Feedback & Reports

There was reasonable water and a few flies hatching, although the fish never really quite got going. Small emergers were the order of the day.
2 fish and a great day on this lovely beat.
Many Thanks and looking forward to next season.

2 Trout

Lovely autumn sunshine but cold morning temperatures and sharp NE wind made for difficult fishing. No chub showed but the odd barbel towards evening.

5 Barbel

First day of 4 on this stretch - 1 fished the wood area and 2 the bottom section. Wood produced 2 barbel, on pellet, of 6.10 and 10.12, with one lost, and approx 20 dace on the float-to a very respectable 6ozs. Difficult day on the lower section, with only one good barbel lost in a snag to show for our efforts.
Although near zero overnight temperature, bright sunshine and low water level are not great fishing conditions, how can you not enjoy being in such wonderful surroundings.

2 Barbel, 20 Other

16lb hen fish on a size 10 silver stoats tail.

1 Salmon

5 x trout 10-14 inches, 9 x grayling 6-16 inches, 3 on a dry Grayling Steel Blue and the rest with nymphs on French leader. A sunny day and clear water on a beat I am not particularly familiar with. I would describe most of it as "young man's wading." The main problem is there is not much gravel here; the bottom is either bedrock or piles of loose boulders of various sizes. It all looks very fishy, but the going is difficult. Some superb looking salmon pools might well be good in the last days of the season.

5 Trout, 9 Grayling

Last trout trip of the season, ended on a high. Lovely day, good flow but very clear, so trout were wary in the sunshine, and again very choosy. Plenty of various flies and trout rising, but it took a a while to find what they would take. Eventually, a size 18 iron blue para was successful, and I landed 10 on this, and several more shook the small hook. All in good condition, between 9" and 3 at 12". Kingfishers and Buzzards as well, I was reluctant to leave at the end of the day!

10 Trout

A very easy beat to find with the directions given. I opted to head straight to the woods which was an easy walk in the dry conditions. I am glad I read a report suggesting not to take a chair! Plenty of water to chose from, I found a swim with space to set up. Bites came quickly and I soon had a couple of chub both of around 3-4lb taken on luncheon meat. I explored a few more swims in the lower field but with the bright sunshine I headed back to the woods which offered shade over the river. I missed a lot of bites but managed a few more good sized chub. I didn't locate the barbel this time and I ran out of time to explore the top fields. Not a bad beat for an amateur such as myself and would consider going back. There were a few anglers on the other side and a handful of canoes drifting down but caused no issues at all.

6 Chub

11 Trout

Despite the high pressure, low water and bright conditions, cabin fever got the best of me.
Some nice ater especially the Cabans, although wading on the bedrock makes for an uncomfortable and precarious time.
No salmon seen, but an obliging trout took my small waddington.
My main criticism is the compleat lack of bank and access management, making the whole experience more like jungle warfare, barbed wire fences included FOC. Our less abled fishers would not have a chance.

1 Trout

Very difficult day, the river looked in good condition with some residual colour from the rain but there was a nasty downstream wind. Except for the parr (which seemed to be quite numerous) no fish were rising until late afternoon, and searching with wets and dries produced nothing. Eventually one or two fish did begin to rise in well sheltered far-bank slacks beyond my wading and casting skills. One 10" fish rose within range and I caught it on a dry sedge pattern.

1 Trout