Feedback & Reports

Fished the top area of the beat, amongst kingfishers, ducks and squirrels all day.
Very enjoyable, despite the autumnal conditions.
Had to contend with extremely strong gusts of wind, (white-water waves blowing up-stream for most of the day - I was sure the calendar said July, not November!).
Very grateful for the tree-cover during the worst of the rain, but still got very wet landing three barbel before mid-day.

No sign of fish followed between mid-day and 6:30pm, coinciding with the usual mix of canoeists, some courteous, some less so.
Then hooked five fish between 6:30 and 8:00pm, three of which sped like steam trains into the weed – immense power that I could do nothing about.

So managed to winkle out 5 barbel in total, all caught on pellet –
7lb 1oz, 3lb 6oz, 5lb 4oz, 7lb 12oz and 7lb 4oz
All in good condition, except for a small number of Argulus Foliaceu (freshwater fish lice) on some fish (extra nurturing needed prior to release).

Stopped to watch a deer as I drove back to the main road – the last wildlife encounter of the day. Great to see.

Many thanks to everyone at the WUF - for the clearance work to create the swims, Alyson’s advice on the telephone, and the excellent directions.
1st class as usual.

5 tiny wbt caught on bead head nymphs. Fishing very difficult, unable to wade most of the beat. Lovely surroundings though. No fish rising.

Caught a 9lb or thereabouts fresh salmon late Saturday evening along Legg Meadow in the Courtfield fishery, from the nearside bank, on 2" green and yellow devon minnow, size 10 double. Fish holding all through the Courtfield; there must be several score of salmon in the fishery. Very difficult to tempt. Caught this fish casting upstream to cover a regularly showing fish, just out from the bank, using a fast retrieve.

No joy. We saw a few dark resident fish. At one spell a couple of silver fish jumped.

Two of us fished from approximately 2pm to 8.30pm and managed to land 3 barbel between 8lb and 8lb 10oz and a chub of 3lb 8oz. All fish falling to legered meat or pellets.

A nice stretch of water and I will definitely fish again, although canoe traffic can be heavy at times.

Excellent advice provided on fishing Courtfield by Don and Rudi who couldn't have been more helpful which made fishing a previously unknown stretch of water much easier.

The river was low and carrying a lot of drifting weed, which can be frustrating in many of the swims, due to the fishery being largely on the outside of a long gradual bend.
The first fish came out of the blue at nearly 5 o'clock and we finished with 5 barbel to just over 8lb. (Four from one swim and one from another).

13 Trout to 12" An enjoyable day!

06.30 to 10.00am, large drilled halibut pellet on 8 hook, 12lb line, rolling ledger down main flow for 40yds whilst stood on lower end of island. Hand fed loose pellets until small chub moved in.
Fairly snag free in main flow (only!) over gravel. 2 chub to 3lb and then 2 barbel of 8lb and 9lb plus after very delicate bites. Great sport at long range in the current, lost 2 other barbel that went under weed, need to keep rod up. Boy did they go!
Tues late evening lost 1 mid sized salmon on weighted rappala, it rolled over the line, in main flow level with Old Quay and at dusk 3 chub to 3lb plus 1 barbel not quite 10lb on free lined halibut pellet and wading from bottom pool out to main flow.

Very disappointed with access, top section which reads very promising is virtually impossible to walk never mind carry the gear and fish, middle section also poor access, the stretch really needs some work.
However very pleased with the fishing 9 barbel to approx 8lbs, smallest around 5lbs and 3 very nice chub. All of the fish were in superb condition and were extremely strong
Enjoyed the day but wouldn't like to be in a party of 3 or 4, there are not the pegs to fish with "company".

Hot sunny day, arrived at 07:45. Lovely area but access to river limited in middle section. Fished pellet feeder and had a couple of early rod taps that were probably liners.
Picked up a couple of chub just after lunch but no barbel showing.
Lots of salmon jumping and birdlife to watch when the fishing was slow.