Feedback & Reports

Brown water yielding a 5lb barbel hooked in the dorsal (neatly and harmlessly) on a Mepps after a strange and powerful struggle. Otherwise, my co-fisher (actually after barbel) had a few takes but several lost rigs in the rocks. Many thanks to Don for advice over the ether from N Wales!And to Seth and Allyson.

Arrived just before sunrise and decided to fish the meadow. The river looked spot on with a nice bit of colour and after a cup of tea and a bacon roll on the stove we settled into our pegs, several biteless hours later we were beginning to wonder what we were doing wrong as nothing we tried seemed to work. We decided to move and opted for the steps pegs where we were met with the same biteless responce. After being relieved of a few feeders and hook lenths we decided to go back to the meadow and take our chances into the evening. The sun was high in the sky at this point and our hopes of catching were diving but after a bit of casting around a fish was finally on the bank of around 6lb another two hours past before the next bite and a barbel of around 3lb started a run of fish which included a fish of 10 lb 1oz as well as two 9s. All in all 8 fish landed and two lost. 12mm pellets acounting for all.
On a final note although all the fish seemed fit and healthy some were showing signs of mouth damage, one in particular which was still carrying a complete braided hooklength was a bit of a mess which was a bit sad to see. Not a fan of low diameter braided hooklengths myself, its as good as cheese wire. Looking forward to a trip later in the year.

Fished from early morning, caught barbel throughout the day. 2x 3lb 1x 4lb, 1x 5lb, 1x 7lb and the best was a 9lb 140z and a 9lb 9oz. All on open end feeder with hair rigged pellet.

Coloured water and while level ok, inexperience of the bottom led to rig losses. Nil return but suspect were not exploring enough as fish were there! Fellow salmon rod had only barbel via unorthodox route....

Good stretch of river to fish with easy access to water (you can drive to and park at your swim when it's not too wet).
River was coloured with a fare pace and lots of boiling water very hot and bright. 2 rods, one fished close in to bank under over hanging tree, the other fished in main flow.
Most fish taken through the day with a couple at last light, not what was expected. Bank rod took 7 fish with 3 lost and lots of knocks to keep us both on the edge. Halibut pellet socked in crab oil.
Main flow rod took 6 fish with a few lost and lots of knocks. Bait used, Hinders Barbel Blitz Elips Pellets
All fish between 7 and 8lbs.
Take a long landing net handle as water can be hard to reach with a 6ft handle. We will be going back.

The river wasn't particularly high by this Summer's standards but still much higher than the previous times we had fished this beat over the last couple of years. Consequently it wasn't really possible to fish the swims at the bottom end on which we'd concentrated in the past, so we weren't too confident initially.
However we needn't have worried.We eventually settled on a couple of likely looking glides around halfway down the beat. The fish came fairly steadily throughout the day and we finished with 17 Barbel to just under 8lb and 3 Chub between us. Always a pleasure to catch fish in such beautiful surroundings.
SC reckons that as he caught 9 Barbel and 1 Chub to my 8 Barbel and 2 Chub he was the winner on the day. Obviously he is wrong - 10 fish each is a draw in anyone's book. I would therefore like to ask the WUF to adjudicate on this serious matter.

WUF note - Comparing the total weight of fish to each angler may settle this friendly competition....!

1 Rainbow by float.

One very small trout caught early in the day on a small gold nymph. Beautiful river that I would like to fish again, although I saw very few fish and there was no rise. As my first time on the water I probably did everything wrong and fished wet and dry alternatively, big and small. Best take was to a size 12 Alexandra but failed to hook. Couldn't lure anything subsequently either but I imagine fish are there as the river looks perfect. Weather was occasionally very bright and river clear.
On the down side, whilst a very pretty stretch, wading is mandatory and a wading stick essential. It is very difficult to get in and out of the river except for a couple of obvious places, so you might take a grappling hook! The result is that you have to be prepared for some quite long wades and I waded from the weir at the top of the beat for about quarter of a mile before I could scramble out. This can be a bit unsettling. Banks are steep and covered in balsam and bramble and sometimes hidden barbed wire. Wading is perhaps not as easy as the blurb suggests and there are some deep holes. Casting also often challenging due to overhanging branches. All this I will know for next time.
Summary: this is really quite wild fishing and little about it is manicured. The angler is therefore faced with a series of challenges, most of which add something to the experience, but I would suggest that the Authority creates or marks better exits and entrances, possibly with ladders. It is not a stretch to "begin" on without these additions, unless the angler is prepared to fish just a few obvious glides. I guess there are fish there and would like to come again! £20 for a day ticket? OK for the scenery, the beautiful river and overall experience, overpriced for the state of the banks and apparent lack of fish!!

1 grayling about 1 1/4lb, nice fish but very little trout activity apart from a few rising fish and one or two takes from small fish. This was disappointing considering that the river seemed in good condition (falling and clearing after rain 2 days previously, and plenty of fly life, sedges and small upwings).

Blanked while others caught and rose fish around me. Must try harder!