Feedback & Reports

Day 3 of 3. Even better than Day 2 at Strangford! Beautiful day, mainly overcast with a light breeze. River the lowest we've known (0.49m on Mordiford gauge). Fished the lucky stone swim and with the very low water it was much more comfortable than on some occasions. We could even fish from the flat river bed just above the main part of the swim and attack the favoured spot from above. This swim tends to fish well all day and so it was today with a couple of barbel early on and then a load of chub queueing up to take the pellets. The day was rounded off nicely with 6 barbel from 4pm til 6pm when we had to leave. The highlights were a 9 pound freshwater submarine (new PB) and his slightly smaller brother at 8 and a half. Fownhope delivers again!
Many many thanks to WUF - you guys do a wonderful job for us mad anglers. And thanks also to the owners.

8 Barbel, 11 Chub

3 Trout

A tough day. Very hot in the morning but good conditions in the afternoon. River quite low but no weed coming down so easy to hold bottom. Surprised to find two anglers just 30 yards upstream of us on the other bank. Two chub but we could not buy a bite from a barbel even in the witching hour. First ever barbel blank on this venue. We walked up to the upstream end of the beat but no effort has been made to make any swims accessible. Why doesn't the land owner allow anglers to drive the half mile upstream so that it is fished more. Anglers could then create new swims or cut back access to existing swims that are currently unfishable. Very expensive beat with limited swims.
FISHING PASSPORT NOTE: Anglers on the opposite bank is always a risk when booking a single bank fishery. If this is of concern, please ensure you book double bank fisheries. Driving cars along the full length of the riverbank is not permitted at Whitehouse because there are often cattle are in the fields and they will damage parked cars.
Efforts are being made by the keeper to clear swims at the top of the fishery this season. Four swims have been opened but these may have become overgrown through lack of use. More trimming work is due there shortly to reopen these swims and to create new ones.

2 Chub

Only fished for an hour but plenty of fly life around and saw a fair few rising. Beautiful spot.

1 Trout

I had not tried this beat before and I found the river running well and clear. A warm, cloudy, still afternoon and all looked good. Walked the bank in the first field and found a few accessible swims (and a few more that I might have scrambled to a few years ago, but not anymore!). Settled down in my chosen spot and had a good barbel on my second cast. A quiet hour followed and I was then into another fish which I lost in a snag. another longish wait, then a third bite and a second barbel. That was the end of the meaningful action with just a few chub rattles and the evening was entirely unproductive. However two decent fish were sufficient reward for a first visit on this attractive beat.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

3 Trout

5 small brown trout, caught on a variety of flies, all returned.

5 Trout

A lovely day practising my spey casting and improving my snap T, and I think my D loop is now a thing of beauty! Alas, no salmon put it to the test, which was surprising, especially as I was using Geoff Franks' flies. A few fish showed, but their splashy presence didn't appear to indicate taking fish - well they didn't take my flies anyway. Not even MIck, the Goodrich Guru, could put me onto a fish. It's still a lovely beat though. Next time!

I used worm and a variation of spinners weather was very warm bright and calm didn't get a bite all day, could see plenty of fish swimming bye but they weren't going for anything :(