Feedback & Reports

The river was running a little high but this is a fantastic stretch of salmon river. There is the Rock Pool above the bridge and below the bridge there is a fallen tree which has created a lie for salmon. I was lucky enough to have John Harris show me the beat and I fly fished all over. No fish unfortunately but when the conditions are right it's a superb place and I will definitely be back again!

The river was overflowing and brown due to heavy rains.
Four trout caught with nymphs.
Place is nice with good access on the woods side but could not see how to access the pools on the other bank downriver (the Barn and the Oak). There was a locked gate at the side of the bridge with no obvious access,
The owner, Bari, was very helpful in contacting us beforehand and recommending the places to fish in the poor river conditions.

4 Trout

Water 0.7m and slightly coloured, so perfect. Fished for salmon at the Top Run and Rock Pool with another angler. No salmon contacted.
Switched to trout through Wood Stream on spiders with 3 takes but all lost. None were sizeable fish so no worries.
We had to leave at 3.30pm due to thunderstorms but again hardly any fly life, just a few pale Yellow Duns and one or two Mayfly. Watched one for about 100yds and nothing came for it.
Disappointing, but my friend is now casting well with the Sgagit line, so he went home happy!

Forecast to be the warmest day of the year. Started on the Rock Pool at 5.30am and fished until 10am. Returned at 6.30pm. I continued the hunt for salmon and J, more wisely went for trout. The fish started to rise at 8pm and it became obvious that the larger fish were in the tail of Rock Pool. John landed 3 in quick succession 2 x 1lb and 1 x 1.5lb. He then hooked a much bigger trout (he estimates well over 2lb) but it snagged in the fallen tree opposite. Time for the pub!

3 Trout

Started at 6am below the bridge and landed a 7/8lb bright silver fish on a Cascade 15mm brass tube fished on a sink tip Skagit line. Although this is my first fish this season it was a bit of an anticlimax as I lost a much bigger one Wednesday and keep thinking what might have been. Dedication to the needs of the angling public took me to work at 10am.

1 Salmon

No fish and very few trout showing in spite of prolific fly hatch throughout the day. Perfect weather conditions. As this was my first visit to the beat I was well looked after by Lynn Thomas, a beat regular of nearly 40 years. Thank you Lynn - I will return to put my newly found knowledge to good use.

Assisted another angler in the afternoon and evening sessions for trout at Top Run, Rock Pool and Wood Stream with no takes. Very little fly life on the water which was 0.78m and slightly coloured but good fishing conditions.
Having consulted the owner we fished through to the Wires below the bridge with no result.
Reverted to trout and had one three quarter pound trout on a dry size 14 Grey Wulff which was returned.
No late evening fun so left at 10pm.

1 Trout

Lovely beat with one fish showing just below the bridge. Really helpful owner also.

Fished Rock pool from 7am to 10am without result.

Arrived to find river at 0.75m and in perfect condition. We both fished hard for salmon for 7 hrs but no sign of them today.
A good hatch of upwings (probably Blue Uprights) ensued at 2pm and quite a few trout were rising to them on the smooth glide above Wood stream. Also increasing number of Yellow May Duns present.
An enjoyable day, forecast deluge fortunately did not materialise. Left with the river just stating to colour up.