Feedback & Reports

Persuaded my friend Mike to have a go at fly fishing and bravely booked this beat. Despite the fact that we both have 30 years coarse fishing experience, we were not that hopeful as I'm a novice too.
Arrived at about 10:30 to find the river running beautifully, so we entered the water. This was when we found our wading gear probably wasn't up to the job, we spent most of the day like Bambi on ice but still managed to remain upright all day! I lost count of how many likely looking spots I messed up on the approach.
Despite this Mike caught 4 trout, all on black or pheasant tail gold heads. I had 5 fish all on the same as mike, except for one on a black klinkhammer (my first on a dry fly). The fish were all about 4-10 inches except for one really good fish I had that went over a pound, all were returned.
We both lost and missed many more fish than we caught and learned loads. We saw quite a few small fish and quite a lot rising, and there was a huge hatch of small black flies in the afternoon (sorry guys don't know the correct name yet). There was also a hatch of mayfly in the early evening.
There was also a huge amount of fry in some areas, not sure what they were but there were hundreds in small protected areas of the river.
Overall an amazing day on a stunning beat, culminating in the spectacular Hergest falls which alone would have been worth the walk!
Thanks WUF!

9 Trout

One 15lb hen salmon, single hook fc

1 Salmon

Wild Stream Open Day Day 2 15 May 2016.
Teamed up with Stan from Yorkshire to explore the Arrow at Kington, above the Gladestry Brook.
Very good conditions. Warm, 17C, very slight breeze with the occasional cloud over the sun. From Midday on the sun was shaded by the trees on the south bank.
The river was also looking good, rain a few days earlier had left a fining down river with about 24" viz, the gravel side banks were mostly covered.
Invertebrate life much different to the Upper Lugg. Here the cased caddis was common, with few shrimps and only a few nymphs found after lifting stones.
The pools at 10ft+ long and about 18 to 30" deep. Great for fishing a duo. Sz 14 black klink with a 14 GH PTN or HE under. HE was best
I fished 11-12 below Hergest bridge for 4 fish, with several long range releases.
We broke for lunch. Resumed after 1pm and I fished the top 500 yards getting many offers and bringing to hand or net another 10 fish. Mostly 5-6" but an 8", a 10" and a clonking 12" brownie inc. One on the dry and the rest on the point nymph.
The last 2 fish were rising in a pool but showed no interest in the dry.
I settled down in the bankside growth to watch as my closing approach had spooked them.
Resting them for 10 minutes. Got one on a nymph and after waiting another 15 mins took the 12" fish. Great end to a great weekend.

14 Trout

Oh what a lovely morning, I fished 4 spots and caught in each, all on a small spinner, 2 perch, 2 rainbows and a brownie. Quite busy later on as there was a competition on, sad no notice the accumulation of litter once more.

3 Trout, 2 Other

Spinning.

2 Trout

Caught 2 small trout on klinkhammer. Very little rising during the day and very few hatches. Had to leave before evening so may have missed the best time.

2 Trout

River was low and clear with very littlem in the way of hatches. Dry fly was used throughout the day, only targeting rising fish of which there were few, due to very little fly coming off.
All trout were just under 1lb the best being 15oz and the smallest 12oz. All fish weighed in a Mclean weigh net.

6 Trout

A very nice days fishing and also met Mick, who was very helpful with lots of information.

Conditions were overcast, and blustery at times. A series of sunny days left the water-level relatively low.
I used spider patterns to begin with. Greenwells Spider proved popular last summer, so I started with that. With no luck, I soon switched to a Waterhen Bloa to catch my first 2" trout.
There was plenty of fly life, including a few mayfly, but no fish were taking off the surface.
I briefly cast a nymph, a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, to align with the the supposed feeding habit, to nothing.
My last fly was another spider, the popular Snipe & Purple pattern, to catch one trout no more than 6".

2 Trout

Bright sunshine made conditions difficult but had a great weekend. One Salmon lost on Saturday. Had 9lb pike on fly rod and had 9 Shad between us which was welcome sport. Terry very helpful and estate rods we met on Sunday again full of help and information, will be back.
Trout rods struggled in bright condition but had couple of small trout and 12 inch Grayling.

2 Trout, 1 Grayling, 1 Pike, 9 Other