Feedback & Reports

Fly fishing for Salmon. No fish caught or seen. Lovely beat. Will be back. DR

Lovely conditioned 19lb hen (weighed in net) from the middle of the Dog Hole. Took a 1.5" black and yellow waddington fished on a sunk line. SD joined me in the afternoon and lost a good fish after a few seconds in the Maddox on a spinner.Saw fish in Corner tree (a very big one), Windmill, Dog hole and V.

River was at 1ft 4" at Fownhope and top of V by fallen willow was too deep and only just got to shore without getting wet. Restarting 10 yards further down I found I could get down rest of V fairly easily, but it got uncomfortably deep again at top of dog hole. I only just got down Dog hole (with barely and inch of freeboard for 1st 20 yards). Would have bailed out if fish hadn't been showing and now glad I tried! Recent clearance has allowed a wading line several yards tighter to the bank to be taken, but even so a couple of inches less water would have made it much more comfortable wade.

Saw my first swallows of year wheeling around in the afternoon and combined with the warm sunshine and heavy showers in the afternoon they dared to suggest spring might finally have arrived.

1 Salmon

Got down for first light and all quiet. First fish seen porpoising around 13:30 in the Vanstone. Couple of touches from the Corner Tree, Vanstone and Gabions. RC had 2 pike around 8lbs and a very well mended kelt between Corner Tree and Vanstone. BB...blank. Stayed till dark. Mention must go to WUF for the superb job they have done improving access to the left bank from the Wires upwards.

Blank except for incidental trout. At 1 foot 4 inches, the river seemed just a tad high for the fly, but, full of confidence for some reason, I put in a few hours with a sink tip and tube, then a full sinker, and finally the spinning rod...but no cigar. Just one salmon seen moving, late afternoon in the Vanstone Pool. A rod fishing the right hand bank had a fish, however, and also apparently had a close encounter with a pike which chased a Toby until it crashed into his waders. Rather him than me.

Tried fly and sinking line for a while but water conditions against. 2nd cast with a silver Toby from the bottom of the Island run (first place you can get in to the water) bought a small fresh salmon about 27". Saw a huge pike too, that took my spinner away for inspection practically at the rod tip!

1 Salmon

No fish caught but lovely beat and a very enjoyable day. Thanks to Adam for showing me around and certainly putting me in the right place going by catches the following day - that's just fishing! WIll certainly be back here again and will be using WUF booking office - very impressed. Thanks to all involved.

Managed to land a fresh 25lb cock fish from the Vanstone pool, Goodrich yesterday after a 30 minute scrap. Black, yellow and orange homemade 3inch brass tube with a conehead on a fast sinking line. My friend also landed a 12lbs kelt from above the Wires.

1 Salmon, 1 Other

The river was a nice light green colour. Nice day, much warmer than last weekend! No fish seen. This could be down to me being a hack at Spey casting and the loads of groups in boats going past. Will be back to try again.

Fished 9.45am to 5.30pm with no success or action. Both fished fly almost all day, but might have had more success spinning. Focused on Corner Tree and Vanstone which fished nicely. Other pools still seemed a bit high. It's good to see the work WUF have done on improving access - it will make the upper part of the beat much easier to get at once the river drops a bit.

A tough day. Blustery winds and water a touch high I fancy. No fish seen and no pulls. Some cracking water for the fly though.
Note for anyone fishing this beat for the first time - If you are parking on the left bank and following the map, DO NOT attempt to stick to the track around the field unless you have 4x4. I tried it and lost - car grounded wheels spinning. Couldnt dig it out or jack it up enough. I went for a wander and luckily a hero from the electricity work procured a 4x4 and pulled me out, but only after 3 hrs of futile attempts by myself. It seems that regulars keep away from the track as the field is pretty flat. WUF - may be a good idea to do some hole filling if the farmer values his field!