Feedback & Reports

Tricky day with the river just rising and willow branches being washed down and circling in my swim. I did think about moving but I wouldn't have avoided the rubbish that's started to move. None the less, still enjoyable and a few fish caught.

1 Barbel, 5 Chub

Fished sunrise to sunset for three fish, river on its bones. Cormorants were on the river so maybe that's where the fish have gone.

3 Chub

UNABLE TO FISH DUE TO LOW WATER AND LACK OF ACCESABLE SWIMS . NOT A PLACE FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

13 Chub

River empty

10 Chub

Very low water. I fished for three hours without a bite then called it a day.

I did not fish the beat, as in my opinion the river was unfishable.

River very low and clear. Most pegs too low to fish. 4 ft hook length and small lead weight tempted a few quality fish. Cheese, luncheon meat and chorizo all caught fish.

1 Barbel, 7 Chub

Walked past the woodblock into the field and most of the swims wasnt accessible. Went on the very last swim and didnt get a bite there. Changed up and caught a chub close to the woodblock freelining meat. Had a small chub at the start of the stretch freelining meat.

2 Chub

Quite a surprising day. First surprise was a couple of days ahead of fishing when i saw that Fownhope 5 had no-one booked on for the Sunday. So made plans with the wife to head there for a pub lunch followed by an afternoon on the river. Next surprise was getting the bill in the New Inn at Fownhope for the excellent Sunday lunch we had there, very reasonable (especially compared to the place next door!). After lunch we headed the long way round the woods. Given recent catch reports i fully expected to find the opposite bank fully loaded with HDAA anglers, so third surprise was finding Lucky Stone pool completely deserted. Fishing in to the obviously faster water, another surprise came my way in that despite it being the middle of a very sunny day, the fish were exceptionally obliging! Chub and barbel came regularly though some bites were missed (probably chub) and a couple of fish threw the hook at the net (definitely chub!). Predominantly I fished the feeder with usual groundbait/ pellet combo and either meat or pellet as hookbait. I also waded across the very shallow section so i could trot the middle of the river with sweetcorn but it wasn't as effective as a static bait (though i did manage a decent chub on the float which was great fun!). Total of 6 decent chub and 4 barbel, biggest of which i weighed very quickly at 8.13. That was a somewhat surprising return given the conditions and the fact that we were only there for about 4 and a half hours. Last surprise was the canoes - or lack of them! In the time i was there i saw less than 10, plus a group of 3 paddle boarders... all immaculately behaved, went through quickly with a wave and a hello from me which was politely returned. Could have stayed longer and would definitely have caught more but with the walk over the hill and the drive home looming I was very content with my day. Superb!! Thanks to all at WUF and landowner for making it possible.

4 Barbel, 6 Chub