Feedback & Reports

Fished 10.00 to 19.30.
Found the much discussed walk fine due to dry conditions, would be very treacherous if wet. Need a certain level of fitness but fine for two active middle aged blokes. Travelled light as advised and this is a must.
Fished in the wood as this looks most likely for barbel. The fish fed steadily all day from the very first cast and between the two of us we ended up with 20 barbel and 9 chub. Lost 2 or 3 too. Barbel went up to about 8.75lb and all were incredibly strong and fit. Chub up to 4ish, nothing of any real size. Some swims very snaggy, especially the swim with the biggest rock on the bank. Lost about 6 or 7 feeders so take plenty. The best swim was about 20 yards downstream of the huge rocks, and this produced 12 of the 20 barbel. All bar one of the chub came 20 yards downstream of there. Fish taken on various pellets, didnt seem to matter too much as they often seemed to respond to the sound of the feeder going in.
Packed up at 19.30 but the fishing had surprisingly been at it quietest during the last 2 or 3 hours.
Only 2 pairs of canoes which was a great bonus, and both were very respectful.
Overall we had a fantastic days fishing and I appreciated the contact from the Foundation offering to move our booking if we thought the terrain would be too much.
lovely stretch.

20 Barbel, 9 Chub

Foggy to start with but soon warmed up when the sun broke through. Quite a few fish rising on all the pool's. Access to the beat very good. Lots of fly life around the water. All fish taken on Klink and dink method. Good beat will be back.

4 Trout

Another good day on the river. The beat is in good condition and fish (fresh grilse) seen in the Mill Stream and Rectory

3 of the barbel came at dusk, quite slow all day but came alive as soon as the sun went down. All fish on pellet. Nice stretch of river, fished the faster water in the woods. Biggest barbel was 7lb 11oz.

4 Barbel, 1 Chub

Encountered a heron, an otter and 4 canoeists. Was prepared to share the beat with the first two but not the latter so insisted they leave. They bleated about not knowing the rules so let them go through.
Fishing was a little on the slow side but nevertheless an enjoyable first visit to this attractive beat. The 'other' in the return is salmon parr.

2 Trout, 6 Grayling, 4 Other

Two rainbow both on worm

Excellently manicured banks for comfortable coarse fishing. Unfortunately only one 2lb chub was caught. The weather was very misty and temperature dropped to 4 degrees centigrade mid morning. Access to the beat extremely difficult even in dry conditions driving along the edge of the field. An off road 4x4 vehicle would be best .
The bait used was halibut pellets.

1 Chub

River low but a couple of fish about. Old resident at rock under the bank above the fallen tree. Nothing seen in wood stream. I had a brief encounter with a fish below the bridge opposite the pub but it was never really hooked.

Second day on the Creel and what a difference a day makes, temperature fell lots with dull misty and cold conditions to greet us that morning, even so we enjoyed good sport although as you would expect not to the heights of the previous day, tactics were the same and if there was a lesson to be learnt then don't fish the same swims on consecutive days, a rest is probably best.

9 Barbel, 8 Chub

Had a good day on a new beat which we were expecting to find slow as we did not know the areas that produced.
Arrived at lunchtime and met Mr Richards who we must say thank you again to. His taxi service is something even us younger and fitter anglers were glad that we utilised! We would urge anyone fishing this beat to take advantage of this and he is a lovely chap as well.
We got down to the river and walked the stretch. We fancied the upstream part of the beat in the faster water. We rolled some meat to start with and had 2 chub and 1 barbel. We finally settled in a swim on pellet and bomb and began to pick of barbel steadily all evening.
This is a lovely beat with great views of the garden opposite although this could be busy and loud during the summer months and weekends. Will definitely be back!!

12 Barbel, 2 Chub