Feedback & Reports

1 Barbel hot & low

1 Barbel

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River as expected very low and sluggish; considerable lengths of streamer weed showing. Fished with 2 x 8mm hair-rigged pellets behind a 1.5oz feeder, filled pellet & hemp. First chub no bigger than the length of my finger, couldn't believe it took my bait. Followed shortly afterwards with a 6.5lb barbel (landed quickly before recovering strongly in the net, although it took some time). 3.5lb chub followed an hour later. Sun popped up after 3hrs fishing and ended the session. At this point, I could see my swim clearly, and that I'd caught fish from the only clear spot in my swim. A pre-visit if possible, prior to fishing would've helped. Swim depth of circa 3 - 4ft deep. Lovely stretch. NB; dead salmon (6lb) sadly floating belly-up in the swim.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub

Just 1 Barbel caught against near bank, only two fishable swims available due to the low water condition, plenty of weed coming downriver making fishing difficult. Pellet and ground bait feeder with 8 mm pellet on the hook.
D.C. & J.V Rayleigh

1 Barbel

Fished a morning session which, given the river conditions and the heat, we fully expected to be hard work. We were pleased though to catch eight Chub to around 4lb and a Barbel in the 6lb to 7lb range before midday. After lunch and watching football taking another step home, we returned for an evening session with the hope of further good sport. This did not really materialise though with the evening session yielding just a couple more Chub and an Eel before a last cast Barbel of a similar size to the previous one to finish the day. All fish caught on feeder and pellet.

2 Barbel, 10 Chub, 1 Other

Our first visit to this fishery, so given the conditions, made a donation in the church offertory box and walked the bank before unloading the car. Felt that the fish were likely to be in the faster, oxygenated water of the Church Stream and settled there. It became apparent that huge rafts of weed, both surface and subsurface were going to be problematic so swapped to trotting. A couple of chub resulted before the arrival of the canoes. We clearly hadn't considered that the very narrow, fast flowing stretch, was the only water available to the canoes. Later a pair of kayak's beached on the island. From one, a middle aged gent disappeared into the trees to perform his ablutions. He reappeared, walked to the middle of the stream, dropped his shorts and proceeded to clean his backside, charming. To round off a perfect day, as we drove back towards Backney Upper at approx 10.30pm, we passed the vehicle of the "night shift" from the previous day, parked up and empty. No doubt ensconced in their swim and preparing to fish the most productive period free of charge!

3 Chub

Sport very poor due to conditions, very hot, very low water, floating streamer weed

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

River very low, lots of streamer weed all fish caught upstream in deeper water far side of willow tree to pellet and feeder tactics . Fish covered in lice taking ages to recover when caught .Best Barbel weighing 8 lb 2oz.

7 Barbel, 5 Chub, 2 Other

Conditions were not ideal. low river and hot weather. Lost three barbel on the float. Lovely stretch.

1 Barbel, 6 Chub