Defensive, negative…me?
Me, he (I) responded indignantly !
Believe me, I have tried.
I have sat in front of my MacBook Air and for hours, searching the internet in hope of a breakthrough find.
Regardless, I have walked the banks of so many streams in that flattest of counties called Bedfordshire, peering amongst weed, along tempting margins, wading occasionally as I like to do, looking for nymphal shucks, imago forms, and begging to see a swirl, a rise, or any evidence at all, of the presence of salmo truta.
I have spoken with countless fishers in said counties asking where and whether. And so many have given me tips, even though most were just over the Herts border!
Aarrghhh!
Merseyside…was once a part of Lancashire, so I should have set my sites on our Counties as established before 1997! But I didn’t. Malcolm Greenhalgh was adamant. There are no trout in Merseyside.
There is no doubt that there are probably brown trout in both counties, somewhere, but now I wish, dear reader, to refer you to the study and detail contained in ‘Freshwater fishes in Britain…the species and their distribution’, a work published by Harley Books, and compiled by several, in conjunction with the EA, and the Joint Nature Conservation Agency.
The distribution map on page 111, clearly shows the indigeneity of our native trout species…but look. Where is distribution of our fario wanting?
My goodness – Bedfordshire and Merseyside!
So now what am I going to do?
Got it! I am heading for the Severn Bridge
Wish me luck
Who's Counting?.............. A Fisherman's Journey 
Will check with my contacts at the EA on the Bedfordshire situation. I am off to see if I can tempt a pike with a long strip of yellow fluff.
Hi Tony come back to me and do some reel fishing you are always welcome in my streams and I might even house you.
It must mean that the Bedfordshire fish have all drunk too much beer and been so obnoxious that the others have moved away.
Tony Wells
Hi,
You should try the River Ivel, a couple of places, just outside of Shefford which is very small and looks fairly unpromising but I have caught one there. Or continue down stream and apparently they are caught fairly regularly at Clifton Road Bridge stretch.
Shefford Angling Club and maybe talk to Andy at Andy’s Angling.
Hope this helps.
Fantastic…really appreciate this info…watch this space!
Tony