Feedback & Reports

River level increased overnight and pushing through making it difficult. Had a 7lb 12oz early from the middle of the river 150yds d/stream of the hut. Caught the other 2 (and the chub) in the afternoon from the top of the stretch just below the rapids, best of 8lb. All fish caught on pellets/PVA bag method.
Had an interesting chat with the new Ghillie, Glynn who gave me some great advice, which resulted in the 8lb fish. As always on this stretch, great day

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

River low and clear. Downstream wind, as always. Fish caught mostly small. Best trout 11 inches. Best grayling 10 inches. Dry fly and nymph.

10 Trout, 9 Grayling

13lbs coloured cock fish caught 20 meters below the power lines in the bridge pool - caught on a black snaelda.

1 Salmon, 2 Trout

A very enjoyable day at MHC. Most of the rain had cleared by the time I arrived and conditions looked favourable with the river up a foot or so and heavily coloured. Access was very limited at the lower end of the beat but I found what was probably the only accessible swim downstream of the parking area. Here I managed 4 lovely looking barbel weighing from around 4lb to somewhere a little short of 9lb. Thanks WUF.

4 Barbel

5 Barbel, 4 Chub

2 rainbows.

1 Trout, 2 Other

Great beat, tried some upstream nymphing on the faster sections, and duo, also downstream wets and finally dries on the quarry pool - had a couple of rises but on and off in a flash! Water quality and aquatic/insect life appeared good although river height still low in spite off the rain and fairly clear - will definitely visit this beat again next season.

Barbel caught on pellet on 3 different pegs. Two fish to 7 lbs smallest to 4 lb. A very enjoyable day. Thank you.

7 Barbel, 1 Chub

A lovely way to end the season - sunshine, kingfishers, dippers and rising trout. Two perfect (10-12") fish on a Parachute Adams brought to hand, fighting fit and a pleasant surprise from the usual 6-8 inchers on this beat - one from the junction with the Olchon and one from the "wall" pool. Another big fish from the Escley junction pool shook itself loose. Thanks to all at WUF for another year's fishing.
A shaky video of my antics is here: https://youtu.be/cAMAl0YEudo

2 Trout

River level dropping during the session after rising during the night following rain. Feeder and pellet used for most of the barbel, biggest weighing in at 7lb 12oz. An 8oz barbel caught on maggot (I can't remember the last time I saw a barbel so small!). Plenty of bites throughout the day. Some reviewers have mentioned the snags. I concur that these can be a problem especially in the swims to the top end of the garden stretch but worth persevering as this is where most of the barbel were caught. It is less snaggy towards the end of the garden stretch and the lower end of the fishery. There are plenty of accessible swims despite the claim of one reviewer and these are marked clearly with wooden posts.
This was the second of two days for our trip and on the previous day when water levels were lower a total of 14 barbel were caught between 3 anglers with the biggest hovering about 8lb.

8 Barbel