Feedback & Reports

The river wasn't particularly high by this Summer's standards but still much higher than the previous times we had fished this beat over the last couple of years. Consequently it wasn't really possible to fish the swims at the bottom end on which we'd concentrated in the past, so we weren't too confident initially.
However we needn't have worried.We eventually settled on a couple of likely looking glides around halfway down the beat. The fish came fairly steadily throughout the day and we finished with 17 Barbel to just under 8lb and 3 Chub between us. Always a pleasure to catch fish in such beautiful surroundings.
SC reckons that as he caught 9 Barbel and 1 Chub to my 8 Barbel and 2 Chub he was the winner on the day. Obviously he is wrong - 10 fish each is a draw in anyone's book. I would therefore like to ask the WUF to adjudicate on this serious matter.

WUF note - Comparing the total weight of fish to each angler may settle this friendly competition....!

1 Rainbow by float.

One very small trout caught early in the day on a small gold nymph. Beautiful river that I would like to fish again, although I saw very few fish and there was no rise. As my first time on the water I probably did everything wrong and fished wet and dry alternatively, big and small. Best take was to a size 12 Alexandra but failed to hook. Couldn't lure anything subsequently either but I imagine fish are there as the river looks perfect. Weather was occasionally very bright and river clear.
On the down side, whilst a very pretty stretch, wading is mandatory and a wading stick essential. It is very difficult to get in and out of the river except for a couple of obvious places, so you might take a grappling hook! The result is that you have to be prepared for some quite long wades and I waded from the weir at the top of the beat for about quarter of a mile before I could scramble out. This can be a bit unsettling. Banks are steep and covered in balsam and bramble and sometimes hidden barbed wire. Wading is perhaps not as easy as the blurb suggests and there are some deep holes. Casting also often challenging due to overhanging branches. All this I will know for next time.
Summary: this is really quite wild fishing and little about it is manicured. The angler is therefore faced with a series of challenges, most of which add something to the experience, but I would suggest that the Authority creates or marks better exits and entrances, possibly with ladders. It is not a stretch to "begin" on without these additions, unless the angler is prepared to fish just a few obvious glides. I guess there are fish there and would like to come again! £20 for a day ticket? OK for the scenery, the beautiful river and overall experience, overpriced for the state of the banks and apparent lack of fish!!

Blanked while others caught and rose fish around me. Must try harder!

12 barbel caught from swims near bottom of length. Best fish was 8lb 10oz. Caught on a mixture of pellet baits and a couple on boilies. River was up a couple of foot and coloured, weather was warm, dry and bright.

We had 3 trout, 3/4 to 1/2 lb. River at +9" and pretty brown. Late rise at 8.30pm. Lovely place, thank you.

16 x trout 6-10 inches on a small Klinkhammer. Fishing for a couple of hours before dusk, after the heat and humidity of the day had lessened a bit. I didn't get to the top before darkness fell. The average size of fish on this brook definitely has gone up a bit (a lot of fish in the 8/9 inch range) although there may not be quite as many as there once were. They still aren't monsters, but great fun.

24 Barbel on pellet. Caught fish from several swim.

Arrived late afternoon. River running a little high and slightly coloured. A number of fish rising to hatches of various insects in glides. 2 X WBT 6" each to dark olive klinkhammer and several misses. Great sport for 1.5 hours. Some difficulty moving upstream at this height due to fallen tree in middle of the beat. However, this is a delightful beat and good value for 3 vouchers.

River fining down but still heavily colured. 10 barbel to around 9lbs and 1 chub to meat baits from lower pegs.
Excellent fishery but WUF directions would be improved if they stated 'Take second left turn to Breinton' rather than the current instructions which say ignore the fist left turn to Breinton and bear left at Swainshill.