Feedback & Reports

The weather was dull, dry and rather windy. The fishery is lovely, as is the village through which it runs. The river was rather coloured. Only managed 1 barbel today (7lbs) and rather surprisingly for the time of year she was very slim, looking as if she had just spawned. Quite a tough day today, but nevertheless enjoyable. Wildlife was plentiful and most entertaining.

1 Barbel

Good to find a bit more water in the river and steady progress throughout the day, with fish from most of the runs that I fished. 20 plus fish to hand from the upstream section by lunchtime. A bit skinny downstream in the afternoon; I agree with a previous correspondent - if the cottage is occupied (as it invariably is these days) there is not much fishable water downstream. Nay bother for me today; the occupant of the cottage all but insisted that I fished the big pool in front of the cottage (probably only the second or third time I have fished this pool in the last 5 years) and, with fish rising , I picked off half dozen Grayling, on the dry, in rapid order. Previously, I fished a tungsten on point and a spider on dropper; with most of the fish taking the point fly. Most of the Grayling in the 8 to 10 inch range; but I had two fish of 14 inches and 16 inches, with the Trout, which were in excellent condition, generally larger than I had been catching in the Summer. Tres bonne.

8 Trout, 30 Grayling

28lbs from Cottage and 14lbs from Ferry by Local Angler

2 Salmon

3 Trout, 10 Grayling

Weather mixed with both wet and sunny weather.
Very little movement on surface with 1 trout caught with spinner remainder with ledgered inflated worm.

4 Trout

Arrived at 7.30 after early start. River 0.71 m lovely colour and falling slowly. Perfecto. Fished hard for 8 hrs saw only two salmon show all day and no takes. Very surprising. Last chance saloon next week !
Must redress the comments by saturday's angler from London. Essentially he fished the only difficult wading spot above the bridge (rarely attempted by regulars)
To clarify and help any visitors to our lovely beat the following notes may be of assistance -
The right bank is an easier wade (but favours left handed speycasters)
Upper Rock is all wadeable up to 0.7m level depths but plenty of trip hazards. Competence and wading stick required. The stakes on upper rock is like wise a bit deeper by the last two or three.
Rock pool from the upper plat form is largely easy gravel right down to below the fallen tree on the other bank.
Wood stream is best fished from the left bank . Depth is o.k. till deepens above the bridge. Some trip hazards so wading stick advised.
From the bridge down wadeable fairly even depths but again trip hazards. All manageable with care staying close to the bank. But too deep to wade pass the willow. Wadeable after this down to cables staying close in. Below the cables too deep.
Hope this helps some of our visitors. Subject to change with winter floods!

5 Barbel, 8 Chub

1 Trout

5 Barbel, 11 Chub

Lovely new beat ( thanks WUF ) very easy wading, it was 0.45 on the gauge but I should imagine it would be fishable under almost any conditions. Didn't fish the very upper limit of the beat and couldn't find any way of getting to the lower section below the treatment works? Other reports are quite right about the fighting qualities of these fish, as I did pull out of three good fish, but none the less I had a very enjoyable day even though the weather wasn't perfect (damp and windy). grayling to 12" trout to 14"

6 Trout, 11 Grayling