Barton Broad Dawn Briefing
Barton Broad: 20lb+ pike ambush at dawn
What's biting now
Dawn pike and perch ambushes are peaking on Barton Broad. Reed-lagoon lanes are holding 20lb+ pike and perch stripers up to 2lb+ in 6–10ft depths. Perch are stacking in 4–7ft micro-lanes amid weed and tearing strips off 2in grubs. Gay's Staithe has produced mixed bags — roach, perch and ruffe — on light lures at first light.
Boat beats and profiles
Boat anglers are drifting micro-jigs (1/8–1/4oz) and 2–3in shad profiles — Kickman and Stingman types — along reed beds and weed-channel drop-offs. Sunrise drifts between 05:00–07:00 hit the east reed fringes best; trolling 4–6in spoons along the main channels also triggers big pike follows. Target 8–12ft ambush edges where the River Ant inflows meet lagoon margins.
Bank beats and local lanes
West margins and piers near Gay's Staithe favour bank anglers. Jigs worked vertically off timber and stilted piers tempt cruising jack pike and early perch. River Bure stretches at Horstead Road Bridge, Horstead Mill and Coltishall Common mirror Broad action in calmer water and suit light fly or twitching jigs at first light.
Seasonal note
Spring lanes favour low-light beats; expect aggressive follows in protected waters and concentrated ambushes where canals and rivers feed into the Broad.
Recommended: soft plastic grubs