Feedback & Reports

A good flow on the Arrow following all the recent rain, water coloured and visibility down to about 10”
Quite a lot of insect life but no sign of fish rising.
This is a very challenging beat with difficult access into the water. With steep vertical banks along most of the course, it’s certainly a beat that lends itself more to trotting for Grayling than fly fishing, Next time, I’ll change tactics! Not a very productive day’s fishing, even with some friendly advice from a local gentleman.
But did see two Goldcrests in the conifers near the bridge, which I have not seen for many a year!

Beautiful place. River was very brown. Total blank for a complete novice!

First time on this beat, so not sure what to expect. Beautiful location, easy to find, great to be able to park mid way. Low water, with a few deeper sections. But looking at the height of the banks the river obviously gets a lot deeper! Water was clear, but it was such a dark and overcast day that it was very difficult to see anything. And the weather! The rain came early. Really heavy rain. I was totally drenched by about noon. I was thinking of packing it in, but just carried on... and I'm glad I did.
I found the lower half up to the bridge to be tricky to fish, with lots of slower water, and not many features. I felt a bit lost here. It was only the last 50m up to the half way bridge that the water sped up and had some movement. One out of season WBT here. Note: this small section is part of a small caravan camping ground (empty now) that might be busy during the summer months.
From the bridge upstream was much better fishing. You still had to find the spots, but there were some interesting features. Missed a few and then some more WBT, and eventually a couple of Grayling. Fished a nymph off a Klinkhammer indicator.
The upper weir section was big and looked interesting. I did fish it a bit, but I was wet and ready to go by then!
It is a nice beat, but there are a lot of fallen trees blocking sections and making casting really tricky. I lost a lot of nymphs stuck up trees, a six foot rod would have been more suitable than my 8'.

5 Trout, 2 Grayling

absolutely nothing happening at all. had to work hard for the 2 grayling, both 14 inches

6 Trout, 2 Grayling

No fish, river carrying a lot of cold water

The coldest day of the winter to date, with the wind chill making it feel below zero, coupled with low water levels for the time of year made for hard fishing. Sadly no Grayling showed an interest in our trotted maggots, just two long and lean out of season trout. Nonetheless an enjoyable day on a very interesting beat, although we were very glad to warm up in a café in Pembridge when it was finished. The only piscivore seen was a Kingfisher.

2 Trout

Just the one 8" grayling on the duo from just above the downstream limit. Nymphing was tried but failed to find the fish from the deeper holes. Good access to most of the water.

1 Grayling

Not fished this beat for a year or so since when it looks to have been tidied up somewhat with access easier as a consequence. No fish caught today however.

This beat was fished by two members of the Grayling Society on this occasion.

2 Trout, 7 Grayling

3 x grayling 6-14 inches, 5 x out of season trout 10-14 inches, Tungsten Hare's Ear and Pink Shrimp. A warmish cloudy day with the Arrow up by a a couple of inches, but still clear. Grayling seemed to be in a difficult mood. Unfortunately the out of season trout were very much to the fore, taking bugs, rising to a hatch of large dark olives after lunch and cutting redds - all these activities in the one day. What did please me was bumping into the otter, who was giving my favourite pool the works - and I managed to get his photograph for once!

3 Grayling