Feedback & Reports

Arrived at the reservoir at around 7:50am ready for the 8am fishing start time to find at least a dozen anglers set up with their chairs and bubble floats already well into their fishing. Luckily the reservoir is plenty big enough so took a stroll and found myself a nice bay to set up and get started. Fly fishing with a montana on the point and a coch-y-bonddhu on the dropper I had my first pull after about 20 minutes and my first fish 10 minutes later on the dropper.
Moved on to some deeper water which was fishing really well in the margins and caught another 5 fish over the next couple of hours. 2 on the coch-y-bonddhu and 3 on a black and orange montana. The fish were all around the 1.5lb mark.
This was my first time fishing a reservoir in about 15 years so more than happy with my mornings fishing and the surroundings are stunning.

6 Trout

Fished from 6am. Started in the first field. Usual pellet feeder tactics. Landed 3 barbel between us and a couple of chub. Bites dried up so moved up above the bridge. Started catching chub again. Sun became unbearable and also put the fish off. Left at 11.30am for some much needed refreshment.
Returned to the river at about 4pm. This time I tried the stick float whilst my son stuck with the pellet feeder.
He managed a few more fish whilst I was pestered by minnows tiny dace, baby chub and bleak. Did manage a couple of chub around the pound mark and a couple of similair sized trout. All in all a good day.
My only gripe would be that the river from the stile to the croy is unfishable, no safe access at all.

2 Trout, 6 Barbel, 10 Chub

Two rods at the top of the fishery (Boys Rocks) area. Most of the action during the morning session. Barbel to 8lbs and chub to 5lbs, all taken on pellet. Good work been done on the swims directly downstream from Boys Rocks, although spent limited time in these deeper swims and produced chub only. The turning off the A40 is tiny but don't worry if you miss it, roundabouts are a short distance either side.

13 Barbel, 6 Chub

Caught 4 trouts with nymph, all very small, and one on dry fly about 25cms.

5 Trout

2 trout of about 12" on upstream bead head nymphs in deep riffles. A very bright day, 23 degrees C with quite low water, but couldn't stay late today so probably missed the best of it. A few smallish (medium) olives coming off most of the afternoon but rises were very few and far between.

2 Trout

Second day of two day trip. A lot brighter day and river possibly dropped a little. Started early and a really glorious morning. Caught a few fish then a leisurely breakfast and caught up with some sleep! Pre baited a couple of areas then a pub lunch at the Courtfield Arms. Had a look around before starting an evening session. Caught plenty of fish and tried to target the bigger barbel with some success. Unfortunately my digital scales failed me but I reckon at least one was a double and several others 8-9lb. Good chat with Don, he is very knowledgeable about the river, my advice is to not ignore his! Be back soon.

13 Barbel, 6 Chub

Learnt lots about beat today - more successful than yesterday - will be back.

5 Barbel, 15 Chub

Dad was spinning for the salmon and worked the beat as extensively as he could from the bank. The water was pretty coloured and probably not in ideal condition. I coarse fished as a guest and a caught a barbel of about 6lbs from a nice run on the opposite bank towards the upper end of the beat. The stretch itself was certainly full of character and whilst endearing also a little intimidating. A pair of waders would probably help as access to the river is limited.

1 Barbel

Both barbel around 7lb, small chublets and an eel. Only fished for a couple of hours in the evening as bright sunshine and high temps during the day. Packed up around 8.30pm with the sun going down on Goodrich Castle. As the swim I was in had no bankside it was a case of standing in the river with my waders and my dog splashing around in the shallows behind me. Hunger,the need for a beer and wanting to catch the 2nd half meant pack up when they were coming on the feed, as usual with England football the wrong option! Lovely setting, will be back in the Autumn.

2 Barbel, 3 Chub, 1 Other

A memorable days fishing, thanks to my photographer and Colin's words of wisdom.

10 Barbel, 25 Chub