Feedback & Reports

After a fairly testing drive down a narrow bumpy lane we arrived to find the river at a reasonable level. We enjoyed the long walk despite being a touch apprehensive getting passed the cows with their young.
The fishing was slow and we only managed 1 Chub and a handful of small Dace plus a welcome first Wye gudgeon for us.
Despite the length of this stretch there are very few swims and with the Courtfield beat on the opposite bank it is understandable this stretch is seldom fished apart from by the numerous Kingfishers resident!!
Maybe in summer when the level is lower, there may be better prospects and our lack of experience probably did not help the poor return.

1 Chub, 10 Other

River had a nice colour and pace to it. Was kept busy with 13 chub to 5lb on pellet. Forgot how far it was back to the car from pumping station but enjoyed the walk after the days fishing.

13 Chub

2 of us fished the island peg and had 1 chub between us all day. The other 2 anglers fished opposite the pumping station on the Courtfield stretch they had 1 barbel around 4 pounds caught on pellet no other fish were caught. River was surprisingly up compared to what recent river levels were reporting and it was full of colour, running through pretty quickly. Whether this had any bearing on the fishing not sure. Don't think we will fish this beat in the future. Also be prepared for a long walk to the start of the beat from the youth hostel car park.

1 Chub

1 Barbel, 1 Pike

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

First timers on this stretch. Water is low but still has nice pace. Feeder fished pellet, 2 barbel 6 chub.

2 Barbel, 6 Chub

2 barbel, 8lbs and 6lbs 2ozs, caught on swimfeeder and pellets.

2 Barbel

Fishing quite slow until the late afternoon. Fished the feeder with halibut pellet. River was low, with most fish coming from the deeper middle section of the river. Difficult to fish the whole stretch as there were not many swims so it was not possible to fish different areas. Overall not a bad couple of days. The majority of the Home Fishery bank can be fished from the Courtfield stretch.

8 Barbel, 3 Chub

With the river so low and no fresh water for weeks expectations were not high. Fishing with maggots as loose feed I managed to coax a lovely looking chub to the net but nowt else .... only the small silvers seemed to be active. The other angler set out with maggots on waggler and had a variety of small fish before being smashed by a barbel. After stepping up his gear to cope he lost two other barbel. He did however manage to land a near 5 pound chub which was in immaculate condition.
Despite the conditions it's nice to know some decent chub can be had and the barbel are willing to feed if they can be found.
Despite the walk (it gets easier over time, or is it improving our fitness level?) this beat is growing on us and we look forward to our next visit.

2 Chub

16.00 to dark. Waded out from Tump Park on Lydbrook side to island and spent 2hrs fishing luncheon meat, bouncing down riffle below island for 5 chub in 2 to 4lb size.
At 18.00 waded to Home beat bank (it is possible, no more than knee deep right across river) and fished from the cattle drink area to shallows at top of island using feeder and H Pellet. 3 Chub of which 2 were both 5lb 10oz, and 3 large barbel, 9lb 13oz, 9lb 15oz and 10 lb 6oz.
I waded into the cattle drink area and stirred it up and fished in no more than 2ft deep of water 10yds below it. I have seen large barbel in this area from road on Lydbrook side but have failed to connect with them from Lower Courtfield beat. Possible now that there are fewer canoes the fish will feed more regularly in these shallows.

3 Barbel, 8 Chub