Feedback & Reports

A bit of water on and coming through fast, very windy and some rain. One Chub mid afternoon and then a Barbel in falling light. An enjoyable day.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Arrived at the river expecting the worst after all the flooding elsewhere, but it was in surprisingly good shape - high, but very little debris coming down and very fishable. It was warm, sunny, and a gentle breeze, so ideal conditions for this time of year. Fished feeder with pellet with no action at all during the morning but had two barbel lunchtime, 10lb 1oz and 7.5lb. Thereafter quiet for the rest of the day but two barbel at this time of the year is a result...!

2 Barbel

Level fishable and had dropped a little from the day before when we fished the upper beat. But the wind blowing upstream made things pretty hairy (took me 4 attempts to get the car door open!) to the extent that even with heavy French nymph in it was necessary to water haul. My companion landed one WBT around 3/4 lb, I lost another at 2 lb plus but managed to land another touching 3lb. A vindication of what the Foundation has said about fish stocks on this stretch!

2 Trout

River pretty high. Tried hard, no bites.

Many thanks to all concerned on the very enjoyable and informative if a little damp river walk yesterday.

Fishing was very very difficult with the river well up and running hard. Tried to hold bottom with feeders or 6oz leads but with debris and leaves coming down that was impossible, and kept being dragged into the edge!!!! My friend managed a very welcome 4lb 6oz chub, his only bite of the day. Me? All I could muster was 2 minnows!!!!!! The fish all came on maggots.

1 Chub, 2 Other

Level dropping and clear but still with a bit of pace (0.3m on the gauge). Had a couple of hours trotting on the mid section and caught an 8" OOS trout plus a smaller one with a 10" grayling coming just before I packed up. A particular concern is the evidence of predators, as now I have witnessed an otter, cormorants, and a family of goosanders this year. The dippers, however, are a sight to behold.

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

Nothing happened until 1.30 then 2 small 8-10" grayling at top of the beat, both tight in to the bank.

2 Grayling

River fast, coloured and high, though falling a little during the day. Weather mild, overcast and calm. Settled into a swim where there was some protection from the fastest current. Some bites from chub all through the afternoon, though not easy to detect due to movement of the rod tip by the current and debris in the river. However I finished with three nice fish up to a bit under 4lb, with two lost. Eventually came an unmistakeable barbel bite and a good fish which gave fought strongly in the heavy current. Was very pleased to weigh it at 9lb 5oz, my best of the autumn.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

Day spent trotting on this lovely piece of water, fish came from various swims along the beat. While fishing the last pool on the section, an otter appeared and caught what looked like a trout. Will definitely be back for another go.

4 Trout, 3 Grayling