Feedback & Reports

The river was down about 0.7 m from the previous day but a huge volume of water was still barrelling down. I started off in a swim that was exposed to the rising wind, and this and the current made fishing difficult (and quite uncomfortable). Eventually I moved into the woodland and found some relatively slack water and finished with a couple of chub. No sign of the barbel today.

2 Chub

Unfortunately today was not a good day either. Water still cold and still very high, plus the Beat seemed to lack any sign of life at all. Even the Canadian Geese were sitting on the bank looking at us as though we were mad. We concentrated our efforts at the downstream end where the water was a lot slower, but to no avail. However, we will be back to pay this Beat another visit.

A beautiful spring day, warm sun and blue skies helped to soften the blow of the state of the river that greeted us. It was only a few feet from the top of the bank and was tanking through but was receding so we decided to give it a go. We found two swims in the trees, with the church at our backs, that gave some slack but not much. Not a fish was caught although JA did have one on briefly but lost it.

River a chocolate express train today, just about managed to fish with heavy feeders in the edge and was rewarded with eight barbel between us on pellet and Boilie

8 Barbel

River was steaming through so opted to try the lower stretch, plenty of fishable swims given the height, all had one thing in common.No Fish feeding.
Not even Chub were interested in the tried and trusted liquidized bread and flake on the hook.
Booked on again for last day, with river level dropping and water temperature rising we still have hope!!!!

The river dropped slowly throughout the day and was still ripping through. Fishing some slower water at the bottom end of the beat, we both had a barbel on at the same time. Hopes were then high, but this was to be our only action of the day. Best barbel weighed 8lb 9oz. The fish were caught on halibut pellet.

2 Barbel

Booked as a present. Tough day for the two anglers with very high river levels. One barbel caught and one unfortunately lost from the meadow section.

1 Barbel

What a difference a day and a different Beat makes! The water was still very cold and very high, but the sun was out, yippee! This Beat had a lovely eddy at the downstream end and there was even some Fry swimming in the margins. So following 'Mr Crabtree's advice, as in all the good books, we both set up in the same swim. First cast, a nice chub on two 8mm Cheese and Garlic pellets, closely followed by a second, Happy Days! The day progressed and we added two more Chub, a Barbel, and a very impressive 21b Pike. In addition, the Head Game Keeper came over and had a chat with us, which was lovely. We will be back, we love this Beat!

1 Barbel, 4 Chub, 1 Pike

River steadily rising, water still only 6c, needed 4oz to hold bottom.
Not a bite, rained all the time so we set off for home at 12.30.
Will be back in July, hopefully it won't be as wet.

Chocolate river!