Feedback & Reports

Whatever happened to flaming June? Here we are with the days getting shorter but its still cold enough to fog our breath. This malarkey does not get any more predictable after 50 years of piscatorial perambulations.
With precipitation to the fore even the sheep couldn't be bothered to run away from us. But the fish did. What a struggle - despite a decent hatch. We finally managed a brownie each - a sympathy vote by the fish I think - but gave up at 4, cold and wet. Ah well - perhaps the weather might be better by Thursday?

2 Trout

Started at two oclock with fly but wind was difficult and by three I'd changed to spinning. Landed 9lb hen fish in Rock pool on copper/red fc. Single hook made for easy release why does anyone still use trebles?

1 Salmon

Weather was dreadful: constant rain all day, cold and wind was often a problem. Still, a lovely stretch of water in good condition. Access to the water a little difficult on the stretch between the Chapel and the ponds. Perhaps a few steps could be cut into the bank to improve access to some nice stretches of water.
2 WBT caught, in the last 10 minutes before we decided to leave; one about 5" long and one about 10" long, both top Adams. Will be back.

2 Trout

2nd day on this beat. Still failed to find any Barbel on the upper beat (Meadow). A few Chub just to liven things up taken on pellet or boilie. 5 Barbel from lower part of beat and a couple of Chub. Late spawning may have spoiled our sport as a couple of Barbel caught showed signs of having just spawned.

5 Barbel, 7 Chub

12 Chub and 2 Eels on bread meat and corn. Hard day, put a bait in every inch of the beat taking the odd fish here and there. Bite's where very shy even with light tips. Might have done better on the float.

12 Chub, 2 Other

Blanked! Didn't help that the majority of the stretch was overgrown. 20 pounds a day is a lot to pay when most of the river is unreachable. I think I may stick to the cheaper stretches where there are better swims cut in. Beautiful part of the river though.

WUF note - Often during the early part of the season, some beats will be overgrown and anglers should be prepared to possibly have to cut their own swims, but as the season progresses, more swims should become available.

Both rods blanked! Various methods and baits tried.

Mixed bag but turned out well. Spent from 6.30 am to 2.30pm wandering all the way to the far end of the beat as this was our first time here. Only 3 Chub to show for our efforts. 2 of which were on the last peg at the end of the beat. Love that peg and I will definitely make the walk again next time. See lots of potential there.
We ended up walking back to the start and fishing between the Island and Ferry pool for the last 2.5 hours. Had 12 chub here all around 4lbs. Also had 2 Barbel. One about 6lbs and one that was just over 9lbs. A very short fish but very thick across the shoulders. Lost 4 barbel. Just came off the hook when they got in to the streamer weed on our bank (Barbless hooks). No losses through breakages. So a good day at the end. Would have liked more Barbel. Will be back in the next couple of weeks or so. Learned a lot about the stretch today. Be warned, very long walks to a lot of the swims particularly the far end pegs. A good half hour-40 mins at a reasonable pace.

2 Barbel, 15 Chub

4 Trout to nymph and three to dry fly. Little surface activity other than the three fish caught on dry fly. I only saw another couple of rises all day. All fish returned.

7 Trout

1 chub caught on pellet mid afternoon was the only fish between the two of us. No signs of other fish in the swims we fished. Access to the river was very difficult due to the overgrown steep banks. Nice venue regardless, but could do with more swims being opened up.

1 Chub