Feedback & Reports

Trout fishing on middle Ffroodvale. First time on this beat. Nil return. River falling after rain. A few fish showing but only one take to goldhead nymph. Access instructions not entirely clear (farmer suggested leaving the farm access track at the last corner which is a lot less than 300 yds) and a lot of balsams on the banks.

Beautiful morning, early start. Not been here for couple years. Lovely sunrise on the walk down. Caught steadily through the morning on a slowly rising river. Nothing on float except some big dace, all on feeder, various baits. Not as prolific as usual here but still a wonderful setting to be on a sunday morning into lunchtime.

2 Barbel, 20 Chub, 5 Other

No fish

Amazing conditions, 1'8" and dropping, fair bit of colour but not too much, just felt like it would happen today. And it did....
Hooked an absolutely magnificent fish in the Orchard, it cleared the water twice, running to the far back and then ran right back to me and sat only 15 yards and and 10 yard down. Banging it's head hard and shook the hook loose. Clever fish.
I had that horrible feeling the hook set was not good, and it was indeed sadly the case. The take was so violent and unexpected I'm not sure how else it could have been played, but currently well in the beat-yourself-up phase!
Absolutely heartbreaking outcome for any Salmon fisher. As it all goes slack and so quiet you instantly know this will be a part of you forever. Got a good look at it twice: Deep fish way into the 20s and quite fresh too.
A nightmare in paradise!

2 Trout

Worried by the recent feedback and recent rainy conditions and vehicles getting into difficulty only to be towed out by the local farmer, I decided to play it safe and park at the top of the field just inside the gate and walk the 400 or so meters to the river .
First time on this beat and although short there are a number of good access pegs available with the addition of steps cut into the bank which was great in the damp conditions!
Having arrived at 05.30am I started fishing the peg at the top limit of the beat, with a bite and Chub a chuck, then it strangely went dead, so a quick move was on the cards to one of the middle pegs under the tree, and began where i left off with a bite a chuck, with chub between 1lb - 4lb and just after 8.00am I hooked what was to be my first and only Barbel of the day, what a fight with two stunning runs and 10mins later I landed a perfect 8lb 12oz Barbel, after suitable resting the fish it was returned to the river.
Despite my best efforts for more Barbel the chub & chublets continued and entertained me until the sun burnt through the clouds and with the fishing became harder and lack of bites i decided to call it a day just after lunch.
Caught on a variety of baits, the best being luncheon meat, Pellets, Hemp & Boilies on a ledgered cage feeder with dark smelly ground-bait.
Thrill of the day was a Peregrine Falcon dive bombing a pigeon from 100 feet...wow !
Thanks again WUF and the land owners for giving us access to such a great river and all the nature that comes with it.
I'll be back .

1 Barbel, 30 Chub

2 Trout

Nothing rising all day. All trout taken on the nymph in the pocket water at the top of the beat

5 Trout

2 Trout

1 Trout

1 Trout