Feedback & Reports

Always a pleasure fishing this beat with the nice garden opposite.
Moved from our first swim as there was too much weed to get snagged on which wasn't visible in the still slightly coloured river. It paid off and we started catching barbel after about an hour and steadily after that. Pellet feeder again being the method today.
Most of the barbel were in the 7lb range so a good average size. I cleaned off any lice found on the barbel in the net in the water which were mainly at the back of the dorsal fin or on the pectorals. One barbel leaked out some eggs on the unhooking mat which I have never seen happen before.
Todays wildlife included a little egret, kingfisher flying under the rods, sand martins again in the far bank nesting in drainage holes in the wall and of course a buzzard or two again.
No taxi service available this time but we are fit and able. Its a long walk if you aren't.

10 Barbel, 8 Chub

A bright sunny day which became overcast early afternoon when the fish began to bite. From then on all action for the rest of the day. Barbel of 8lb 12oz and 8lb 2oz were pb's for both of us plus plenty of Chub to 4lb 8oz. Method was pellet and groundbait feeders with a small pellet on hook.
This was our first visit to The Creel and we had a great day's fishing.

8 Barbel, 26 Chub

Pulled even more bloody himalayan balsam

4 Barbel, 5 Chub

Three Wild Carp caught on bread and sweetcorn. Float fished from the northern bank.

3 Other

Three of us fished over 2 days. We only found 3 accessible pegs all upstream from the car park area ending at what is known as Vanstone Pool. Although we walked the length of the stretch downstream, we could not find access to those pegs marked on the map as Parson Tree, Rope Pool and Ford Stream. Suggest some signage would be helpful. We did catch but not prolifically. Our best fish were two Barbel over 8lbs and two chub over 4lbs. Chub were mainly caught with trotting bacon grill and sweetcorn. Barbel were caught on a variety of hair rigged baits:- 8mm and 10mm Halibut pellet, 8mm Robin Red and sweetcorn.
It is a lovely stretch of water but we feel that we didn't fulfill its potential due to not being able to find the pegs shown on the map. The water was cloudy on our first day but a little clearer on the second. We would be happy to return again if we could be sure of easier, clearer access to all the pegs on the whole stretch.

10 Barbel, 22 Chub

Arrived early and caught all day long. 5 or 6 chub to every barbel. Fished various swims. Barbel to 7lb and chub to 6lb. Lovely beat.

12 Barbel, 50 Chub

Float fished fast water pegs, good watercraft required but great results. 8 mm banded carp pellets..

3 Barbel, 12 Chub

On my own as a mate let me down. Fished from 8 till 2 and caught 3 barbel 2 chub from my favourite swim. Lots of canoes but were all polite and considerate. Thanks.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

Well, what can I say about this brilliant red letter day? The water level was down at its summer level so we decided to fish the bottom pool - what a good decision this was. Started fishing about 11am till dusk. Using feeder & pellet tactics we caught barbel ranging from 1lb -7lb, chub 2-4lb. Numbers caught myself - 32 barbel, 24 chub; Ian - 12 barbel, 24 chub; Alan - 8 barbel, 12 chub. Must thank Don for his help & advice.

52 Barbel, 60 Chub

Arrived at 10.20 am and chose second swim over the bridge. Quite taken back as to why this swim has had another bank access cut to it and a area of aprx 5mx3m flattened!!! And reeds lent towards river? Quite dodgy as it's hard to judge where waters edge actually is plus the reeds are quite tangley and slippery!!
Anyway, fed some pellet by hand along with corn. Barbel from the off and twice never had time to flick bait runner on. Good strong fish ranging from 1.1/2 lbs to 7-8 lbs. Continuous hand feeding corn seemed to work (had to because dropped my baiting needle... fell through reeds!!), 2 grains direct to size 10 barbless. Chublets were smashing the bait every cast so I switched to trotting gear for some good fun laying on way over depth and inching it through. This also produced some real nice clean dace and two wild brown trout. Sport slowed around 4-30pm which seems the norm for me at this venue. Had a chat to the beat owner on my way out and left feeling well happy with a great day on a very productive section of this super river.
Owner Note : We write to advise that we very much appreciate constructive feedback, and wish to reassure Anglers that we regularly maintain the access to all swims on our Beat and the matter of the flattened / overhanging weeds at the second swim over the bridge has been dealt with, and we are very grateful to the Angler concerned for bringing this matter to our attention.

2 Trout, 9 Barbel, 24 Chub, 7 Other