Oldbury Pill

Oldbury Pill sits on the upper Severn Estuary beside Oldbury-on-Severn, where a small tidal creek meets the main river. It’s a classic muddy estuary mark with huge tides, a dramatic bore on big springs, and a genuine chance of bass, flounder and winter whiting within easy reach of the sea wall.

This mark is reached from the village of Oldbury-on-Severn, a short drive from Thornbury and the A38. Access is via the Severn Way floodbank; most anglers set up on the grassy sea wall or adjacent firm ground and avoid the mudflats.

• Sat-nav: aim for Oldbury-on-Severn village; a common landmark is the Anchor Inn, BS35 1QA (park considerately in the village, not at private club car parks)
• Approach: from the A38 or M5 (J14), head for Thornbury then Oldbury-on-Severn; follow signs to the village and the river
• Parking: on-street in the village or by the church/green; do not block farm gates or the sailing club slipway/compound
• Walk-in: 5–15 minutes along the Severn Way on the floodbank to the Pill; mostly flat but can be wet, slippery and rutted
• Terrain: grassy floodbank, patches of rock armour and very soft intertidal mud; fish from the bank, not the foreshore
• Access notes: the sailing club and power station perimeters are private; stay outside fences and heed any local signage

The upper Severn is coloured, tidal and full of life; fish follow the flood up onto the edges and drop back with the ebb. Expect modest sizes but honest sport, with seasonal peaks.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • School bass nosing into the creek mouths
  • Flounder building in number
  • Thin‑lipped mullet in calm, warm spells inside the Pill
  • Accidental shad/salmon smolts possible on spates (all protected – release immediately)
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (schoolies with the odd better fish at dusk)
  • Thin‑lipped and occasional thick‑lipped mullet inside/outside the Pill
  • Flounder steady on neaps; occasional silver eel bycatch (release)
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass until the first real cold snaps
  • Flounder peak
  • Whiting start on bigger tides, plus the odd pouting
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting the mainstay on night tides
  • Occasional codling after prolonged blows and coloured water
  • Flounder still possible on settled days

This is predominantly a bottom-fishing venue from the wall, with light lure or float tactics for mullet in and around the Pill on quiet, clear-ish tides. Gear needs to cope with fierce flow and weed.

• Ledgering:
  • 12–13 ft beach rods with robust reels; 30 lb braid + 60 lb shock leader
  • 6–8 oz breakout grip leads; step up/down with tide size and wind
  • Rigs: 2-hook flapper (size 1–2) for flounder/whiting; pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/codling
• Baits:
  • Lugworm and ragworm are staples; tip with squid for visibility/durability
  • Peeler crab in late spring/summer for bass and better flounder
  • Small mackerel/squid strips for whiting; fish/clam cocktails when the crabs are thick
• Mullet tactics (inside the Pill on neaps/calm water):
  • Small Mepps-style spoons baited with a sliver of rag, slow‑retrieved
  • Bread flake beneath a controller/bubble on light gear, stealth essential
• Presentation and timing:
  • Clip‑down rigs to keep baits streamlined; long snoods (60–100 cm) help in the flow
  • Fish the last two hours of the flood and first hour of the ebb; dusk into dark is best for bass/whiting
  • Cast to the near‑side gutter and channel edges; fish often run surprisingly close

The Severn’s range is huge; flow, weed and suspended silt dictate your session. Plan around tide size and, on very big springs, the Severn Bore.

• Tide size:
  • Neaps: easier holding, great for flounder and mullet in the Pill
  • Medium springs: prime for bass movement along the wall
  • Very big springs: brutal flow, heavy debris; treat with caution (bore present)
• Tide stage:
  • Best 2 hours up to high water and the first hour down; avoid deep low water when it’s all exposed mud
• Conditions:
  • Coloured water is normal; extra colour plus SW/W winds can switch on codling/whiting in season
  • Summer brings floating weed; use powerful grips and keep lines high on tall tripods
• Severn Bore:
  • On forecast bore days, be set well back and high before it arrives; expect surges and sudden debris

This is a serious tidal estuary with extremely soft mud and fast currents. Treat the venue with respect and fish from firm ground only.

• Do not venture onto the mudflats; they are deep, soft and can be fatal
• Fish from the floodbank/rock armour; keep well back on big springs and when the bore is due
• Wear a PFD/lifejacket, use a headtorch at night, and avoid fishing alone
• Beware slippery grass, uneven ruts, and rock armour; sturdy boots recommended
• Keep an eye on rapidly rising water, floating debris and banking overtopping in storms
• Livestock may be present; keep gates closed and dogs on leads
• Accessibility: paths are mostly flat but bumpy; some sections may suit all‑terrain wheelchairs/scooters, yet safe access to the actual fishing stance is limited

Facilities are limited at the water, so come prepared. The village has basic amenities within a short stroll/drive.

• Toilets: none on the bank; pub toilets for patrons in the village
• Food/drink: the Anchor Inn in Oldbury-on-Severn; wider choice in Thornbury (10–15 min drive)
• Tackle/bait (check hours/stock):
  • Cadbury Angling (Yate), Bristol Angling Centre (Brislington), and various Bristol/Severn estuary outlets
• Mobile signal: generally fair on the bank but can dip; carry offline tide tables/bores times
• Lighting/water: none on site; bring headtorches and adequate supplies
• Bins: limited; take all litter and waste line home

Oldbury Pill rewards tidy presentation and fishing the right 3-hour window. Think strong grip leads, fresh worm baits and working the near‑side gutter.

• Use tall tripods to keep line angles high above weed and debris
• A metre of weak link to the lead helps if you snag among stones/roots
• Fresh blow lug or black lug outfishes frozen in the coloured Severn soup
• Peeler crab can be a session maker for bass on warm, building tides
• On whiting nights, scale down to size 2s, keep baits small and luminous tips visible
• For mullet, keep quiet, reduce leader diameters, and feed a little breadcrumb mash in the Pill on neaps
• Check Severn Bore times; set up early and well back, then re‑set your tripod after the surge
• Respect Thornbury Sailing Club’s slipway and compound; don’t block access and watch for boats on launch days
• The old power station outfall area is private and often fenced; don’t be tempted—better sport is along the open floodbank

Rules here are a mix of national, regional and site-specific protections. Always check current notices on site and the latest official guidance before you fish.

• Access and land: much of the shore is SSSI/SPA foreshore and private farmland; keep to the Severn Way, fish from permitted areas only, and obey any signage or fences (e.g., power station and sailing club property)
• Bass (recreational): recent UK rules have allowed limited retention during part of the year with a 42 cm minimum; out-of-window months are catch-and-release only. Regulations change—check current DEFRA/MMO notices before retaining any bass
• European eel: must be released; do not retain or target eels
• Migratory/protected species: shad, lamprey, salmon/sea trout smolts and similar must be returned immediately; do not deliberately target them
• Bait collection: no digging on saltmarsh, and obtain landowner consent for any bait gathering; avoid disturbing designated habitats
• Litter and fish care: remove all litter/line, dispatch retained fish humanely, and respect local residents and livestock
• Governance: this stretch falls under Environment Agency and Devon & Severn IFCA jurisdiction on the English bank—consult their websites for seasonal or emergency byelaws