Feedback & Reports

hard fishing very snaggy 1barbel on halibut pellet

1 Barbel

Another delightful day by the river in social isolation...it's what we have to do! The only company was the local wildlife which was entertaining enough. A very tame robin sat on my bait box/rod/landing net on & off throughout the day; I now know that a little robin can swallow a 9mm. halibut pellet whole & come back for more. A kingfisher was fishing off a willow branch not 10 metres upstream from me , so close in fact I could hear the 'splash' every time he/she dived onto some poor minnow. Cock pheasants everywhere revelling in their extended pass this season, mergansers, goosanders, little grebes diving around the calmer water, moorhens running back & forth across the river, long tailed tits working the bank treeline & much more.
The other creatures working the river bank were Monty's troops on the beat above. On more than one occasion I caught large willow trimmings which tend to start off like a barbel bite but eventually pull your rod in. Probably my fault for not paying attention!
One of the barbel was a decent size & the other a 2lb.ish fish. Good to see the next generation coming through
Thanks again WUF for access & the chance to break the monotony of lockdown.
By the way the Woolhope diversion into Fownhope is much the best. I made the mistake of going via Brockhampton which is a narrow set of roads . You can end up in reverse quite often that way.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Managed to get 1 Barbel and a couple of good 5lb Chub all fell to pellet/feeder tactics close in the margins river was clear with lots of leaves coming thru , a misty but mild day .

1 Barbel, 2 Chub

Conditions seemed perfect - 1 fish between two anglers dawn til after dusk, trying a number of swims and baits - this beat has been very productive for me previously this year - baffled - but such a nice spot - lovely day in nature.

1 Barbel

Nil return for me and brother. -3 overnight and big frost . River big , colour ok though, but despite falling river still very high. Clear skies and bright sun all day. Beautiful river but far from ideal conditions- 4oz stuffed cage feeder being pulled round back to the bank. Fished a few pegs from church to past the island looking for slacker water but other than bleak and minnows nothing working on meat pellets or maggots

1 Chub

I'll be brief and to the point, frosty morning, too much water, no fish. Shame really as it was a beautiful autumnal day once the sun showed up.

Fantastic stretch of water, very high, coloured and powerful. No fish but I'll be back...

Difficult conditions, river running high & fast, hard to keep position on bottom. Fished towards end of first field below the wood. One 8.5lb Barbel just before mid-day on 8mm pellet, one lost (hook pull), just before 5pm.

1 Barbel

High water made for a difficult day but a few bites were had roving about mainly on feeder fished baits.

1 Barbel, 7 Chub