Feedback & Reports

1 barbel on pellet end of day. 2 small chub also on pellet.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub

Tough day with very low water and excess of canoes. Promising start with excellent 5lb chub from Legg Meadow but remainder of the day only produced a very small barbel, chublet and an eel. Fully endorse positive comments about the Ferndale B&B nearby.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub, 1 Other

6 x trout 6-8 inches, Rusty Klinkhammer. Not such a good plan, today's early morning trip. Rain before and after dawn produced dripping steamy humidity on the forest floor by the stream. So dark and warm was the morning, it felt like a Florida swamp at the bottom of the Cannop valley. No alligators or water mocassins, but plenty of mosquitoes were apparent. Late September is not supposed to be like this. My main problem was being unable to see the dry fly because my glasses were constantly misting up. Absolutely no chance of seeing the dry fly without my glasses. So I blundered about, getting steadily more hot and bothered. The ones I did catch were mostly hooked as I began the back cast, having totally missed the fact that the fly had gone under.

6 Trout

5lbs fresh cock Grilse. Marks of sea lice still visible.

1 Salmon

Desperately low river, seen a few fish, but no joy for the couple of hours there.

4 Trout

Slightly coloured hen of 8lb caught on a red and orange tube fly at 9.30am.

1 Salmon

I took a gamble and booked the beat because we were staying in a cottage on the river. Lady Luck smiled on me for once, the overnight rain seemed to have refreshed the river without causing any problems.
I fished for a couple of hours in the morning, then returned in the evening for another three. Nothing happening on the surface. I tried dries to no avail. When I switched to a Klinkhammer Duo and a small gold headed PTN things stated happening. Nine trout to hand and as many lost - all to the nymph. The best fish were about 10" the smallest about 5".
The first part of the beat just above Hergest Bridge seems to be the most productive in low water conditions.
It adds to the experience knowing that you're fishing your way through what remains of a massive World War II hospital complex built by the Americans in readiness for the invasion of Europe in 1945. The story of Kington Camp is well documented in the town's excellent little museum.

9 Trout

Barbel approx 7lbs on pellet/feeder. All chub on free lined meat, weights range approx 2lbs to 4lbs.

1 Barbel, 7 Chub

14 grayling of about 8"-10", three trout up to 10" and a couple of salmon parr on size 16 spiders and PTN. Weather: warm and humid with the odd shower.
Although several grayling took at or close to the surface, I suspect fish are starting to drop deeper.

3 Trout, 14 Grayling, 2 Other