Feedback & Reports

A tough day on Courtfield but still can't think of a better place to be. River was running through at a fair rate of knots and inside lines were all that was possible. Many swims tried by one of us with the other remaining relatively stationary in 'the new swim'. It was the latter that produced the only barbel of the day at 8lb 13oz. The only other fish to grace the banks being a greedy 1lb eel. Good to meet up and speak with Don again but even his words of wisdom failed us this time. Will be back again and again. Thanks WUF.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

Misjudged the river conditions and blanked as a result. Nice stretch and will return when conditions improve.

River was charging through. Approx 4 feet from the top and rising steadily. Fished hard for one barbel each, both 8lbers.

2 Barbel

Only two fishable swims on the beat - unfortunately the fish weren't there. Won't be going here again when the river is up.

Arrived to find at least six foot of flood water on river and only one part of the stretch fishable. We all worked hard all day for 1 barbel about 4lb and an eel. Both caught on pellet. Very nice, well looked after stretch of water.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

Just returned from 2 days fishing fishing on this most beautiful stretch of river. Unfortunately with the river bank high and chocolate brown the fishing was very difficult. Tons on weed, trees and garden sheds floating by! As this beat is relatively straight, slack/steady water was hard to find. M managed 1 chub (first cast) on day one, I managed 1 barbel on day two (second cast!) Warning if you don't have a 4x4, it's some hill to get back up on the way to the car park, especially in wet conditions.

WUF note - There is NO PARKING at the top of the hill that leads down to the 4x4 parking. The only other alternative parking is clearly marked on the map toward the top end of the beat.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Amazing contrast to yesterday - rain and very strong wind. Fished further along by trees which afforded some protection. Some roach to corn. Groundbaited area with swim stim betaine green + micro pellets. First sign of a carp was big areas of the silty bottom being thrown up (it is very shallow). He finally got around to my single piece of corn and turned out to be 5lb common. I was expecting a beautiful untouched specimen but he looked like he'd gone 12 rounds in the local commercial - disfigured mouth, scales missing, a real bruiser. Surprising. Still, he gave a good fight. 20 mins later there was another who wandered in but he wasn't interested in my bait. Then the wind became almost gale force, so time to go. Perhaps worth another visit in summer to tempt the bigger ones.

10 Other

Arrived around 11am to find the river high, coloured and racing through after a week of heavy showers. With two days booked I decided to fish the inside line on the left hand bank and do the other bank tomorrow.
Catch: 4lb 3oz Chub using pellet and feeder to 10lb line (caught from the far end of the beat).

1 Chub

Arrived to find river well in flood and very muddy. We skated our way along a very muddy and slippery track to river bank. One angler tried roving in morning on meat with no luck. Two of us settled in pegs having to fish close in due to water level. We all worked hard all day and ended the day with 1 barbel 6 08 lb and 1 chub, both on pellet and feeder.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

River very high and ripping through but I have always fancied trying the eddy created by the willow first swim over the bridge, when the river is this state. So armed with my 2lbs test curve carp rod, bait runner loaded with 20lbs braid and 12lbs flouro hook link. Well my thoughts were if you do hook anything in that flow I would have a chance of banking it? My bait was a cheese paste with several add in's molded round a size 4 strong wide gape hook with the barb pinched down. 4oz of lead kept me on or near the edge of the flow, expecting chub was surprised that a steady bouncing bite produce a rather tatty looking Barbel, very pale in colour around 6lbs but it led me a right dance through weeds and bank vegetation (now under the water near the bank) several surging runs later it was netted. I had started fishing around 1pm and left just after 6pm. Same bait and rig saw me land a further 2 (good conditioned Barbel) and one lost fish in the submerged bank side weeds. Conclusion they are there and will feed in these high water conditions, but be prepared for a serious scrap if you hook Birty Barbel, all 3 fish required 10+ mins to recover in the landing net prior to release? Maybe pellet would have found a few chub but as always here, had a great afternoon.

3 Barbel