Feedback & Reports

This beat is ideal for an evening session when the days are long – we got three and a half hours fishing in. The river was slightly turbid when we arrived but cleared through the evening. The new fencing has improved the beat no end with much more bankside vegetation and is to a design that is different to any we have encountered elsewhere – access is much easier than on other fenced beats.
When we arrived I put a size 16 olive parachute on – but that didn’t stay on for long. The martins were swooping – and taking mayflies! Duns were hatching and there were a significant number of spinners as the evening wore on – in July….
The deeper water at the bottom of the beat yielded a fat small trout and a similar sized grayling to the mayfly so the omens were good as we moved up. Another fish rose on the tail of a pool – suspected a similar sized fish as I covered it – only to hear a loud splash in the run behind me. Mayflies were still around as were some very large almost black sedges and a fish in the run was enjoying supper. Don’t tell the chalk stream boys but I sent my parachute mayfly down the run and when it got to where the fish was I gave it a twitch. Wallop – a lovely 13 inch trout. As I was landing that one there was an even bigger disturbance further down the run – so back down went the mayfly, further down before the twitch and thump…the reel screamed as a good fish headed down the pool. 5 minutes later a beautiful 17 inch trout came to hand – perfect in fin and colouration. At that point I would happily have packed up and gone home but there were more fish to be caught. We ended up with 13 trout in the seven to nine inch bracket apart from those two mentioned, along with a couple of grayling - all safely returned. James got broken by a similarly large fish that took him under a tree….
The evening started with a chat with the friendly farmer who was also there to see us off – many thanks. The fencing kept the bullocks just far enough away although they were determined to see if they could lick us over the fences – always inquisitive. But fantastic fishing….thank you – and we didn’t even get to fish our favourite usually most productive pool, ran out of time.

13 Trout, 2 Grayling

Upper reaches - no sign of any fish upstream of footbridge. Below - lots rising to dries, mainly small. No fish caught, but had a number of takes from smallish fish and one slightly larger. Mainly taking dries and some pheasant tail nymph.

Good wild trout beat hampered with the river and weather conditions.

4 Trout

Difficult day due to bright sun, fish were rising occasionally but whatever they were taking must have been very small as we couldn't match it. The barbed wire fencing is a bit of a bind but there are places to get over, pity the new gates are wired shut, it would be easier to use the than climbing fences. There were a few mayfly lifting but the fish didn't seem to be interested in them. It was interesting to hear from a local resident that several years ago there were some spectacular mayfly hatches.
Thanks to all at WUF and fishery owners for providing such lovely places to visit.

3 Trout, 2 Grayling

1 Trout

One very good fish - 1 1/2 to 2 lbs - from tail of rapids just downstream of footbridge.

2 Trout

My son Toby fished. Huge fly hatch. New fencing on long stretches has made huge difference already. Lots of feeding trout seen, but couldn't be tempted!

1 Grayling

Arrived at this very picturesque beat with great anticipation and pent up enthusiasm to try a new river. Warm and sunny conditions with lots of fly life on the river throughout the day including a constant but limited mayfly hatch - sadly no fish of any size rising to them! Several takes on small grey wolf and mayfly patterns but only one fish landed on a pheasant tail nymph late on in the pool below the upper weir. Due to extensive nettle and thistle growth unable to reach the lower weir. We agree with the previous comments about the new barbed wire fence but it does stop the bullocks from interfering with your back cast!!
Great days fishing, hard work for a very limited reward and sadly we left wondering if there were any fish in this stretch of the river other than small fry - there probably are but our lack of ability/river craft was no doubt the reason why we failed to land more!!!

1 Trout

Dry fly using imitation mayfly for trout. Black nymph wet fly for grayling. River conditions clear for two hours until heavy rain coloured water and fish stopped feeding. First visit to the water, very impressed with the venue and will visit again. very easy access and comfortable banks.

8 Trout, 4 Grayling

I have many fond memories of this beat. sadly, the new fencing has changed everything. It looks pretty permanent, so I doubt that I will visit this lovely sketch of the river Lugg again.