Feedback & Reports

The river was cold and had come up considerably over night. The beat is definitely not for a bunch of unfit 50 year olds with hangovers!, due to the rain overnight the slope by the cottage was very slippery which gave us a couple of comedy moments!
Despite the weather and the misleading barbel of about 6lb mid morning the chub were very active and each of us took a break with the one light quiver-tip rod we had between us with cheese paste to save the blank. All in all a great day in wonderful surroundings with good friends...roll on next season.

1 Barbel, 5 Chub

Although nothing caught, had a great day. River gin clear. Tenkara and fly rod used.

The river had risen a good couple of feet overnight so we settled for the first two pegs at the bottom end of the beat where parking was also easier and firmer. Fishing various combinations of maggots on the hook we had quite a few smaller fish between us, minnows, gudgeon, dace, bleak, roach, chublets but couldnt catch on pellet or meat. Two bigger chub were caught later on both around 3lb each both on maggot, one of these was snared by a 20lb plus Pike as it was about to be netted, after a battle the Pike let go and the chub survived!

2 Chub

No fish caught.(A bad day at black rock).

Our second day and we arrived to a high and fast river but at least it wasn't raining. I last fished this stretch in September and estimated the river to be about six feet higher than it was then. We all set up along the meadow, fishing close, in the slacker water. Turned into another tough day but just after 3pm, JC and myself took two barbel towards the water works end, 8lbs 12ozs and 8lbs 14ozs respectively. A few knocks through the rest of the day but the only fish to come to the bank was an eel about 2lbs to MB. Despite the tough conditions we all enjoyed our visit to Courtfield. I would recommend the bunk house at the Jovial Colliers in Upper Lydbrook. Ideal cheap accommodation for anglers. Also recommended is the Indian restaurant at the back of the Forge Hammer pub in Lower Lydbrook. Excellent meal and good ale from the pub. Looking forward to further visits next season.

2 Barbel, 1 Other

Very cold day on the Y, nice to see the wildlife the river was very high pushing through, no barbel.

3 Chub

1 Chub

I didn't fish in the end - the prospect of arriving to find a 2-3 foot rise of dirty cold water peaking at exactly when I was due to fish didn't exactly inspire me with confidence. I've fished through those conidtions before and whilst sometimes you catch, it can feel a little bit like a war of attrition with the current and the rubbish coming down the water. I'm hoping the catch reports from other beats don't prove me wrong... But if they do, then fair play to them (from a fair weather fisherman!)
Roll on June!

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