Feedback & Reports

The access to the bank is via 48 steps which we found very difficult even without tackle. Ok if you are in your prime but not for us. Also a 4-5 foot drop to the high bank if you want to fish behind the piers. Other swims very limited. Booked for 2 days, had to forfeit the last day very disappointed.

WUF note: Further improvements to Lower Ballingham will be made in the next couple of months, including repair works to the steps. In the meantime, despite being further from the riverbank, the downstream access point is much easier going.
If access to the river is a concern, please contact the Foundation prior to booking for advice on suitable beats and access points.

Back again for another go. Weather still not good so I spent most of the early part of the day in yesterdays swim.
Todays total 3 chub 5 barbel which was actually better that yesterday as all chub type bites were ignored today. I decided that unless the baitrunner went off I would not react as I noticed that the chub would rattle the rod then leave it alone giving the barbel more time to take the bait.
I had to leave by 6pm and as I had not caught a barbel by that time the previous day I felt today was better.
Both days I used a feeder and pellet approach.
I gave the faster water towards the top of the beat a go both days catching a chub there on the first day, nothing on the second day. I put my waders on and had a wander about but could not see any fish spooking off. I thought it might be a good holding area for the barbel but unless I am mistaken there does not seem to be much there which is surprising.

Weather was perfect for fishing but not for moving around.
Being dull and showery meant that the long grass made you soaking wet in a very short time so I tended to stay in a couple of swims for most of the day, not really my type of fishing being bit of a fidget.
I caught 10 chub and 6 barbel plus one fell off.
I caught chub throughout the day but no barbel until after 6pm.
I did catch a barbel with somebody elses hook in it. Nothing else just a hook so the knot had probably come undone.
The other angler seemed a very nice chap he caught some fish but not sure what.

Had the beat booked for two days - found the fishing very slow. Lots of salmon jumping in the quarry pool. This area of the river is very snaggy but managed five barbel and several chub on pellets - thank you very much.

Lovely days fishing, took 7 barbel to 8lb, roaming around. Took 5 from one swim, blanked on 2 others and came back to fish original swim taking another 2 (lost 2 barbel). River fining down nicely @ 2ft over, caught on halibut pellet, with soaked pellet and hemp in feeder. Also caught on legered crab bolie and crab paste. Beautiful surroundings, very sunny and hot (sun tan as well). Happy Days!

Second visit, last time it was -5 (Nov 29th). When I arrived this time -6! Started in the Island Pool, no fish but did see an Otter. Next fished Carey Brook, caught two chub (about 3lb) on meat. Then fished Quarry Pool, very snaggy, lost equipment, no fish. Finally fished Lower Bridge Pool, caught 1 barbel (5lb 8oz) on 14mm pellet.

5 pike to 18lbs all taken on dead baits and all in the morning. Lovely and warm when the sun was out - bitter when not. Map and directions spot on. Lovely beat, will try and get back before the season ends. Thanks WUF.

Cracking day was had. Arrived before 8am walked up to the top of the beat for a look, baited up a couple of swims in the middle section and left them a while we had a couple of bacon rolls. Cast out and was straight into a barbel. We fished in several places and had fish in most of them. Finished the day with 14 barbel and 9 chub. Stayed at the Cottage of Content. Reasonably priced room but food is quite dear. Very nice place.

Very sunny day amidst all the rain and gloom. The barbel did not seem to make much of it and it was left to the chub. 8 fish to about 4lb from the middle of the river down to the Oaks. May have lost a barbel at last knockings from the viaduct. I think I can confirm that the last entry did see an Otter, as I saw a pair of them at point blank range popping up over the area I had baited earlier. Do they like the smell of halibut pellets; and can I blame their appeance on my lack of success with the barbel?

Second day on this lovely stretch. I cut down on the gear and walked down to Quarry pool I think. Rather expensive on the gear, 6 casts resulted in 4 complete sets of end gear lost, 3 with fish on! I cast shorter each time but still it all went solid. The last fish was 100 yds upriver because I moved away from the area. Snaggy area was in the middle of the river just upriver of the green shed thats on the other side, beware. Today I moved around more as the weather was very pleasant. 4 barbel and 3 chub plus the lost fish means that today was far more productive. Same tactics as yesterday.