Tides and tight lines: Heritage fisherman on the River Severn
Joined August 2012
- Tweets 815
- Following 439
- Followers 380
- Likes 1,674
181 Photos and videos
Matt Hart retweeted
So good to share a positive river story! I spent last night on the bank with @MattyH02, helping a few thousand elvers past one of the tidal flood gates in the upper Severn Estuary. 1/3
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Matt Hart retweeted
And we’re away! Let’s hope the bore roars and the eels swim.
Our first elver safari! Wish us luck!
@MattyH02 and I will be working with the EA on some assisted migration, moving fish past these barriers (see 🧵below) but we also want to highlight the clapper gate issue to a wider audience and share our love for the wonderful eel. 1/2
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Matt Hart retweeted
Our first eel-fare talk and elver safari was a resounding success. One of the greatest wildlife migrations slips by most Severnsiders invisibly, last night we opened the lid and let a few more people have a peak. There’s a bit more love for the eel out there today 💪.
Our first elver safari! Wish us luck!
@MattyH02 and I will be working with the EA on some assisted migration, moving fish past these barriers (see 🧵below) but we also want to highlight the clapper gate issue to a wider audience and share our love for the wonderful eel. 1/2
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Matt Hart retweeted
Our first elver safari! Wish us luck!
@MattyH02 and I will be working with the EA on some assisted migration, moving fish past these barriers (see 🧵below) but we also want to highlight the clapper gate issue to a wider audience and share our love for the wonderful eel. 1/2
28 Apr 2024
This week saw me witness a magical wildlife spectacle which left me feeling depressed.
If you didn’t know, elvers glow green in UV light. That night the water under my UV torch was a dazzling display of thousands of glowing elvers. Simply breathtaking. The problem - a 🧵1/
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After a long day in the day job, I’m back in my happy place on the banks of the #riversevern. Tide pumping in, glass eels dotting the surface in the moonlight. Bliss. Tried to capture, but my phone camera failed the assignment…so you’ll have to make do with this..
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Stunning tide yesterday morning here on the River Severn. Not large enough to attract the crowds, but a cracking small #severnbore
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Glorious start to the day here on the banks of the River Severn. Feeling slightly bad for disturbing the mallard from their slumber!
Fresh is dropping out after recent rain…hopefully getting out in the estuary next week to catch a few Severn shrimp. It’s a bit of down ‘ere.
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Matt Hart retweeted
6 Nov 2025
There was no shortage of shrimp and a riverside cook-up was the perfect ending to a great day. 2/2
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Matt Hart retweeted
6 Nov 2025
Some glorious river time this week, out with @MattyH02 in pursuit of the best food the Severn estuary has to offer - the brown shrimp.
This time we were joined by @Nicholas_Jones_ who has been following our adventures all year, he took these fabulous photos. 1/2
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A wonderful late afternoon out with @severnpiscator. Once the rain started it was wetter than an otter’s pocket… but there’s no such thing as bad weather…only the wrong clothes! We managed to find a few Severn shrimp so supper is sorted!
24 Oct 2025
The last of the Severn shrimpers.
@MattyH02 mid estuary late afternoon (the photo isn’t representative of the weather we faced 💨🌨️). Not the easiest evening in the river.
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They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. 24 minutes of brilliance. Enjoy.
9 Sep 2025
discover.bbcrewind.co.uk/ass…
Peak TV, Cider, elvers, salmon and lave netting, what’s not to love, a wonderful glimpse of an older Severnside. There will be nothing better on the 📺 tonight - treat yourself to a watch of this.
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“The first class fisherman (lave netter) must have the speed of a rugger three quarter and the eye of a county cricketer….”
Brian Waters, Severn Tide (1947).
There is a fish in the first pic…bonus points if you can spot it…not a salmon, but a shad…safely returned.
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Matt Hart retweeted
14 Jul 2025
I’ve been getting plenty of river time of late, mostly spent in the company of @MattyH02. The Severn estuary is still a place full of wonder, what a playground to have. Great to see a few salmon as well.
Please scroll on down to see a few photos of how the lave net is used.1/2
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Nothing beats a quiet five minutes to yourself.
With the lowest river levels in living memory, here I am taking five and sitting on the Church Rock in the middle of the River Severn at the bottom of my garden.
Don’t try to replicate this. The waters can be treacherous.
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