Feedback & Reports

Showed up at first light and fished hard throughout the day rotating between the bottom and wooded sections of Courtfield. River was low and clear with fishing rolling in every pool. Saw one that had the look of a fresh fish about 15lb or so. Fished the spinning rod all day with a FC, cut the "pop can" metal hooks off that usually come with these spinners and put on a proper single hook. In the end had 9 kelts between 8 and 15 pound or so. Didn't hook into a fresh fish today but those kelts kept me busy. Beautiful day and with those single hooks makes releasing fish easy. Need some rain to wash the healthy run of kelts out though and push some new ones up the river. As usual Don's the best with advice and locations.

Mainly fished the lower part of the beat i.e from steps down to pub. Fish were showing all day albeit most were probably kelts. Had one well mended kelt 30'' plus a fresh cock fish of approx 25lb which slipped from the net before I could either photo or measure it. Both fish on red flying c with copper blade. Tried the wood section in the afternoon but did not even see any fish moving. Thanks to Don for the usual advice and encouragement.

Caught another large kelt on an Hokkaido Sea Bass Killer and lost two others. It measued over 36 inches so it was a large fish released very carefully. No fresh fish obviously seen after the excitement of yesterday on Courtfield.

Fished 13.30 to 18.00. Sunny and later overcast, water clear and lower than of late. Black/yellow silver spooned flying-c, barbless hook. From the Little Willow area on lower part of beat I caught a strong and well mended kelt of 33" nose to tail cleft. 2 other fish surfaced whilst playing the kelt so continued and caught a fresh run fish in excellent condition and colour of same length.

I then moved to the wood section but the sun was out and no action. When the cloud arrived later several fish were dolphining in mid Leggs Meadow so I covered this area and hooked a large fish that did a lot of headshaking then shot off downstream. Eventualy it came to the net but I had to drop into silted river past my waist as I only had 12lb leader to the spinner and the fish was too long for net! A 42"-43" fresh run cock(?) salmon in excellent condition was released in the water.

I then lost a small kelt in poor condition at net. There are obviously more fish lying up in this beat and with cold nights and lower water they may be expected to hold up for a while, though many may be kelts.

Lovely day to be back on the river with renewed optimism given the recent excellent catches. Salmon were showing regularly throughout the day - particilarly on the lower part of the Courtfield - although it was difficult to tell whether these were fresh or kelts out of the corner of the eye. 3 kelts came to flying c's one of which was around 40" in length. All were well mended, gleaming silver and swam off strongly. Don was as helpful as ever and kindly allowed me to fish the Wyebank beat as well. Can't wait to get back.

A couple of salmon showing but no contact spinning. A large number of canoes.

Blank. This was my first time on this attractive beat, although I live not far away. The weather was mild with some afternoon rain. Donny Macer-Wright and Rudy were both extremely helpful about the fishing and the water, and bubbling with enthusiasm about recent salmon results, the best in March from this part of the river in a very long time. I think it's fair to summarise that Courtfield is mostly spinning water (except for a fly section at the bottom end), while the neighbouring Wyebank is nearly all fly water. It didn't work out for me this time, although I had a long, slow pull on the fly at the bottom end which unfortunately didn't connect, and I saw fish move twice. I guess they must still be shuffling through. Altogether a very enjoyable day.

An excellent day at Wyebank & Courtfield. Met with Don at the start of the day who recommended the faster water through Wyebank to begin the day. A beautiful stretch of water, but no action before lunch.
That is if you don’t include not only having my fishing disrupted by several canoes, but by actually being hit by two of them! In both instances they were obviously novice canoeists and took no action other than to continue inexorably towards me, hitting me at some speed once broadside on, with the full force of the current behind them. In both instances I managed to avoid injury, or damage to my equipment, although I suspect this was more by luck than anything else. It is only because I am reasonably young and fit that I was able to avoid a serious accident.
In the afternoon I moved up to Boat Pool, and on Don’s advice I fished down until about 20 yards past the willow and hooked my first Wye Salmon...... a beaufiful silver kelt of about 35inches. Having whooped with joy as she went safely back. I went back for a second run through the pool and got a second fish just before the willow this time, about 32 inches - again safely returned after another great (and very aerial) fight! Fly was a black Snaelda on a sink 5 tip. If Wye kelts put up this kind of scrap I shall look forward to my first encounter with a springer. Beautiful water with lots of fish in it and helpful advice/encouragement.

J. C. had a great day catching salmon at Courtfield from the boat pool down to top end of ferry pool including 5 well mended, and some exceptional, kelts to 15lbs and a fabulous 40" cock salmon with very high condition factor, super deep and thick girth " a 'pig' as wide as a board" est 27lbs from charts.

Landed a lovely 18lb (35 -36") fresh salmon from boat pool having lost a very large, probably high end 20s or possibly a thirty from the wood section. Also a good kelt around 12lbs.All on red and silver flying c.