Feedback & Reports

A tough day in the sun and low water but my 12 year old son managed to catch a 6 inch trout on a PTN. He was absolutely delighted as this was his first truly wild trout.

1 Trout

Some trout and shad but no Samon. 1 bite but hook out... two salmon was jumping in the pool, too low water than I thought.

Caught two decent sized trout on a black gnat and a yellow may dun. Water was a good depth and exceptionally clear, but a great deal of algae making the bottom of the beat incredibly slippy. Looks like there was a run off of farm 'waste' there too (I took photos).

2 Trout

Evening start at about 6pm. A few small fish rising in the very clear a low water. Sat on the bank and watched a few small part chase nymphs around the shallows, showing there silver flanks as they turn in and out. Decided to fish long leader with lightly weighted nymphs in the faster water and caught three smallish fish of between 7" and 10". Then plenty of missed takes that kept the interest level up. Around 8ish the bwo spinner fall began and the bigger fish started to show. After missing about 5 fish from the same pool I moved to find a solitary rising fish dead centre of a run. Initially I assumed it being another small fish until my semi circle spinner floated over it with my first cast and "BOOM" It took of full throttle up stream and screaming line. My three wt rod took a hammering for about 15 mins until I slipped my net under a very plump and firm 18" full finned fish. after I returned it still full fit I took another a few yards up, but about 8" smaller. Great evening

5 Trout

2 Barbel, 10 Chub

The river is now extremely low (which was to be expected ) and still has a lot of silt on the bed (again expected) but it still has the distinct brown turbidity to the water . Thought that may have cleared now ? A strange one .
However an evening session working through slowly till late confirmed there's a good number of fish about still in the usual spots so that's good and even with nothing hatching/falling really till late on I saw a good number of fish on top ...rather more than spooky though in the low water ! Good numbers of assorted bugs on the rocks where flow was good.
Pleased with the ones I had, 6" to 11".

7 Trout

Now I know why all 4 rods were available at short notice!! It was a fine weekend and the stream of canoes were virtually continuous, making fly fishing after 11 am impossible. Even without the canoes I would think that 4 rods is 2 too many!
Packed up at 12 midday. Mick the Ghillie whose services I hired was delightful and help save the day from a totally wasted experience.

Short late evening session, river painfully low and in need of rain..both chub to luncheon meat.

2 Chub

We arrived at 3.00pm to the normal Saturday afternoon events at Wyebank of swimmers, picnickers and canoeists. We expect this and so went to the bottom swim, baited up and then to the pub for some refreshment. At this point there was continual flow of canoes head to toe which even made baiting up difficult through fear of the canoeists thinking we were firing bait at them. We returned to the water at 6.00pm to find that there was still a continual flow of canoeists. As canoeists ourselves I can tell that these were mostly inexperienced paddlers. I can only presume that they had got in at the launch above Lower Lydbrook which leads me to believe that they are now running evening sessions as well as morning and afternoon. The river is there for all to use and I have no objection to this but the canoe hire companies seem to have no limit to the number of canoes they are prepared to put on the water. There is a distinct danger ( as you are aware) that the river will fall into decline if there are not limits set. How this is possible I admit I do not know.
Hypothetically, if every beat was to open its waters for one day to as many anglers as wanted to fish on both banks and there were lines coming from every direction canoeing would be extremely difficult, "would the canoeists and the hire companies complain" I think they would!
I would be interested to know what the foundations thoughts are?
Now to the fishing, by 7.30 it was just the odd canoe coming through and they were mainly non hire canoeists who know the river code and they were all fine. We caught steadily from 8.00pm and the biggest Barbel was a magnificent 10lb 7oz a new PB for Vaughan. I love this river, to fish and canoe and just hope some controls can be put in place so we can all continue to enjoy its beauty. If only the canoeing authorities would put as much effort into the preservation of this river as the Foundation.
Keep up the good work.
R

9 Barbel, 8 Chub