Feedback & Reports

After hearing all the negative comments on pricing, and because I’m from the Black Country and value every pound (i.e., I’m tight), I arrived at first light determined to stay til dusk, to ensure I got my money’s worth. I then proceeded to throw at least sixty quid’s worth of hemp, pellets and meat into the river over a 16 hour period, thus making for a very expensive fishing trip.

Nonetheless, a very enjoyable day on a beautiful stretch of river. As it was a Thursday, the hordes of holiday makers, sunbathers and canoe ruffians I’d heard about were few and far between – instead I was only briefly joined by a few dog walkers, a bloke flying a drone and a frisky couple on the beach bit who were quick to get dressed when they spotted my rod.

Maybe they’re the reason the guy was flying the drone.

General comments – the beat is stunning and it’s a bonus to be able to drive the full length, but bank access is very poor bordering on non-existent apart from the top and bottom end. I loved being there but £45 is way too much, especially when the Brummie lads on the opposite bank pay that for an entire year for the same stretch and another gazillion miles of the Severn, Teme etc.

Fish wise, caught 8 or 9 chub, one bad tempered eel that managed to knot himself into a pretzel and a stonking barbel.

That was the highlight of the day, stalking to catch a barbel.

Through my Poundland Polaroids, I’d spotted a huge shoal of big, big barbel in low water but the only way to get at em was by channelling my inner Ray Mears to fashion a fishing peg from the roots of an elderflower bush (I think, I’m not good with nature). Somehow I managed to get into a fishing position at the foot of a 20 foot drop, defying gravity by lowering my 16 stone Black Country self down a slippy 70 degree bank whilst grabbing only a B & M dog spike and a chubby handful of nettles. Once in place I managed a single under arm cast with a small cube of meat, resulting almost immediately in a massive take from a hungry 8 pound barbel.

The fight was pretty scary, almost as if the fish knew from where I was sitting that he could just as easily pull me in as I pull him out. It was close fought but eventually the fatter man won and photographic proof is below.

Possibly the most exciting way to catch a fish ever.

1 Barbel, 9 Chub, 1 Other

Great day on a very low river. First cast PB Chub just shy of 6lb, plus a 9 1/2lb barbel. All together with a 9oz Dace caught on 12mm pellet and feeder.
Access to swims recently cleared, many thanks, great work.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub, 1 Other

A great days fishing. Spent much of the day in the faster flowing upper reaches.
Lovely pristine chub to 4lb
2 barbel
1 dace

2 Barbel, 24 Chub, 1 Other

Mmmmm, tough day on one of my favourite venues as the water was rather low. However, I did have a 9lb Barbel on the first cast of the day, but that turned out to be 'first cast curse' as that was the last bit of action I saw. My mate had a Chub later on in the day, but that was it. However, we will be back!

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

7 caught

7 Trout

4 Trout

Fish caught on small black Klink & olive gold-head nymph. Few rises and Sun in early afternoon seemed to put the fish down.
Different olives and stonefly on the water, with no major hatch of anything. Wading stick definitely needed, if only to help with walking amongst the large stones & boulders that make up the river bed. River was fairly low & our understanding from a local source was that it is somewhat dependent on water release from the reservoir at the top of the system. I didn't see a wash-off policy for the Tees beats, so not only are you at the mercy of the quickly changeable North Yorkshire Moors weather but also the decisions taken by those who control the reservoir levels. However, our local source said that although the beats can become hard to access at very high water, the river still fishes, (this may of course be for Salmon and Sea Trout).

2 Trout

4 Trout

First time on this venue which we enjoyed. For us only one section of the bank was fishable due to the steepness of the banks maybe some work is needed on the other section so that access is better.

1 Barbel, 4 Chub

Water low sun very bright fishing difficult but beautiful unspoilt river