Feedback & Reports

A long and difficult day that was ultimately rewarding. Started in the swim nearest the pillars and landed 3 nice barbel up to 9.5lbs before two very nice men on the opposite bank started strumming the bank and cutting down trees - which they then threw in the river and killed the swim! The river was very low, slow and clear so fished off the bottom island and was straight in to chub - got all 10 here with sizes ranging from 3 to 5lbs. All caught on small (4ml) pellets glued to a hair. Swim went quiet so moved to the top of the beat. 4 barbel here with the largest just under 10lb, caught on 10ml pellets glued to the hair and a large ground bait feeder. Moved back down close to the pillars for a final couple of hours and managed 3 more barbel, with a best for the day of 10lb 6oz. All caught on my favourite Hardy Marksman specialist feeder rod with a 5oz tip, 10lb mainline and 20lb micro-braid hook links to either a size 10 or 12 hook.
There is a lot of weed in every swim, but it is relatively easy to see or find the clear channels - a third to half way out if you are fishing near the pillars. My overall experience in two visits to date is that you have to work hard for your fish - but nothing a wrong with that!!

12 Barbel, 10 Chub

Caught three barbel up to 7 1/2lb, using pellets from the croy swims.

3 Barbel

Water quality fair, perhaps not as clear as had been expected.
Not many rises, however both fish were caught on dry flies.

2 Trout

Really good that this fishing is now available online as I don't have to catch the Post Office in the village before 5.30pm. I can just go straight from work to the river.
Arrived an hour or so before last light and focused mainly in the flats directly below Crewil pool as I know of a few lies along there. Had several bumps and knocks off sewin throughout the night before hooking into a feisty fish around 3.30am which I initially thought was a sewin but ended up being a stunning 3lb brownie!
There was a very big sewin showing below me at last light, around 16lbs jumping clear of the water. Well done A, the other anglers who caught a 12lber, returned and x2 5lbers caught above me on Crewil.
Something for anglers to note - 1 ticket covers you for 24hrs, first light to first light. I didn't read the instructions and booked 2 tickets to cover me for night fishing. WUF kindly refunded me my second ticket.
A great evening, even if a lamprey did wrap itself around my leg briefly!

1 Trout

A bright sunny day and the river was very clear and not many trout seen. Those that were seen were very easily spooked. Difficult fishing all day.

River low and stealth was the order of the day as my knees are testifying. Fish were bigger than I expected all over 7" but less than 10". Lovely bit of water for a few hours though I'm not sure I'd recommend it to the inexperienced!

4 Trout

Judging by the puddles near the lay-by there’d been some recent rain but the river was running clear. What a difference a couple of mid-summer weeks make to bank side vegetation, definitely a case of wading the whole length with light tackle and a small brook rod. Overcast in the morning followed by brighter spells in the afternoon, no significant wind. Plenty of insect life but little fishy activity on the surface. The combination of a size 16 GRHE 60cm down from a Klinkhammer Duo proved to be a winning formula. Of the sixteen fish to hand only two took the dry. Six were in the region of a pound coming from the deeper, shaded runs on the upper section.

16 Trout

Only small fingerlings landed and returned.

Bread flake.

5 Chub

Mashed bread and flake.

4 Chub