Feedback & Reports

Had a terrible start to the day. Started fishing in the bottom field, the river level was really high. At about 9.30 had a ferocious knock from a Barbel, went to pick up the rod, slipped onto my back, looked up to see my rod and reel disapearing into the river, tried in vain to grab the rod, only to get a boot full of water up to my thigh.To rub salt in the wound, I took out a spare reel from my rucksack to save weight this morning. Drove to Ross and bought a cheap reel and line. Must have looked like a tramp in the high street, covered in mud and wet down one side. But I didn't give up. Ended up with a pb Barbel, not big, but big to me. Also I caught the same Chub twice within half an hour. Luncheon meat was the bait.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

River had rose 1.5m evening before, peaked and dropped a few feet whilst fishing. Looked right for a flood water barbel, and plenty of spots to drop in for half hour. Only the one bite between us though, an absolute cracker of a bite!....... which was missed. Pleasant day out despite the lack of fish.

A very mild morning, what felt like a good water temperature (lost my thermometer), a South Westerly wind and a river dropping from a 3m high over night, gave me great hope. Started in penultimate swim fishing out to the crease and rotated hookbaits to no avail. A move down one and a swap to to big maggot feeder brought one good chub but that was it. I'd put a few GB balls in another slack further up and with no other indications pushed myself to walk it thinking that if the fish weren't in the big slack they must be somewhere. My reward was one bite on a boilie and a near 6lb barbel that gave a great stand up fight in a tight snaggy swim. So not what I'd hoped but 2 nice fish and a lovely day in a happy place.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

2 Chub

Water very high by virtue of the rain

River levels had come down and the were recording just below 1.5m at Ross, but I still struggled to find any slack water to target the pike here. I did manage to get one small 7lb one fishing less than 2ft from the bank.

1 Pike

Incredibly mild temperatures, stayed dry for whole session too. River up slightly (60cms)but not racing through. Nice colour, just fining down. Snagged twice on two first casts and lost hook lengths, but then found clear patch. Very strong bites, not wraparounds, but not far off. 3 good Chub, all in the space of 90 minutes (either side of noon). Biggest was a good 6lb fish, with the other 2 around 5lb. Fin perfect. All fell to ledgered pellet, 3oz just about holding bottom. Large splashes on 3 occasions. May have been pike, but Salmon more likely. Startled otter on trudge back.
Great way to end the year. Thank you.

3 Chub

All fish caught to ground bait feeder method using meat, pellets and boilies.

10 Chub

5 Chub

Few our before lunch on the town stretch trotting red maggots. Mostly small Grayling but two better ladies of around 1.5lbs and a better fish lost

13 Grayling