Feedback & Reports

Beautiful varied stretch of river, on the low side, but light winds. All the fish taken in Spring pool Gutter, Cottage and Ferry pool, and all to dry flies, Klinkhammer's being the favourite. Fishing with barbless hooks and being a bit rubbish meant I missed at least three times what I caught!. Looking forward to coming back. (with a wading stick)

3 Trout, 5 Grayling

No fish today. River low AGAIN!!!

Ddoll Farm 7-8". A wierd day's fishing! Only a few fish rising until late morning and fish taken on HE emergers and, in some of the deeper water, on a Duracel nymph. Then, until mid afternoon, no risers and nothing moved on emergers nor nymphs. It had got a tad windy at times with the odd shower but, whatever it was that put them off, they weren't having it! Then, from mid afternoon until about 5.30, fish were taken on a pale HE Ducks Dun but hardly any of these were rising fish! Not much fly about - some PWs and sedges, but no big deal. About half of the grayling were 9-10 inchers and the rest, more typical of this beat, at 12-14"; the 14" fish just under 1.5lb. Trout 10".

2 Trout, 15 Grayling

Day started 12 degrees and overcast/light rain. Forecast was to brighten up. Water was low, but pushing through with the faintest of peat stain to colour, so fish in depths were hidden. The only issue was a blustery downstream wind, which was cold. Weather turned bright and cloudless about 2pm. there were soome insects hatching and a very few rises.

Stuck to dry: para's and a mixture of grey, brown and even the odd black. Size 14 worked best. Tried to cover the whole beat, but the wading on the lowest part was a real ankle breaker and I gave that up. The best pool turned out to be the 'main' field pool, which is some 300 metres long and a great glide. Action in tail and head. Middle 100m almost dead.

I fished 2 sessions. The break (to stock up with flies and tippet: Thanks Sports Fish, but they do a good impression of a wounded rhino...) didn't improve my reaction times. I literally lost count the number of times my fly was taken and I managed to miss them. Maybe 40? The ones I got were 3 in am session and 2 in evening. Most were 7" to 11", but the prize of the day (week?), from the rough water at the head of the productive pool, was a stonking 21" grayling that was only just hooked in the lip on a HE dry of my own tying on a Moser barbless hook. which any will tell you are bloody useless as hooks... They are effectively bent pins and have a tendency to revert to type under any pressure... Lucky me!

The day ended cold. My car said it was 11 degrees (from a high at 4pm at 17) at 8:26 pm. That is why the rise was so pathetic I guess...

Another great day out. Thanks WUF!

1 Trout, 4 Grayling

1 Trout, 4 Grayling

The river looked perfect and so expectations for the island swim were high. We used the usual feeder technique with a variety of baits and whilst we also lost a couple of barbel the returns were not as spectacular as when we last visited. Still an excellent day out and always the chance of a PB as these chub in the swim have such a high average weight and are in excellent condition. A really well managed and presented beat which is a privilege to fish.

3 Barbel, 21 Chub

River looking great condition. Lovely stretch but like yesterday on HL4 the fishing was slow. The other rod fished the bend and had a little more success. Caught the fish at miday in pre baited swim. Waited for evening thinking things might happen but they simply didn't. Salmon and pike showing everywhere. I'll be back!!

1 Barbel

Beautiful venue. Lots of fish jumping... none taking.

Difficult day, fish taking very small midge/gnats and very wary in the clear water. Struggled until almost dark and then managed a few during a Pale Watery hatch.

6 Trout

A late start. Took 3 good graling fairly quickly - two of which were in the 16 inch class. One on a hairs ear and two on a black Dibbler. A large hatch of blue winged olives was interspersed with sedge hatches later on but no more fish caught. This is a superb and varied beat that is also very accessible. I will be back again soon.

3 Grayling