Summary
Saul Warth sits on the east bank of the upper Severn estuary between Framilode and Epney in Gloucestershire, a quiet stretch of floodbank and saltmarsh with huge tides and powerful flow. It’s a traditional flounder and school-bass venue that rewards careful timing around the flood with simple, well-presented baits. Expect solitude, big skies, and classic upper-estuary fishing rather than rock-hopping or surf marks.
Location and Access
This is a rural, riverside mark reached via lanes from the A38 to Frampton-on-Severn/Saul/Framilode, then on foot along the Severn Way floodbank. Access is straightforward but can be soft underfoot and exposed in bad weather.
- Parking options:
- Saul Junction visitor car park (GL2 7LA) with toilets/café; expect a 15–25 minute walk along signed footpaths/floodbank to the river edge at Saul Warth.
- Limited roadside parking around Upper/Lower Framilode (e.g. near St Peter’s Church, GL2 7LF). Park considerately and do not block farm gates or tracks.
- Approach: Follow the Severn Way footpath on top of the floodbank; small gates and stiles present. Ground can be puddled by cattle and slippery after rain.
- Terrain: Grassy floodbank with adjacent saltmarsh and extremely soft mud below the high-water line. There are no safe mudflats—fish from firm bank tops only.
- Accessibility: Not wheelchair-friendly; uneven ground, stiles, and livestock. Travel light and use a shoulder bag/rucksack and tripod.
Seasons
The upper Severn is a turbid, high-energy estuary. Fish follow the tides into channels and onto the margins; success is seasonal and timing-led.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Flounder (peak late winter into spring; still present through May)
- School bass arriving with warming water
- European eel (must be released)
- Occasional thick- or thin-lipped mullet in settled spells
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass (school fish common; the odd better fish on crab at dusk)
- Mullet in calmer, clearer periods around creeks/outfalls
- Eel (release immediately)
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Bass (often best of the year Sep–Oct)
- Flounder returning in numbers on neaps
- Very occasional codling in late autumn on bigger tides
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Flounder prime time on neaps and in the slacks
- Odd codling on the largest tides after a blow
- Protected/occasional (do not target):
- Salmon and sea trout pass through; shad species also run. Any hooked accidentally must be released promptly.
Methods
Simple estuary tactics work best here. Think grip leads for flow, tough baits, and rigs that present cleanly in coloured water.
- Rigs and weights:
- 2-hook flapper (size 2–1) for flounder; short snoods in heavy flow, lengthen on neaps.
- Running ledger or long flowing trace (2/0–4/0) for bass.
- 5–6 oz breakaway/grip leads are standard; step up on big springs.
- Baits:
- Peeler crab is top for bass (Apr–Jul especially), then softies/hardbacks later.
- Ragworm, lugworm (fresh or salted blacks), and maddies for flounder.
- Mussel/razor/squid strip as tough cocktail binders in heavy run.
- Lures:
- The water is usually very coloured; lures only realistic on neaps at slack water. Use bright/contrasty paddle tails or metals and expect debris.
- Presentation and timing:
- Cast uptide at 30–60° to set the grip; keep line tight as the lead digs in.
- For flounder, don’t ignore short casts into the gutter at your feet as the flood builds.
- For bass, fish the last two hours of the flood into high water and the first push of the ebb, especially around dusk.
- Tackle notes:
- Use bait elastic to secure soft crab/worm in the run.
- Consider circle hooks (2/0–3/0) for better bass hook-ups and safer release.
Tides and Conditions
The Severn’s range is huge and flow is fierce; the right tide state matters more than distance. Plan around the flood and avoid overpowered days when debris is sweeping through.
- Best tide sizes:
- Small to mid-springs and bigger neaps offer manageable flow and cleaner presentation.
- Mega-springs bring the bore and heavy debris; sometimes fishable on the first of the ebb only.
- Tide states:
- Two hours up to high water and the first hour down are prime for bass.
- Flounder often show throughout the flood, with bites clustering around the slack at high water on neaps.
- Time of day and season:
- Evening into dusk is excellent for bass from late spring to autumn.
- Winter flounder favour settled, high-pressure spells and neaps.
- Conditions:
- Constantly coloured water is normal; clarity windows are brief after prolonged dry weather.
- After heavy rain, expect logs/weed; step up leaders and check gear frequently.
- Severn Bore:
- On big springs the bore charges through; stand well back and reset after it passes. Check published bore timetables.
Safety
This is a high-risk estuary with lethal mud and a powerful tidal bore. Treat the foreshore with respect and fish from firm, elevated ground only.
- Stay off the mud and saltmarsh: you can sink deeply—keep to the floodbank/firm grass.
- Always face the tide and know bore times; the bore arrives with speed and surging water.
- Wear a lifejacket, headtorch, and non-slip boots; use a sturdy tripod.
- Strong currents, flotsam, and fast-changing water levels—move your kit well before the flood reaches you.
- Livestock present; keep gates as found and give cattle space. Dogs on leads.
- In the wildfowling season (typically Sep–Feb) you may hear dawn/dusk shooting on the foreshore; be visible and courteous.
- Not suitable for limited mobility: uneven banks, stiles, longish walk-ins.
Facilities
Facilities are sparse at the mark itself; plan to be self-sufficient and pack out all litter. Nearby Saul Junction is useful as a base.
- Toilets and café: Saul Junction Visitor Centre (daytime hours; GL2 7LA).
- Pubs/food: The Ship Inn (Framilode), The Anchor Inn (Epney), options in Frampton-on-Severn.
- Tackle/bait: Head to Gloucester/Quedgeley for tackle shops and fresh/frozen bait; book peeler in season.
- Phone signal: Generally fair on the floodbank but can be patchy in low spots.
- Lighting/water: No lighting at the mark; bring lights and drinking water. No shelter from wind or rain.
Tips
Local knowledge here is all about reading the run and not overcasting. Keep rigs simple, baits tough, and timing tight to the best hour or two.
- Don’t wade—ever. Many locals fish from the top of the bank and short-lob to the gutter for flounder.
- Fresh peeler is king for bass from late April; after moulting peaks, hardbacks and worm cocktails score.
- Clip-down rigs help bait survive the cast, but unclipped flappers fish naturally at close range.
- Add a small reflective or luminous bead above the hook for flounder in murk.
- After the bore, recast with fresh bait—any bait left out during the surge is usually washed out.
- Weed and sticks can be relentless; check and clear every 10–15 minutes on springs.
- Travel light: one rod, small bait wallet, and a grab-bag makes relocating along the bank easy.
- Respect the SSSI saltmarsh—no digging on the marsh and keep disturbance to roosting birds to a minimum.
Regulations
This is tidal water on the English side of the Severn. Sea angling with rod and line is generally permitted from public rights of way and where the foreshore is lawfully accessible, but there are important protections and seasonal rules.
- Licences:
- No Environment Agency rod licence is needed for sea fish in tidal waters.
- A rod licence and club/day ticket are required if you fish the nearby Gloucester & Sharpness Canal or target freshwater species.
- Bass:
- The Severn estuary is a designated Bass Nursery Area: fishing for bass from a boat is prohibited within the nursery limits (shore rod-and-line is permitted). Check current local notices.
- National recreational bass rules apply: as of recent guidance, 2 fish per angler per day at or above 42 cm typically Mar–Nov, with catch-and-release outside those months. Always check the latest DEFRA/IFCA update before you go.
- Eels and protected species:
- European eel must be released immediately; do not target elvers/glass eels.
- Salmon, sea trout, and shad are protected—do not target; release any accidental captures promptly.
- Local byelaws and areas:
- This shoreline lies within conservation designations (SSSI/SPA/Ramsar). Keep to paths, avoid disturbing birds, and do not dig bait on sensitive saltmarsh.
- Netting/set lines are restricted; rod-and-line only for recreational anglers.
- Size/bag guidance:
- Observe national and Devon & Severn IFCA measures where applicable, and adopt sensible voluntary sizes for flatfish. When in doubt, release.
- Night fishing is allowed, but be discreet near properties and leave no trace.
- Always consult Devon & Severn IFCA and the Environment Agency for the latest regulations before your session.