Feedback & Reports

Unfortunately a slow day with no fish movement seen. A beautiful stretch of river and will return soon to hope to have better luck.

Cold downstream wind following chilly night (car sensor indicated 4degC on way up). Caught two modest grayling in 4 hours on heavy nymphs on French leader. A little more water and colour would have been ideal, but still a great beat. I have fished it 4 times this season - so far - always worth the journey.

The river was very low and gin clear and no fish were moving when I arrived at 12:10pm. The wind was blustery and down stream with showers but it cleared mid afternoon to leave a sunny warm and clear evening. Fish began to rise around 5pm and I managed to catch a trout around 8" and 2 grayling all on a size 16 olive Parachute dry fly. I am a relative beginner at river fishing so was delighted with this. I had 4 sightings of a kingfisher and to make my day an otter swam past me not 20 feet away. A magical spot and one which I shall return to in the future. I had a magical day.

1 Trout, 2 Grayling

All fish returned, 7-8 inches in size. Very few rises, sporadic hatches of sedge. River was slightly peaty coloured good height for the fly.

8 Trout, 1 Grayling

Perfect conditions but no rising fish. Most fish to induced dry fly speculative casting. Lots of tugs on nymph so plenty of fish. All smallish 6-10oz. Lack of fly life on both beats a concern.

4 Trout, 4 Grayling, 8 Other

Another fantastic day at this beautiful beat. 2 WBT, 12" & 8". Both taken on brown para pattern. Plenty of fish despite water being very low. Water was clear and no bloom even though there had been plenty of sun.

2 Trout

Having fished the beat the day before, I checked the EA river level to see the river had risen a few inches overnight, and had started dropping. Perfect conditions anticipated. However, the water was like drinking chocolate, little visibility, and only 1 small brown on a very obvious nymph came before I gave in. Plenty of water to fish, I have been back since and will be again. Directions clear, parking good.

1 Trout

A beautiful beat. Spoke to the young owner, who is an avid ecologist and who is working hard to improve the diversity of wildlife and the health of the river. Much needed rain through the day brought activity from the fish and several small browns came to hand, nothing bigger than about 9 inches though. Hooked into what I first thought was asnag at the bottom end of the beat, but then the snag headed off downstream and came off. By the kiting in the current, a substantial grayling had eluded me. As the rain continued, a slight tinge helped me stay undetected, and as the evening drew in, plenty of rising fish were accessible but matching the hatch proved difficult with a variety of flies big and small coming off. Most fell to a size 14 cdc and elk pattern. The potential of the beat was obvious, so I booked for the next day.
Be warned that the path down the hill from parking is treacherous in the wet!

7 Trout

6 small trout to 1/2 a pound, all on nymph.

6 Trout

A lot of water, difficult to access but a pretty place. Access from the opposite bank looked much more inviting and a good deal easier. Didn't catch or even see a fish. Probably wouldn't plan to fish there again.