Feedback & Reports

Conditions looked good and I hoped for a barbel but only managed some chub. Still nice to be out on the bank.

5 Chub

Very cold day and I blanked, but beautiful stretch of river, would like to come back when the coarse season re-opens.

Tried 5 different swims including the big slack at the top of the beat but not a bite to be had. Lovely stretch of river, will be back when the weather warms up & hopefully the fish feeding.

We spent the whole day there,the water temperature was too cold for the barbel to feed,tried the maggot approach for some chub. No joy ,managed to catch a grayling though.very very difficult day.

1 Grayling

It was my first time on this beat and looking for pike action. I worked sardines or mackerel in spots all along the beat without any takes. The water was up & coloured so switched to a barbel rod in the afternoon and had 2 on meat roving to 8lb.

Arrived at about 12, bit later than anticipated. River was up about 3ft and running through at a steady but not impossible rate. Only fished 4 swims in the first field due to the time. First about half way up, managed to lose a chub on the second cast. After an hour moved up about a hundred yards, lost a barbel (I presume, as it took off like a train) on the first cast. As it reached the far bank a salmon jumped as the fish went past, it then threw the hook in some weed. Landed 1 at 7 1/2lb on the next cast, absolutely pristine condition. After that not a thing.
Finished off in the first swim near the path. Do not fish this swim, it is a tackle graveyard.
All in all a good day. Also saw a pair of kingfishers and about an hour before sunset a Barn Owl flew out of the woods on the far bank and gave a hunting display for about ten minutes. A stunning piece of river, will definitely book again.

Arrived before dawn, River looked good, touch of colour and around one metre above normal level. Despite a touch of ground frost the Chub showed tentative interest with a few barbel following them. We caught five Chub between us ranging from three to four pound, all healthy fish, and
four Barbel ranging between five and seven pounds. All the barbel were in excellent condition and were all taken before midday. All fish fell to a pellet fished with the feeder on various pegs on the bottom meadow right up to the top of the beat. Neither of us had a single bite from midday until we gave up at around six o'clock.
Another lovely day on our favourite river, simply stunning scenery. We even got to watch a Barn owl hunting the river bank only feet from us amongst other wildlife. Many Thanks to The W & U foundation.

Water was chilly and fairly high so the fishing was not easy but managed to catch 3 barbel and a good chub.

River carrying a lot of extra water and pushing hard, so fishing the slacker areas 1 to 2 rod lengths out was the approach for the day. 2 rods landed 3 barbel, all around the 7 pounds mark, plus a chub of about 4 pounds. All fish taken on the standard pellet and feeder approach.

River coloured, and medium paced, G. caught 7 Barbel,
P. caught diddlesquat.

Biggest Barbel 7.5lbs down to 4lbs, all clean fish, no otter or cormerant marks.

Bait consisted of Halibut pellets, boilies, sausage
A beautiful setting, extremly tranquile, will be back.