Feedback & Reports

I had a most enjoyable lunch at The Bell. The food was excellent and the service was very hospitable. The meal aside, I fished the beat before and after lunch. It was cold, windy, and occasionally rainy. I tried a variety of tactics, but all to no avail. I can give no evidence that there was a single grayling in residence, or any other aquatic life for that matter. That said, it was a beautiful stretch of river and I will definitely return. However, I might wait for the trout season.

A pleasant enough day with the water at 8 degrees and 1'6" at the start but which then unexpectedly rose to 1'9" over the course of the day. So it was really pushing through making access to certain usually accessible and fish-holding parts of the beat an absolute no-go. No midday olives and no rising fish at any time but I still rose a couple of 10-12" fish to a HE emerger whist fishing duo. Surprisingly litle on nymphs fished this way, apart from a few graylets, and nothing Czech nymphing on bigger usually attractive bugs. Maybe the rising water put them off or maybe the ladies have begun to move to pastures new? Probably now time to get out the trotting gear for more efficient searching (but not here of course!).

Only 2 6" grayling on nymph, very quiet. Farmer said the river had more water than for weeks, but still clear and low. Real highlight was seeing in the space of 5 minutes either 1 otter twice or two otters - going upstream and very close.

What a remarkable stretch to fish, inclusive of two storey accommodation (some fishing hut )I also managed a sixteen pound pike which was still in summer condition, took a pike shaped plug immediately after hitting the surface on around the tenth cast just downstream of the lodge, wonderful condition beautiful markings. A truly great place to fish definitely be back soon.

Arrived about midday and the river looked in good condition, having dropped and cleared. However, I only managed to catch one tiny grayling by 16.00 although I tried many nymphs and bugs at in fast/slow/pools etc. Perhaps the cold snap last night put the fish off - or it was more likely my technique. The beat does look very promising with reasonable access and so I'll do some more homework and be back another time!

After only our third frost of the autumn it was a cold start and, at 6 degrees, the water was 3 deg lower than last Friday further upstream....so I was glad to have packed the hot Bovril! Just a few stonefly and no olives all day. No rises but still rose four fish to a HE emerger whilst fishing duo: nailed two but bumped the others off. Had three other ladies on pink nymphs and bugs fishing duo or Czech nymphing: two 12" and 14" fish and the best a lovely fat 2 pounder of 18". Two trout and a few graylets and that was it. The first time I have fished here - a lovely spot for sure although shallowish runs seem to predominate. Even though it is a relatively short beat, I still didn't have time to do justice to all of the more likely fish holding spots during what are now becoming rather short dark days!

Landed 1 small grayling on a Hares Ear nymph. Very nice B&B at the Majors Arms - Bishops Frome

10 grayling to 2lb, all on weighted nymphs. The river was at 11in on the camera, and the weather was calm and bright with temperatures rising to around 11 degrees. The fish were spread out across the beat, including the newly cleared section above the top weir. Please note that the access point above the weir still has some barbed wire embedded in the ground as you go over the stile to the river bank - beware, ripped waders are no fun in the winter! It is worth noting that the section above the top weir can be accessed only by wading, and there is no exit from the river at the top of the beat - you must wade back down the river to the top weir. Not ideal because you disturb the fish again on the way back.

An enjoyable, if relatively quiet, day with a few chub and five barbel to 6.4 between us, all on pellet. The river was rising after the previous day's heavy rain with weed and debris making the fishing a little trying so we were pleased to see a few fish.

A concern was the high proportion of fish with damaged mouths, due I think, to using barbed hooks as I found one broken off trace with a barbed hook attached, still in the fish. The line seemed to be only 5 or 6lb b.s.. My appeal to anglers would be to use only barbless hooks and at least 10lb trace to save these magnificent fish from undue stress and mouth damage.

The online booking service is superb as is the information provided by WUF. Many thanks.

3 x grayling 6-16 inches, 12 x out of season trout 6-12 inches, fishing short nymphs. A day of fog and rain, but temperature still in double figures. One good grayling here, but it was the unseasonable trout which were really to the fore, occupying the feeding lies at heads of pools. One salmon redd seen. Unlike the trout, it seems they know what they should be doing.