Environment Agency - Home

Rejuvenated Relief Channel

The Great Ouse Relief Channel in Norfolk appears to be making a comeback. This man made flood relief channel was a prolific fishery in the 1970’s when anglers would travel from around the country to both pleasure and match fish.

However, the fishery declined in the early 1980’s following changes to the flow regime and has never fully recovered. In the Summer of 2008 the Agency undertook modifications to Denver Sluice in order to better manage flood waters and in doing so reduce the high flows through the Relief Channel.
 
Kings Lynn Angling Association, who control the fishing on the Channel, soon started to report sightings of large numbers of fish around Denver. In November 2008 an Agency netting survey produced an amazing haul of specimen fish. There were nine perch recorded over 3lb, the largest weighing 3lb 14oz. Five good sized zander up to 7lb 6oz and three sea trout running upstream to spawn, the largest weighing 10lb 2oz.

The large perch and zander were likely to be feeding on huge shoals of roach and bream fry present and this was confirmed by a hydroacoustic survey of the Channel all the way down to King’s Lynn. The highest densities were found at Downham Market, Magdelene and Saddlebow Bridges.

The prolific numbers of fish seen bodes well for the future of the fishery, the reduction in high flows will improve the survival potential of many fry which would previously have been flushed out into the tidal estuary and perished.

The angling club were delighted with the results and are confident that more anglers will return to venue to savour the delights of a good day’s fishing.