Feedback & Reports

Craig, Alan and Zak fished Courtfield most of the week with the odd foray to join John on Wyebank. Fishing was concentrated entirely along top half of Legg meadow. Except Sunday 10th when it was unnaturally quiet with the fishing they all caught good barbel every day to 10.25lbs. Not the numbers of Wyebank but nonetheless good sport of quality fish in the 7-9 lb range and Zak's double at the pipes. John's party started fishing the day after Ray Smee's epic catch on Wyebank whom they met last Wednesday when Ray was well on his way to his record catch at around 18 barbel on Wyebank. Ray and his two mates all fishing the bottom pool ended up with 112 fish for the day including 52 barbel just showing how many fish are in that swim. John, friends and family had a fabulous 10 days of fishing in lovely surroundings on a well maintained fishery. Now planning our return for next year.

River was around 8-10" up with a faint tinge of colour. Fished the faster water at the upstream end of the beat with only a 3lb Chub to show for my efforts. Moved downstream to the slower paced water in the afternoon and caught a few Barbel on luncheon meat. A lovely stretch in beautiful surroundings.

6 Barbel, 20 Chub

No fish seen on an overcast evening.

very little activity on this river on this day, nothing rising, nothing interested in wet fly approaches, or it could well be my competition - a pair of otters seen at many of the pools I was fishing!

First salmon! 10-11lbs Caught around 7pm just up from the fishing Hut. Sink tip with black and orange tube fly. Great fight on a 10ft trout rod & #8 line. 1'7" on the guage and dropping. Met some nice people there, thanks for all your help!

1 Salmon

Access very poor, needs a little maintenance. Water a bit low on our day.

River quite high but falling slowly and good colour. Weather warm, calm and bright at times but plenty of cloud. Should have been a perfect late afternoon and evening for the barbel, but they had other ideas! Had one nice fish (7-10)around 6.00 pm and waited for more but they could not be tempted. Moved to another swim for the last hour but still no joy. Disappointing, but I enjoyed watching the leaping salmon and birdlife, including a very amusing moorhen chick.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

10lb fresh fish to Joe Gooch on the fly.

1 Salmon

Its been a while since we have done some jungle bashing in the valley now so thought its about high time !
Seems theres a bit more jungle these days but as always a bit of wandering around finds ways through and its always worth it. Theres some super runs and pools here that you can spend hours on and certainly make up for the canalised sections. The wading is generally good and easy.
The river was low and carrying a touch of colour as is the norm these days it seems but fish where moving in the tails of the pools. Couldn't see what to, but no fly showing so presumably terrestrials. Black klinkhammers and elk hairs got their interest, no problem. The trout went from 6" to 12" and the bigger ones where in superb condition/colours etc . Just fabulous!
There where some big fish moving on top here and there but out of range today. Next time maybe...
There where the makings of a possible good evening rise (a reasonable amount of mayfly still about too) but never happened. No matter,there where still two very happy fishers, its a lovely peaceful place to be.

7 Trout, 1 Grayling, 2 Other

Fished the top half from Malhollam bridge upstream from 6 to 8 pm. Water level rather low and the trees quite overgrown made for a tough couple of hours. I immediately rose and missed a very good fish under the bridge on a dry Sedge but managed to land a couple of around 6 inches further up stream.

2 Trout