Feedback & Reports

Didn't arrive until about 11am and had to leave by 5pm, but the few hours I managed were great fun. This is certainly not a beat for the faint-hearted! Access is pretty tricky in places and even a six foot cane rod feels a bit over-gunned at times. But the six trout I enticed out were in lovely condition, the best around 12 inches. The only downside was that the grass in all the surrounding meadows was throwing off pollen at an alarming rate for a hay fever sufferer. I may try again in September when it's calmed down.

6 Trout

11 x trout 6-14 inches, 4 x grayling 7-14 inches, fishing a pair of spiders with a French leader. Intermittent blue winged olive hatches during an afternoon which was cold, cloudy, with a downstream wind and very low water. However, it rose about 3 inches during the late afternoon (must have been raining somewhere) which may account for the hen salmon, about mid-teens weight and slightly colored, which unexpectedly snatched the size 14 Dark Moorgame on the point and went off for a canter round the pool jumping occasionally. With a 10 foot 3 weight rod I felt somewhat over-matched, and eventually we parted company, but it was interesting for a while.
More late salmon news from PYF: Brian Skinner had a coloured fish of 12 pounds with spinner on the 16th June, which makes 2 for our season so far. On the 24th June, unusually, he had a pair of sea trout, 2.5 and 4 pounds, also on spinner from Coffin Rock Pool.

1 Salmon, 11 Trout, 4 Grayling, 2 Other

2 small trout on the fly, river very low.

2 Trout

River clear but still flowing well. A few assorted flies hatched but no concerted response from the trout, so again I searched the water with paras. These sparked reasonable interest, of which I landed 6. 5 were in the 7 to 9" range, and one a real stonker at 15", on a para adams and who gave me a real fight on the light gear in the rapid water next to tree roots where he was lurking. Truly memorable!

6 Trout

Up to get on the bank by 6.30am hoping to catch an early feeding spell. Should have stayed in bed! Eventually caught my first fish around 10.30am, a nice Chub at 4lb 1oz. Fish came slowly after that throughout the day. Seemed to be no chance of getting them to feed but every couple of hours one would turn up. Andy Murray, the scenery and the wildlife all made this a memorable day as well. Ended up with 4 Barbel and 2 Chub. Barbel were 7lb 0oz, 6lb 2oz, 5lb 9oz and the finale was the best of the two days at 8lb 8oz. The second Chub was around 2lb.0oz. As always thoroughly enjoyed myself so thanks very much to the Foundation for the access to the fine fishing. We have nothing to compare down this way.

4 Barbel, 2 Chub

Excellent stretch of river with nice variation in Pools fast & slow & very easily accessable by driving along the track which runs the full Length of the beat. Seen several salmon Showing, had very good chance of nice fresh Salmon on spinner but didn't connect properly in slaughter crib.

Plenty of water and clear, fished a parachute adams 17 with a micro gold head tied off the shank of the dry. Challenging beat, not too bad casting wise considering its location, good day out all fish returned.

7 Trout

Afternoons fishing, 4wbt all on wt Haresear nymph up to 1 1/4lb. No takes on the dry. Beautiful beat, wonderful fishing.

4 Trout

A lovely evening with a huge hatch of fly. Fish rising on and off all evening. We started 6pm, finished 10pm. Fish ranged from 1/2 to 1 lb. River still has slight colour.

12 Trout

Lower Courtfield, 7pm to 7.30pm. In shallows level with Little Willow a grilse of around 6 to 7 lb on small black/siver Flying C with one barbless hook. Fish hooked clean in top mandible and released in water. Next cast hooked and lost a similar size Grilse, it leapt in shallows and threw hook. D.M. confirms these certain to be part of July grilse run. River very low but good flow.
7.30pm to 10.15pm. Target large chub just below Little Willow seen on surface in the afternoon. 12 Chub to around 3lb on floating bread. Bites ceased so free-lined on size 6 hook very large sections of "common"! luncheon meat. Cast to mid stream, let out more line and let it settle near the bank downstream, does not snag and fish will take as it bounces down. 6 more chub, all well over 4lb and last cast a weighed chub of 5lb 11oz, not my 6lb target but well pleased. I assumed the size of bait used would deter the small chub. The last fish could have easily got half tin of luncheon meat in its mouth!

1 Salmon, 18 Chub