Feedback & Reports

Arrived at the river around 9am. The conditions were not ideal as the river was very low and clear so took my time to consider my swim choice and decide where i thought the barbel might be. I decided to set up in one of my favourite swims in the wood section of the river. Started with my usual tactics of baiting and waiting and I baited little and often for an hour or so.
Had 2 barbel at 8lb 8oz and 9lb within my first 2 casts and then really struggled from about 10.30am until 4.30pm to get a bite from anything on the barbel rod. Trying lots of different tactics like smaller hook baits, longer hook lengths but couldn't get a bite for love nor money! I did manage to pick up a nice looking pike at 10lb 8oz on the predator rod on a bait fished down the margin towards a fallen tree around 1.30pm.
As the light gently started to fade around 4.30pm it was like a switch had been flicked and it went absolutely crazy...! I'm guessing that a large group of fish had moved onto my baited area and they were keen for some grub as I was getting rod wrenching bites every cast and picking up some beautiful barbel... loads of action. Ended up with 11 barbel in total and a couple of chub at the end of the session. I definitely think that due to the low clear conditions that early morning or later in the afternoon is the one here!!
All barbel taken on paste wrapped boilies and method lead tactics. A great days fishing in the end! Looking forward to coming back!

11 Barbel, 2 Chub, 1 Pike

River very low and clear. This rather shallow beat probably not the best choice in these conditions. At least that's my excuse for not contacting a single barbel all day! A large flock of fieldfares reminded me that winter can't be far away..........

2 Chub

2 rods trotting. The fish were caught from the deeper holes mainly upstream of the bridge, best grayling was maybe 1.06lb and trout similar. Lovely fishery and the farmers stopped for a friendly chat.
A bit worried for the future as 3 large cormorants were working the water below the bridge in water that didn't cover their backs, one even dropped a lucky trout in his surprise at seeing me. Fished Eardisland the day before for almost no fish, maybe a similar issue there.

8 Trout, 20 Grayling

A bit of mist then drizzle, slight downstream wind, river very low and clear. 2 small grayling on a nymph late morning.

2 Grayling

Grayling to 17".

1 Trout, 4 Grayling

First day of a two day trip, weather a little cold with a easterly wind and a low water level, Caught 5 Barbel to just over 6lbs and chub to 4.8lbs.

5 Barbel, 2 Chub

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9 x grayling 6-16 inches, 1 x out of season trout 14 inches, Tungsten Hare's Ear and Pink Shrimp. I had some doubts before starting as to whether this would be much of a fishing day as the Arrow is now so very low and clear. The whole valley remained shrouded in mist and I never saw the sun. However, it turned out to be one of the best sessions at Court of Noke I can remember. Four little tiddlers but also five cracking grayling from various deep holes, all cock fish between 16 and 16.5 inches and looking as alike as peas in a pod.

1 Trout, 9 Grayling

1st time on the Wye. Legered during morning and blanked. After lunch built up swim trotting maggot. Largest fish, Chub just over 2lb. Really peaceful stretch, just 2 dog walkers and some workmen checking the bridge all day. Thanks for a wonderful day.

5 Barbel, 17 Chub

A strange days fishing. Fished from 10-4. Took two grayling around 10" before the mist had really cleared on Griffiths Gnat size 16, by 11 there was plenty of insect life and fish rising for them but all were tiny and this was the pattern of the day, I lost count of mainly grayling fingerlings but upwards of 15. Decided to fish nymphs to see if the adults were to be found but to no avail...just more tiny ones! Around 1.30 after returning to dry flies came another grayling around 8" and two trout of a similar size, then a big fish surfaced and I thought things were changing but I was wrong it was a large and extremely acrobatic salmon! Fascinating to watch its behaviour it concentrated on the fast water at the head of the pool but was present almost everywhere and leapt within 6 foot of me in very shallow water. This made up for a rather odd day.

2 Trout, 3 Grayling