Anxious wait for Broads pike anglers

Pike anglers across East Anglia are bracing themselves for the worst as they wait for the scale of damage salt tides have done to the rivers Yare and Waveney to become clear.

Hundreds of families were evacuated from their homes as a North Sea storm surge sparked flood warnings around the East Coast.

While most parts of the region escaped disaster by inches - as the highest tides for 50 years lashed the coastline - the surge had forced salt water far inland by Friday lunchtime.

The RSPB said "large numbers" of fish had died as saltwater inundated its Strumpshaw Fen reserve, of the Yare between Rockland Broad and Brundall.

The damage is likely to become clear over the weekend, as anglers return to the Yare, Rockland, the Waveney and Oulton Broad.

Flood warnings for Broadland rivers

The Environment Agency is today issuing warnings for East Anglia's tidal rivers including the Bure, Ant, Thurne, Yare and Waveney.

Officials are expecting high tides and localised flooding tomorrow morning (Friday, November 9) on areas such as Brundall riverside, downstream from Norwich.

Warnings in place are currently Flood Watch - the lowest category. To monitor the situation, click here to see the current status.

Floods devastate Severn and Avon

Just weeks ago, the predator fishing grapevine was buzzing with news Britain's first 20lbs-plus zander had been caught from the Severn.

Over the weekend, the river has been ravaged by the worst floods in more than 50 years.

Fish stocks are certain to be devastated by storm surges which have seen the river burst its banks from Upton downstream to Tewkesbury.

Aerial pictures showing the Gloucestershire market town almost completely submerged
appeared on the front pages of many of today's newspapers.


See the BBC for the latest - click here.

Fears for coarse fish caught in floods

Rivers burst their banks leaving the centre of Sheffield under feet of water, while whole villages were evacuated as it was feared the dam holding back a 35-acre reservoir on the outskirts of the city was about to collapse.

People are returning home tonight after a deluge which left three dead and caused hundreds of millions of pounds in damage.

Petrol stations, factories and sewers were flooded, leaving anglers fearful for the consequences on rivers and canals which were among some of the most -improved in Britain as receding waters wash all kinds of chemicals back into waterways.

Click here for more on the flooding chaos.

Fears for fry as swollen rivers flood

There are fears flooding could threaten fish populations as swollen rivers burst their banks in the North, Midlands and East Anglia.

Heavy rains in the Fens have seen the Ouse Washes flood and heavy run-offs in the River Delph.

Yesterday, the RSPB said 1,000 pairs of birds had lost their eggs or newly-hatched chicks as levels rose over the weekend, including some of Britain’s rarest waders.

Last night Environment Agency fisheries scientist Paul Wilkanowski said: "Strong flows at this time of year are generally bad news for fish fry.

"The fry in Mid June will be extremely small and poor swimmers and be unable to maintain position instream during periods of high flows.

"This can result in a downstream deplacement and potentially fry can be flushed out into the tidal river where they are likely to perish."

Some predator anglers fear rivers in the Fens already exhibit missing year classes of pike, meaning there are seasons when they fail to spawn successfully in some areas due to fluctuating levels and run-offs.

Elsewhere rivers burst their banks in North Yorkshire and the Midlands, as up to month's rain fell in 12 hours in some areas.