Feedback & Reports

Sadly we cut our visit short as the river ,although falling, was too high !! However it did fall back over our 3 day trip and one can see how wonderful the area is and how much has been done to regenerate the stocks.
I had 3 big tugs but sadly not actually on the line.
Constant canoe trips did not deter our fishing although one or two were a complete pain.
Stories abound in the pubs of the one that got away ...and you should have seen the one caught last week !!!

15lb salmon caught on size 8 double Tosh at approx 0915hrs from bottom pool Wyebank - I was certain there would be fish in the bottom pool, despite it being fished a few times with no takers, and was well rewarded. I waded the wharf pool to find that after owning this water for over 18 years my work to enhance the wharf pool in 1994 was finally showing fruit with a 10 yard slab of yellow limestone bedrock having been cleaned of gravel and stone in last winter's flood, to make a wonderful lie and nearly a foot deeper. As I waded towards the top end of the pool with 4ft of water at 4" plus below summer level, a big 20 plus salmon turned out of the lie and swam slowly away downstream past me. An awesome sight.

Many of the beats booked up, so I defaulted to an as low down the river beat as I could book, and so booked Wyebank. Not fished this beat before and probably wouldn't again on a warm Saturday, with the World and his wife on the water.
River very low, although there is some good fly water on this short beat, the constant flow of canoes over any fish that were present, I think contributed to keeping the fish either very low or in deeper water. Saying that spent nearly all the time on the fly and had two reasonable pulls, but inexplicably I failed to connect with either.
Did 'land' one 6 inch salmon parr which took a liking to my tube fly.

Glorious relaxing day - with usefully cold water (still) but weather, locals, anglers and moving salmon all showing a sunny disposition. None to the (tube) fly, however, but an utterly invaluable time thanks to Don's generous and sympathetic advice. Also, with my being temporarily disabled, this was such an easy, accessible beat, with a continuous run of beautiful streamy fly water. Thanks Seth for the introduction.

No fish caught. Enjoyed my day everyone has been very helpful.

Fished Wyebank and Courtfield under the guidence of Don. Caught 2 fish on the day, one on Fly and one on Spinner. Both well mended kelts unfortunatly of 34 and 28 inches. Did not connect with any of the springers and didn't actually ses any thing that might have been one.

Lovely day and a fish on the fly. Cant be bad, I thought. Shame Rudi had to come along and put me to shame with his two springers! Well done to him.

Just to report - I had a 15lb fish to a black and yellow tube yesterday from Wyebank. A coarse angler lost a salmon to halibut pellet yesterday, retrieving scales on his hook, looking at which I think was a kelt as scales are eroded. JC had his first Atlantic salmon this morning est 10lbs from Courtfield, witnessed by RD, barbel fisher and briefly had another one on.

These are I believe the first salmon caught in March here in over a decade.

Some large springers in the mid twenties class and an exceptionally large fish was seen from Legg Meadow some weeks ago by a pike fisherman who reckoned it was as least as big as a 30 pound pike!

A great day. Not starting until 11.30 P. C. and J. F. fly fished down Wyebank with black and yellow tube, no takers but great looking runs and pools. Jim had a pull in the run downstream from the island. Changed over to Courtfield 1.30 and P.C. had a lovely 15lb fish to black and silver flying c after getting through the jack pike, followed by a very well mended kelt and minutes later a big fish on proved to be a fabulous 38.5 inch salmon 24.5 lbs on the Sturdy scale. This was followed by another good kelt. "A great day it was and a superb beat. I will be back."

Cracking days fishing on a stunning stretch of the river. A number of Barbel to 9.14lb as well as 4 chub to 4lb. River running low and fairly snaggy, picked up all the fish in the bottom pool - Old Wharf. Will definitely return in the new season.

Fished right down the bottom in the fast shallow water for an early barbel on the feeder. Used a new 4.2m heavy feeder rod (200g) from Italian company Alcedo. Allowed you to fish above the flow and it worked. The fish took 15 minutes to sudue in the very fast flow but must have been 9lb of anyones money. Huge shoulders. Do they fight more in the cold water? My arms still aching. Lost another and caught a nice chub as well. Great day.