Feedback & Reports

I am new to river fishing but had recieved some expert tuition in the previous few days. Unfortunately I completely blanked! I tried for barbel in the faster water using halibut, red robin pellets and pepperami and trotting for chub with cheese paste and maggot.

River low and clear, day was spent in search of pike. Only a small jack during the day, though a nice mid double as the light began to fall made our day.

River still low and clear and weather just holding at about 10c. No barbel at all from the meadow. Very difficult fishing due to leaf fall. The Easterly wind ensured the trees dumped them on our side of the river. Ventured down to the wooded section and C caught two lovely chub of 4lbs and a beautiful one of 4lbs 14oz in about 45 mins. Difficult fishing again due to leaf fall. Still a very enjoyable couple of days in C's company.

Weather was warm and dry for a change. However the barbel didn't want to play very much. C caught a pb of 7lbs 14oz plus another of 5lbs 10oz. These were caught in the late afternoon. I had one earlier of about 5lbs. Slow going but the river was down and clear so not ideal. Nice to meet the two guys from Exeter.

With the river being up and down all season so far it was great to get onto the river with the level just falling. Fished in the Meadow swims. The temperature had gone down overnight to 3c so conditions were not ideal. We used a selection of baits from pellet to luncheon meat and boilies. In all 3 chub and 1 barbel were caught. The chub were all between 2-3lbs. The barbel was caught by E and weighed in at 8lbs 12oz. P lost a couple of barbel with hook pulls. The last one seemed to be a monster. Never mind he will return for sure.
All of the babel came during the afternoon. The pike should be starting to feed now the river is fining down plus the chub should come out to play too.

Water temperature was just 10 degees C and the water was coloured and pushing through at a fair rate, needed 4 oz to hold bottom. Tried the first peg by the fence in the morning witout a bite and then tried the peg with the pipes in the middle of the meadow with the same result later in the day, but hey thats fishing.

Sorry we're late with report but we have been away,arrived at 4pm and water temp was only just 9oC.
Waited til first light and took the first three pegs at Courtfield. Water level up at least a couple of feet and temp was still only 9.5oC by 9.30am.
Had no fish until 2.30pm and had a barbel of 7lb 2oz and another at 4.00pm of 7lb 9oz and both were pristine and that was it untill J. caught a chub of 3lb just before dusk. Great day and stayed at the Yew Tree in at Longhope on the Monmouth road and can highly recomend it.
Food and beer excellent and the rack of ribs were top notch and only 15 mins from Courtfield.

Arrived at 4am and water level up by at least 2.5ft and temp was around 9degrees. Started at 1st light and fished pegs 1,2, and 3 in Courtfield. Bright sunny day and level did drop by a couple of inches by mid pm. Had the first barbel at around 3pm and it was a pristine fish of 7lb 2oz and had to wait anothe 2 hours for the second fish which again was in excellent condition and weighed in at 7lb 9oz. We fished well into dark and J had a chub of 3lb at dusk. Stayed at the Yew Tree Inn at Longhope and can highly recommend the food, beer and the accomodation was first class.

Spent an arranged morning on Middle Hill Court which ended with a complete blank. Afternoon spent at Courtfeild back to the spot I had caught 2 from the day before, 1 bite resulted in a fine barbel 11lb 2oz, good information from Don again.

River running high, spent all afternoon moving from swim to swim. Got 2 in the end, a 7lb and 10lb 3oz barbel.