Feedback & Reports

We arrived at the car park at first light full of excitement for the day ahead. We decided to walk up to the top of the beat as this was our first visit to Home Fishing and wanted to see what we had to work with. We noticed that most of the beat is inaccessible due to the large number of tree's and bushing along the bank. There are however a lot of gaps which would be ideal to stick your bait in for 20 mins if you could last that long. We started at the top of the fishery, dropping in a few swims to try and find the fish. After an hour in the first swim I had no bites so I went to see JJ to see how he was getting on. It turns out he was doing worse than me. As he set up his chair he realised he had lost a screw and had no chair for the day. I of course found this very amusing. We each worked our way through the very tight spots this best has to offer with no joy. It was looking like it would not be our day. We each found another tight swim which looked promising so hope was restored. First cast with a huge piece of meat produced a 2lb chub for me, the bite was almost instant. I got my meat straight back out and waited patiently whilst watching the anglers on the far bank throwing their bait at each other. (They must have been bagging up). All of a sudden my rod wrapped round and instantly I knew this wasn't a small chub. It was a slow powerful fight so I knew I was in to a good barbel. Shaking with excitement I slipped the net under a stunning Wye double. I rushed a couple of bushes along to JJ to take the all important photo. As I got to him he was just releasing an 8lb barbel. I posed for the photo after weighing the 11lb beast with a cheesy grin on my face. It seemed they were coming on the feed! After celebrating in my usual fashion, I quickly cast in with the hope of another. It wasn't to be. Tried various baits with no joy so we decided to have one last swim change before dark. First cast JJ looses all his gear in a bush and the curse words swiftly followed. With no more action we headed back to the car after a satisfying day. We had to work very hard for our fish which made it very rewarding. I'll take a double any day. After catching the most and biggest fish, I had all the bragging rights on the journey home. JJ was just glad to be sat down after his chair trouble. We rounded of the day with lots of Guinness. Can't wait for the next visit to this fantastic river. Thanks WUF.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Arrived about 11am and fished the right hand bank having fished the left yesterday.
Catch: 3 Barbel, 7lb 12oz, 6lb 13oz, 8lb 4oz (all from the first swim) using pellet and feeder to 10lb line.

3 Barbel

River racing through and very high, most swims unfishable but one swim at the top of the beat produced 7 barbel through out the day to swim feeder pellet, one rod length out. All good size fish, not weighed but a number in the 8 to 9lb range. One other swim produced 8 barbel, 2 of whiched were weighed at 10lb plus. This was at the lower end of the beat, again feeder and pellet. Third angler tried various swims, lost one fish. A good return on our first visit to this stretch on a very difficult day. Access to the stretch is excellent.

15 Barbel

2 perch on ledgered worm from slope by dam, saw 1 rainbow taken on silver mepps in same spot.

2 Other

River flooded. 1x 3lb 13oz chub.

1 Chub

A tough day on Courtfield but still can't think of a better place to be. River was running through at a fair rate of knots and inside lines were all that was possible. Many swims tried by one of us with the other remaining relatively stationary in 'the new swim'. It was the latter that produced the only barbel of the day at 8lb 13oz. The only other fish to grace the banks being a greedy 1lb eel. Good to meet up and speak with Don again but even his words of wisdom failed us this time. Will be back again and again. Thanks WUF.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

Misjudged the river conditions and blanked as a result. Nice stretch and will return when conditions improve.

River was charging through. Approx 4 feet from the top and rising steadily. Fished hard for one barbel each, both 8lbers.

2 Barbel

1 Trout

Very windy day. Three trout, 1 on ledgering worm and two on the old faithful silver mepps no2. Also 2 perch, one on the worm and the other on a spinner. All stock size - would be nice to have a bit of variety in size next season. Looking forward to coming back, I have had a few good days here in the past few months. Thanks Usk.

3 Trout