Feedback & Reports

River low and clear with some of the pools appearing unproductive in the low flows (to my novice eye). Full floater with a very small red shrimp pattern landed a 38" coloured cock from the Gravelly pool, after a lengthy fight!

1 Salmon

Beautiful day on my favourite stretch which I have visited several times this season. Made to work for the fish this time though, a drop in the water temp and bright sunshine meant that I had to wait 8 hours for my first bite. Kept mobile and prebaiting the likely swims eventually paid off. Fish fell to pellet and feeder tactics. Getting buzzed by an RAF Tornado at a couple of hundred feet above the trees was a special treat as well!

7 Barbel, 1 Chub

After a cold start the sun finally came up and warmed us up. River was pretty low and fly water hard to come by. Disturbingly there was a flock of approx 40 cormorants circling the river on our arrival, I have never seen so many flying at one time.
No signs of fish at all throughout the whole fishery. I hope that the two coarse anglers fared better than us!
Failed to trouble the scorer.

This was my first time winter grayling fishing on first time on this stretch. On arriving at the upstream beat I couldn't believe how stunning the place was, I was lucky enough to have arrived on a cold, slightly misty but sunny autumn morning which helped but the river looked spectacular.
I started fishing near the footbridge and was soon into a grayling on a goldhead but it slipped the hook soon after. I much prefer to fish with dries and as the map showed foot access all the way back to Newbridge I figured I had a lot of water to cover so set off along the path, unfortunately the path is at the top of a steep wooded slope and access to the river very limited and precarious, the path then seems to come to an end at a house in the woods. I did eventually manage to get back into the river and thought I'd make my way along in the river instead but this was slow going due to large slippery rocks amongst the stone and gravel river bed. I did find some fish topping and after quite a bit of manoeuvring I got into position, by now flies were hatching and fish were taking all around me! After changing flies a number of times I hit on something the fish would take and had 4 lovely grayling to about 1lb in quick succession which made all the effort worth while. I then moved on and found another fish taking flies off the top and presented a fly which it took first time, this turned out to be a beautiful out of season brown trout of around 2lb.
This really is a stunning location, I did get a little frustrated I couldn't get further downstream, I found the fishing difficult but very rewarding, I thoroughly enjoyed my day here.
On returning to my car I met another angler who'd fished the stretch for 30+ years who told me I should have crossed the foot bridge and tackled the river from the other side. He also told of 2 and 3lb grayling, I shall definately be back but next time I'll be crossing the bridge to see if it makes accessing the river easier.

1 Trout, 4 Grayling

Several frisky cock fish showing in Sheeport providing great sport, resulting in one taken towards the tail of the pool. Heavily coloured and looking a bit tired, it has to be said, but that's to be expected so late in the season.
Very challenging fishing towards the top end of the pool: edge on bedrock, extremely slippery underfoot, overhanging trees and a slow pace to the current mitigated against taking more fish - probably should of brought a shorter rod for this pool. I will know next time.

1 Salmon

Beautiful sunny day with the hills and trees stunning in their autumn glory. Designated parking on signed hard-standing by admin. chalet.
River seemed lowish and clear but I don't know this part of the river. A few rises and caught some grayling in klink (Bob's bits) and some on nymph. One stonker about 2 1/2 lbs.

1 Trout, 6 Grayling

Nil return

Very low and clear water, plus sunny day didn't work for us. Just few bites and two chub after 5 pm, that's all.

2 Chub

Fished beat 5, as instructed by Terry Ward and never had a bite after six/seven hours.Bit disappointed as we traveled many miles with hope that my friend and I would be put in an area with at least a small chance of catching a fish.

The night before fishing was very cold so probably affected catches. The Chub was around 3lb and was caught trotting with maggots in the shallower weedy section. The Barbel was around 7lb and caught on pellet. My fishing companion was fishing the deeper water and caught nothing. One canoe went through at about 4:45. The venue was beautiful and it was a joy to be out on the bank.
Please note: There was another vehicle above the Middle Court stretch at the end of the field and it appeared that the person did tackle up before the vehicle (Silver and Blue Pick up truck) moved on.
WUF Note: this would have been a salmon angler fishing the Goodrich Court beat

1 Barbel, 1 Chub