Feedback & Reports

7 Barbel, 1 Chub

What a great beat fished really well river low and clear Fished on the beech and it was Magic. Make sure you've got your walking shoes on !!!

9 Barbel, 4 Chub

Late evening session – arrived at 6.30pm straight from work. It did not start well, we encountered a poacher on the beach section who had arrived by Kayak. Drinking a flagon of cider and using a feeble pop up rod he was convinced it was his god given right to fish wherever he liked as long as nobody was about! Threat of calling a bailiff and the farmer eventually got rid of him. What was also disappointing was amount of rubbish left on the banks here, clearly from passing boat traffic. Bites were slow to begin with but as it got dark things picked up – CT had 4 barbel to 7lb 12oz, plus 5 chub to 4lb. SH 2 barbel best 9lb 12oz.

6 Barbel, 5 Chub

Four anglers fished had to walk down to river as Farmer was at market but we did get a lift back.
Again most fish taken on pellet and fish caught at varying times of the day.

11 Barbel, 10 Chub

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Water low.....even with rain over night did not rise more than 4 or 5 inches.Still have caught here before at low water. N.B. When fishing the water between Upper and Lower Cannon had a chair stolen that had been tucked away out of site of the water, while I went for lunch between my morning and evening sessions. In talking to Mr Richards the farmer he tells me he has had 2 quad bikes stolen and a strimmer.
I mention this as its such a quiet, tucked out of the way place you think that your stuff will be safe, apparently not.

1 Chub

A full day on Canon Bridge - from 8.00 am to 9.30pm. Action was steady pretty much through the whole day, using simple pellet and feeder tactics. A roaming approach really paid off. Barbel to 9lb 3oz and Chub to 5lb 9oz. Could have been a lot more - the fish know every snag and bolt hole in the river! Great fishing.

10 Barbel, 16 Chub

10 barbel and 6 chub caught on halibut pellets. Low and clear water conditions.

10 Barbel, 6 Chub

I had the beat booked for the Wed/Thur/Fri. Only managed to fish the Wed & Thurs in the end. River at normal summer levels on the Wed, slightly up on the Thurs. Challenging I would say. I fished a variety of tactics including PVA bag, flat bed feeder, cage feeder. Caught fish on halibut pellets but all Chub. No barbel. Most were in the 2-3 lb range. Best about 3.5/4lbs but disfigured by a half ripped off face below the right eye socket and a chunk out of its flank. These were fresh wounds and I treated with the antiseptic fishcare gels I carry for this purpose. Hopefully the fish makes it. The culprit I believe was an Otter I had seen on the Wednesday on 2 occasions in the swim. Such is nature I guess. Overall a great time though, and the walk was "invigorating" - you feel you have worked for what you catch whatever it is.

6 Chub

Arriving mid morning what was reported to be an overcast day quickly turned into a simmering scorcher! In the absence of a farmer to taxi.... he was off to market, it was a proper march from the reserved parking to the river bank! If your stamina isn't up to it then I would advise to travel light or make 2 trips! Maybe bait up first then return for tackle?
I had a quick glance along the lower stretch which was wide and deep enough to hold fish, but somewhat restricted for access. So I marched on to the ever popular top section opposite the NT.
1st thing I saw were fish flashing across the swim to the left of the boat house. It's shallow there so a stalky approach would be needed. I baited and walked on. Met the 2nd rod. What a smashing bloke! He fished the exposed gravel bar near the bend. All the signs were there for some hook ups!
I settled on a swim back towards the boat house opposite the wall... The water was low but at this point it deepens and presented creases. I ended up fishing to a point to the right and close to the willow tree since the main run was literally a snag a cast, even with buried hooks! No joy sadly.
I returned to the left boat spot and still saw flashing.... I legered out a corn offering since I guessed the fish would by now be sick of the sight of pellet what with local advice erring on piling in kilos of the stuff!! Still no takers. I do think the heat and extreme light was killing off chances.
I moved again to the very end of the top section where the river slows and expands. This is where I was going to end up for the rest of the day. It was cool and shady and the fallen tree gave me hope of holed up fish.
I packed the pellet away completely.... So with a mixed crush of ground bait, corn and single legered offerings outside of typical! Try a 22mm pre soaked hard pellet!! I settled in.
Well..... 1st catch was a clearly gob stopper chewing chub! Who fell to the 4ft link legered 22mm soaked pellet! (Bait tech krill tuna squirt).... Clonk, spirited fight, in the net!! Well now! Who'd have thought!!!
So after that bombshell nothing more on the big baits..... So switched to triple hair corn and GB feeder. Wasnt long til another... Remarkably larger and clearly an old wye warrior chub slipped into the net. I was suitably honoured at its presence. Stonking fish!! Cleared 5lb easy!
Not the barbel catch I was expecting but 2 well earned and specimen chub are not to be sniffed at!
My advice on this stretch would definitely be to think outside of common parameters.... I mean 22mm chokers?! Really?? Yessir!
Could save a blank on any day! All in all a stunning location with varied swims...
Cannot help but think the fish had backed off to the lower stretches but was unable to get bankside to have a punt.
Ps... It gets dark here VERY quickly!.... Best leave enough light to safely navigate out of the fishery.

2 Chub