Feedback & Reports

Lovely weather but poor result.

1 Trout

Quiet day overall not helped by the blazing sun (yes I know I shouldn't complain). 3 barbel around the 6lb mark and 1 chub about 3lbs.
We will be back to improve!

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

1 Trout

3 lovely trout caught on dries, should have been a good day. However, whoever said this beat is easy wading needs to review their opinion, not only is it very difficult in places but I would say dangerous. There are very few safe places to enter the river and there are more trees down across the river than any other that I have fished. When you cannot get across/round the tree you have to get out of the river - that's when the fun really starts. You then need a machete to cut through the jungle of 6ft tall weeds, nettles etc to try to find a way back to a path and then start again, trying to find another safe place to get back in the river, until you meet the next felled tree that you cannot get round. This beat is definitely not for the faint hearted.

3 Trout

9 x trout 6-9 inches on a Rusty Klinkhammer. A couple of hours fishing for myself on a hot afternoon during what has been a very busy month so far. It was a real treat. Fish were in the runs and pool tails rather than the deep water and very ready to rise. Quite a number of smaller ones and quite a number missed as well.
A couple of apologies and an explanation about what is one of my favourite local streams. I'm the chap who usually trims this one and I did it early last winter, working in the middle of November. I was quite pleased with it when I finished, not that we reckon to clear away too much - just a few branches here and there removed so that you can get a strategic cast away; plenty of cover left so the fish have places too hide. But then came storm and tempest along with bank-high floods, and by the time the season opened we were confronted with quite a mess. Apart from the changes in the bed of the stream, there are now several trees across and lots of odd branches in the way. Nothing to be done right now - volunteers all busy fishing - but we will get back to it this winter. Also, I'm embarrassed to have to apologize on behalf of my fellow-Foresters for the rubbish in the stream. To be quite honest, there is not likely to be a possibility for a major clear-up soon, given the number of skips we would need. It's an ambition. Still, try to consider that a tractor tyre embedded in silt never did a trout much harm and there might even be one hiding beside it. Last but not least, I noticed a while ago that a reporter felt that the WUF should have warned him that there is a sewage treatment works alongside the beat. It seems a bit obvious to point it out, but there are two villages up the valley. In fact most of our valleys have sewage treatment works. Thank God! Can you imagine how it would be if they weren't there? If anybody is worried, be reassured that the treatment works does not discharge into the stream but via a long pipe which goes far out into the Severn estuary. It's still a pretty stream with lots of little trout!

9 Trout

2 perch on ledgered worm.

2 Other

Sunny and bright, opted for road side end swim, faster water and some shade. Took waders and fed corn and pellet in two areas, down in front of overhanging willow and fast water 1/3 away over. Set up feeder rod, clipped on a plain lead and plan was to fish down the fast water until I found any fish. Hair rigged 3 pieces of corn, cast up to the front edges of the fast water and before I could put rod in the rest the tip lunged over and the first Chub was on. Fed a little more corn and set up my Drennan super tench rod and a big float off a center pin loaded with 8lbs line. The next hour saw non stop action trotting corn through the faster waters. Float depth at about 1 metre. 10 or so chub to 4.5lbs. Rested swim and sat behind the feeder rod fishing the 2nd swim. Similar start with 4 chub and a fine lean Barbel. Both swims slowed around 2pm, so went for a wander up stream with the float rod resulting in 2 lost fish and 2 more chub banked. Returned to 1st swim, re-baited both areas and again the trotted fast water produced another 3 good old chub and then just before I left, an 8lbs barbel fell to the feeder rod which was out past the over hanging willow. Started at 11am and left at 5.45pm, out of bait and happy with one of the best days for many a year. There is little if any thing better than watching a big bright float off a center pin trundle down turbulent water and to watch it bury and then that heavy nod nod as you lift the rod into a fish. Brilliant day, thank you to all concerned.

2 Barbel, 20 Chub

Went for the evening rise. Perfect conditions, massive hatch, fish not interested.

Nice stretch with some surprisingly deep pools but fish not responding to dries or nymphs.

Nice stretch. Easily accessible and plenty of spots to go at. It was such a hot day that we didn't move around as much as normal and left the river for most of the day. One nice barbel of around 9lb and loads of chub of a pretty good stamp up to 5lb. One eel of around 2lb and watched a young eel (15 inches) hunting fry in the margin which was fascinating.

1 Barbel, 15 Chub