like areas are common. The flood can cut you off in minutes.
• Structures: Old timber cribs are slippery, with protruding bolts/nails and snag hazards. Keep safe distance in swell and on strong tides.
• Debris: Logs and weed come through on the push; keep rods high and stay alert.
• Personal kit: Wear a PFD on strong tides, use studded boots, carry a headtorch and spare light, and fish with a partner where possible.
• Accessibility: Uneven grassy banks, stiles and gates make this unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult for those with limited mobility.
• Livestock and electric fences: Common along the floodbank—keep dogs on leads and avoid fence lines.

Facilities

There are no on-site facilities at the mark—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages offer limited amenities.

• Toilets/refreshments: Pubs in Epney and Frampton-on-Severn are the nearest options; check opening hours, especially evenings.
• Tackle and bait: Source bait in advance from shops in Gloucester or the wider area; pre-order lug/rag/peeler in season.
• Parking: Roadside only; keep access clear for farm machinery and emergency vehicles.
• Signal: Mobile coverage is generally fair on the floodbank but can dip in low spots—don’t rely on it for safety.

Tips

Local knowledge revolves around timing, placement and bait quality. Keep things simple and stay mobile along the floodbank to find the fish.

• Mark the waterline when you set up to monitor how fast the tide is rising; it’s often quicker than you think.
• Bass often run the edges and eddies around crib heads on the first push—short, accurate casts beat long chucks.
• For flounder, use small hooks, bead/bling sparingly and keep baits neat; a gently twitching retrieve can trigger takes in slack moments.
• Fresh crab turns days around in late spring/summer; otherwise, top-quality lug is king.
• Clip-down rigs with streamlined baits massively reduce spin and weed pick-up in the flow.
• If debris is relentless, step down a tide size or move a bay or two to find a cleaner seam.
• Check the Severn Bore timetable before every trip and plan your start/finish around it.

Regulations

This stretch is tidal and influenced by both sea fisheries rules and Environment Agency byelaws for migratory/freshwater species. Know what you’re allowed to target and what must be released.

• Bass: Minimum size 42 cm. Recreational bag/seasonal rules change periodically; at the time of writing, a small daily bag is permitted in most months with catch-and-release-only typically over winter. Always check current government guidance before fishing.
• Protected species: Salmon, sea trout, shad (allis/twaite), lamprey and smelt are protected/migratory—do not deliberately target them; release immediately if hooked.
• Eel: European eel is strictly protected; release all eels promptly.
• General: No gaffs in the estuary; no set lines. Respect private land, stick to public rights of way and obey any onsite signage.
• Licensing: You do not need a rod licence to fish solely for sea fish, but a valid Environment Agency licence is required if fishing for or retaining salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel. If in doubt, get advice before you go.
• Local oversight: The upper Severn has specific EA Severn byelaws; downstream sea-fisheries regulations are administered by the relevant IFCA district. Check the latest EA/IFCA/MMO notices prior to your session.