Feedback & Reports

Fished hard for 5 hours on spiders and nymphs on both upper and lower beat but to no avail. Lovely day though.

David couldn't make it today. 6 x grayling 11-16 inches, trotting. A hard morning's fishing with a North Wind making it feel colder than it actually was. Grayling didn't seem to be shoaled up, possibly because a flotilla of goosanders had been all over the pools.

6 Grayling

1 Grayling

An icy start with the Erwood gauge at 1.2m. Trotting today but ice in the rod rings was a problem until 11. Tried numerous spots, some of these were productive at the same level in December before the recent high water, but unable to find the grayling. 2 out of season brownies only.

2 Trout

Have been watching the gauge and the river now at a manageable level, although the weather made it a challenge - still but bitingly cold. Water pretty clear in the lower reaches of the beat but less so as I moved upstream. 8+ cormorants in the shallows at the top of Lady Alexander's Catch, I've always seen them solitary or in pairs, not sure who was more surprised as I waded around the bankside bush. Nymphing, using a variety of patterns - sadly failed to find the fish but great to be on the river after so long.

The weather was warming up, but still bitterly cold. Managed a couple of Grayling from each end of the beat.
It was my first time here and was impressed how well looked after the beat was.

2 Grayling

A cold but beautiful day on a lovely beat. Water clear and level a good height. Main challenge was the ice forming on the line and rod for the first hour or so!
Tried weighted wets as well as nymphs but yet again struggled to find the fish. Although no action in Lady Alexander's and Stone Catch pools, they are both great stretches to cover.
Tried the top end of the beat, just down from the Edw stream and did catch 1 small grayling. Two fishermen on the other bank also worked the same area and had no luck.
A great stretch and very well maintained.

1 Grayling

Back again to this fantastic beat. -3 showing on the thermometer on the fishing hut, river was crystal, very bright sunshine when it cleared the hills. Trotted red maggots was the method of the day. Initially struggled to find the grayling, but every section I tried was full of trout.

Lost count of the numbers, but a guess of between 35-45 would be a conservative estimate. Fish between 8 and 18 inches.
Where are they in the summer when fly fishing? Eventually found some grayling at the bottom of Lady Alexander's just as the sun dipped back behind the hills. 10 fish between 10 and 14 inches.

A memorable day for my last trip of the year.

10 Grayling

Had a first go at trotting for grayling. Not as straightforward as it looks. Used an entry level fly fishing centre pin + 5lb Maxima. Despite a good flow and drag fully off the current couldn't unspool line.
Was confined to short trots of 10-15 yards. Still got takes, managed a couple of fish to hand and lost others. Need to research more appropriate trotting reels (and buy one!) before next outing.

2 Grayling

First time on this beat so we spent some time looking and trying different spots. Stunning well maintained stretch and nice conditions today. Trotting tactics produced 6 grayling, 2 x 12 inches, the rest around 6 inches. Feeding spell appeared to be around the middle hours of the short day. Plenty of small dace around.

3 Trout, 6 Grayling