Feedback & Reports

2 Barbel, 4 Chub

First time fishing on the Bran, after an hour on the Cilleni. The river was up and heavily stained from heavy rain the night before, it was perfect in fact for nymphing – just right, like weak builders’ tea. 10 fish in a couple of hours quickly prospecting with RM - there is a good stamp of fish here. The parking area is fine, with the water just above the bridge being easiest to access. Below the bridge barbed wire and overhanging trees hinder access. Wading on the lower section is tough with slippy bedrock and deep holes. The upper section where the river opens up with several meanders and deep corner pools is idyllic and a pleasure to fish, the middle section isn’t great water so best to push through that.

10 Trout

A quick early morning visit to this beat, following heavy rain night before. The river was still in spate, so perhaps just a tad high. We did catch 5 trout and lost a few, small fish up to 8 inches. We went elsewhere after an hour due to the colour. The access is good especially above the bridge, where the pool structure and habitat is really 'fishy'.

5 Trout

lots of chub up to 5lb and 2 barbel to 7lb

Lost one nice fish, elements were against,retired early

Lovely water but weather was awful. Fish on #12 Bibbo

2 Trout

Fished lower beat only. No fish seen (except fry), no takes or fishy activity.
Tried different flies and methods, all in the pouring rain. River rising steadily but fishable, just about.
No access to upper beat. The Trout Inn car park is separated by barbed wire fencing from the field, which might otherwise provide river access. No safe access from bridge at the bottom of the upper beat either, only a drop into the river down a steep bank. Access around bridge very overgrown and would damage waders, which are pricey.
A tree is down in the lower beat making wading impossible throughout the whole stretch.

My first time on this beat with a light but steady rain pretty much all day. I walked up from the lower entry point so saw almost the entire beat and the majority is wide, slow moving flats with a few short, streamy stretches. There were a handful of upswings hatching all day but the only rises to naturals I saw were very small fish by a fallen branch halfway along the beat.

I didn't have any interest in nymphs or dries except for one channel where a grassy island splits the stream. There was a veritable school of grayling holding there and most casts saw a rise. 8 fish from 5-11 inches were released but there must have been 30-40 rises.

Access is really very tricky, particularly as the nettles and balsam are at full height right now and the ground was wet and slippy underfoot. There are a few marked entry points which are slightly easier but a couple of them descend in the middle of a quicker run - that means you have to fight through the jungle and down some steep drops to get in and fish from the bottom of some of the runs. I got a bit tired of the climbing and sliding so rather gave up on the top quarter.

8 Grayling

10 caught. 2 kept and rest returned safely
All caught on a size12 pearl nymph with a flouro tail.
Wet and windy. Fished bay opposite house

10 Trout

5 Trout