Feedback & Reports

A return visit to this beautiful little river, following the frustration of last month's visit which saw lots of spooked fish.
I was expecting/hoping for a little colour in the water after the overnight rain, but it was still low and clear.
I began at Hergest Bridge and worked my way slowly and quietly up to the weir. 4 WBT came to hand in this first section, as well as a couple lost. The weir provided the best fish of the day, a dark 11" fish that spent more time out of the water than in it during the fight - great fun!
I then returned to the car and drive up to Malhallom Bridge after lunch to fish the rest of the beat - starting again at the weir.
Only 1 more Trout caught before the bridge and the last 20m of water below the bridge and the 100m or so above the bridge were effectively written off when a cow came down to drink, spooked at the sight of me and ran up the middle of the river and under the bridge! Not to be out done, I had a last couple of casts in a run I had lost a fish in before and managed a final Trout.
All fish were between 6"-11" and came to tungsten PTNs. I had hoped to catch my first WBT on the dry today, but a cool downstream breeze kept the hatch and the fish down. A few rises and the odd Mayfly seen, but only the birds appeared interested in them at this stage - hopefully it gives me an excuse for a return trip...
A really enjoyable day, with fewer Trout spooked than last time - it felt like I was starting to make some progress with this challenging small stream lark! If only it wasn't a 160 mile round trip...

6 Trout

1 Trout

Did not have a single take all day, saw about 4 fish rise, the most difficult day's fishing I have ever had. Also please note, any baliffs out there, saw a guy camping overnight at the lake side with a night line worm cast out.

Need to do some work on bank access which is overgrown and difficult to get into river.

2 Trout

Light rain, 14c, brightened later. 2 trout to 3/4lb caught and released on Gravel beat. Nymphing with gold beaded Pheasant Tail. Failed to connect with several more. A few Mayflies and 2 salmon spotted. Easy parking and access.
First time to this lovely, big river. Foundation info clear and accurate.

2 Trout

Blustery showery day with little hatching. Both (small) trout caught on nymphs.

2 Trout

One of my favourite beats and recommended if you don't mind lots of barbed wire, a hike and losing flies....or the now infamous chap in the house on the right bank (yes, DO cross over the footbridge to avoid a confrontation). A long beat and a challenge with the odd Mayfly in the middle of the day. Five in all in a few hours and many more risen. Caught one excellent fish of over seventeen inches - a monster given the size of the river.

5 Trout

Only fished for 2 or 3 hours on this lovely best after arriving quite late on Sunday evening. There had been quite a lot of rain in the previous few days so was concerned that levels would be quite high - hence the Ithon which sounded like it may be less affected by rain than se of the other local stretches. This turned out to be true and the river was spot on and fishable. Fished a single PTN on a French leader, and took a few 6" or so brownies who all put up a good scrap. Very active fighters, probably lost twice as many as I got to hand. Most fish taken from the bubble lines through relatively deep water. A really nice beat with plenty of fish!

3 Trout, 1 Grayling

Couple of hours fishing on abbey dore. all trout came to mayfly dunn with beadhead nymph klink and dink .5-6 to nymph the rest to mayfly. All about 9 inches with a couple about 12 inches. Both grayling took beadhead in the deeper runs largest 14 inches the other 8 inches. Water levels quite low now. Fair few mayfly peeling off by 1pm and trout locked onto them instantly even with the hoards of spinners on the water.

15 Trout, 2 Grayling

Today there wasn't much fly life about so i fished Klink and dink/NZ style. They were obviously on the nymphs as every pool and pocket of water my flies were in I was hooking fish big and small. Managed to catch 30 plus fish from 1/4lb up to 2lb plus 18 inch fish. All wild fish and all released.

30 Trout