Feedback & Reports

Four of us fished Vanstone/Corner Tree/Maddox swims. Total catch four barbel to 8ibs and three chub. I fished Vanstone pool and I agree with another report about the snags. I was also not impressed to find discarded tackle (hair rigged hooks, swivel links) plus several long lengths of monofilament in the mud and bushes and even a collection of beer cans deposited in the bankside undergrowth - all removed.
My next purchase will be an Anglers version of an Exocet missile to prevent yet another kayaker (the majority of whom were pleasant and "exchanged waves and good luck") doing demonstration rollovers about four feet from a friends rod tip - the deliberate, boorish behaviour was a disgrace and ruined what should have been a pleasant session even if the fishing was hard. We will probably not visit this beat again.

Caught 2 Barbel 6lb each and 1 small chub. Vanstone extremely snaggy and fish not present in numbers. River lower than I've seen it in probably 40 years (though some of those years are a bit hazy). Spur of the moment booking as I saw that I would have the stretch to myself.

Met Adam the friendly and helpful bailiff, who suggested going back to Vanstone pool (where I had caught the first barbel) until dark (which I agreed with totally. Immediately had 2nd barbel first chuck, well before dark, but then spent the rest of the evening tying hair rigs as I was losing a hooklength every other cast.

If fishing this area, I would advise against using bare hooks, as it was the hooks and not the feeder which was getting snagged on the rocks. When I eventually gave up hair rigs and using meat with hook buried, I stopped getting snagged but no further fish came , except for a small chub which nicked my meat from about 5ft out as I was packing up.

Hardest fishing I've known on this stretch. Desperately needs monsoon, and soon. Apart from that, Peregrines, Buzzards, Dippers, Pair of Kingfishers, loads of salmon leaping while leaving the upper end of Vanstone pool heading upstream, but no biggies. And millions of fry which were eating everything I put in the feeder.

Rain please, and lots of it. (Lovely day though.)

Started out at around 10ish spotting and dropping some bait in likely areas. Chub up to 4lb seen a'plenty and the salmon were giving it some welly leaping around. Started at the very under fished bottom end where the water runs shallow to wade but dont be fooled. You can easily be out of your depth in the many gullies that hide under the weed!
Had eight chub up to 4lb between us in the afternoon for a very pleasent day. At 3pm we started the walk along the baited areas but the barbel were still very well hidden.
In the end we ended up with five barbel from 3lb up to 9lb from all over the length. Had one, then moved on.

Beautiful day, weather, wildlife and good company.

On a side note, many of the canoeists get a bad press but everyone of them were polite, friendly and held back when playing fish. Never had that before. Some even glided upon approach to avoid spooking in the clear water!!!!
Thank you.

11 lb 4oz barbel and 4lb chub.

Only two chub between us. Two other rods on Vanstone and Vanstone Pool did catch a few barbel mainly we feel because these were the only two productive pools.

3 barbel caught to 10lb 9oz and 2 chub to 4lb. Fish caught on pellet and sweetcorn. It was our first visit to the fishery and with the river low we were pleased that we were the only two there. Swims are scarce in low water conditions. A pleasant day in beautiful surroundings.

Difficult days fishing with river running very low and clear. Fished from 8.30am to 9.30pm with nothing caught until 8pm when we managed to catch 4 Barbel and 4 Chub with a couple of Barbel lost. The best Barbel weighed 11Lb 4oz which Adam the bailiff thinks may be the biggest Barbel on the beat due to a distinguishing mark on her dorsal fin, at her best she's weighed 12Lb 6oz (on record). Would love to come back and fish this stretch when the river is in a better condition.

Never seen the river so low here, fishing was very hard with the fish only being caught in the usual holes around the Vanstone pool. We managed 8 Barbel and 10 chub and 4 eels on a variety of baits.

2 Rods fished 06.00 until 10.30 landing 2 foul-hooked minnows (1 each). Returned to fish 16.00 until 21.30. Rod 1 did not improve his (my) bag. Rod 2 landed 2 barbel one at 7 and 1/4 lbs (20.00) the other at 7 and 1/2 lbs (21.20). Both fish taken on 14mm halibut pellets. Frustrating day on some very good water in an excellent setting. We will be back.

Had ten barbel during the day and two chub to 4lb 8oz. Eight of the barbel were between 5-8lb and one went 9lb and the other 9lb 2oz, all caught on fishmeal boilie with very few offerings. Found the Foundations service very helpful and polite when phoning up to book.