Feedback & Reports

This is a truly challenging fishery not for the faint hearted the top end of the fishery has a few places where you can fish comfortably, the rest of the fishery is truly wild.
My wife fished at the top end of the fishery and I chose to roam the rest of the fishery.
I did see some huge chub in several places maybe over 6 pounds and several large barbel into double figures.
But on the day we only managed to catch 5 chub the biggest at a little over 4 pounds still a great day and thoroughly enjoyable.
Many Thanks, Julie + Keith

Caught three barbel to just under 8lb and three chub to 4lb between the two rods. River very low and clear. Very tentative bites. Plenty of salmon crashing throughout the whole beat all day long.

Having fished here 2 weeks ago, we thought we knew pretty much what to expect.
The river however was even lower than last time and it was extremely bright and hot with very little cloud for most of the day.
We started the morning in the area of the orchard and really struggled in the conditions with just 2 small barbel and 7 or 8 chub between us.
We broke for lunch back at the car at about 2.00pm then returned back to the same swims we'd been fishing on the basis that we'd put in a fair amount of bait over the past five hours, and we didn't really fancy any of the other areas in those conditions.
It was now even hotter and we were anticipating a gruelling afternoon.
For some reason the barbel disagreed and we were stunned to start catching barbel immediately. We ended up with a further 20 barbel between us, average size was probably 5 - 6lb with a biggest weighed for refernce at 8lb 12oz. We also had approx 30 chub including some really nice fish with one of about 5lb and the majority averaging 3 - 4lbs - much higher average size than we've found on other stretches.
Virtually every barbel and chub caught was absolutely immaculate with fantastic colouration unlike some we've caught elsewhere - possibly because this is still a relatively new stretch?
Quite literally a brilliant day - and we have the sunburn to prove it!

A bit dissappointing although to be fair conditions were not ideal with the river clear and the weather sunny.

In total 2 barbel of 9lb and 7lb 5oz from one swim and 2 chub in the region of 4lb from another were caught.

All three of us though are willing to return when the conditions are more favourable.

Fished on a hot day, river low so no barbel. 6 chub to 4lbs on pellet and paste from a number of swims. At the bottom of the beat a swimmer was making his way up river. I had to pull my rig out of his way. I called out to find if he payed the £15 like me for the use of the beat, he turned round and made his way down river.

Fished different swims and moved up and down, but only one barbel and 4 chub between us, the fish do not seem to be feeding, but still a good and enjoyable day.

7 chub, 9 barbel. Found access tricky in places.

Great fishery, Access was the best it could be car parked next to the river.
My wife and I had a great day, we managed to catch over thirty chub with several over 3 pounds and the biggest at 4 pounds 6 ounces, also one small barbel.
Thanks for a super day, Julie + Keith Horsley

Another fabulous day on this superb bit of water. Fished afternoon and evening. 8 barbel and lost count of the chub. Long trotting with corn and touch ledgered spam did the trick. Don as welcoming and helpful as ever. Thanks.

The access to the bank is via 48 steps which we found very difficult even without tackle. Ok if you are in your prime but not for us. Also a 4-5 foot drop to the high bank if you want to fish behind the piers. Other swims very limited. Booked for 2 days, had to forfeit the last day very disappointed.

WUF note: Further improvements to Lower Ballingham will be made in the next couple of months, including repair works to the steps. In the meantime, despite being further from the riverbank, the downstream access point is much easier going.
If access to the river is a concern, please contact the Foundation prior to booking for advice on suitable beats and access points.