Feedback & Reports

First time fishing the Arrow, fished from Mallhollam Bridge to the upper limit, then after an early lunch drove downstream to Hergest Bridge and fished up to 4.30pm. There was plenty of fly life but no rising fish, little early in the season I'd say. River was running nice and clear with a good flow, 11wbt in total to 8" all caught fishing duo/New Zealand style. Nymphs used were copper beaded ptn's (Mary copperheads & red/ginger hackled copperheads) 2mm size 16. Pocket water against tree roots produced the most fish. Access to river is easy and the allocated parking is easily found.

11 Trout

A slight rise overnight with about 3'6" on the Colemans gauge and coloured but fish able.
Lost a good fish well over 20lb on the fly after three long runs that took all the running line and over 20yds or more of backing. Headed back to the salt water through the viaduct so had to hold on a bit too tightly for my liking and ultimately performed long range involuntary release! Had one more pull next run down the pool!

Water was up from last time, 0.8+ at Ross and showing 9 on the gauge on the left bank on arrival, quite a lot of colour; but still easy fishing. The quicker water of Pulpit pool proved to have fish coming to a fly but I just couldn't keep them on! A fat Brownie of 12" did prove the new "Talon" barbless trebles work a treat though, slacken the line and they just fall out. Maybe that's why I was loosing bigger fish? Anyway, nothing taken on flying C but a 2ft+ Pike did leap clear of the water trying it's best to grab it.
I can't wait for a drop in water to make wading easier and to access the left bank/island as a fly will glide through Church Stream just like in all those DVDs you watched in the winter.

1 Trout

River in great shape and access very good. No hatches or much sign of fish although hooked 2 but only briefly.

Fly and spin. No fish contacted. No fish seen.

No fish, a couple of cormorants spotted.

No life at all in the river. No fish. No fly life. A local passer-by even commented "who told you there were fish in here? There aren't". Hmmm.

WUF note - Although fish are not evident in great numbers, there are some large trout to be had here in some of the deeper pools. Please see earlier catch reports.

The river was carrying a bit of colour. At one o'clock there was a brief hatch (LDO's, MB's?) and the fish responded. 3 fell to the dry fly. Other than that the others came intermittently to spiders. It was very pleasant to be out on a river again after the winter.

7 Trout

No fish caught, rained all day but river in good shape. Fished a variety of methods including nymphs and klinkhammers.

Not a bad day, only 2 small brown trout, one on a Czech nymph and one on a bead head pheasant tail, more seen but soon spooked by my clumsy footwork, over sized rod and lots of dogs throughout the day.
The brook is very littered with debris after recent flooding.

2 Trout