Feedback & Reports

Blank, except for accidental trout. I didn't have too much time on what was another very cold day, but I managed to fish down the section below the suspension bridge on the right bank, which is a nice bit of fly water. Otherwise, there is a lot to learn about salmon on this beat. I wonder where the expertise is; does anybody have any notes? As others have mentioned, it looks like there is some more fly fishing, in low water at least, at the bottom by the island. Roaming around with a spinning rod, getting a cast away where you can from the cribs, should be a useful tactic to try and cover the deeper water.
Many years ago, my son and I took coarse fishing tickets here on occasion. We used to catch mostly chub, and lots of eels, ledgering from various cribs. At that time, salmon fishing being truly in the doldrums, salmon boats and oars were lying rotting on the banks.
If you don't know this part of the valley, you should certainly come to see it. The river and its spectacular gorge have been a tourist spot since the likes of Wordsworth and Nelson visited and the river itself can still be quite busy on summer high days and holidays. The forest hanging from the gorge on either side, however, is very wild. The "seven sisters" from which the beat gets its name are sheer outcrops of rock. These tangled woods are also home to the small group of red deer which live in the Forest (most of the Forest of Dean deer are fallow of course) and a roaring stag during autumn rutting makes quite a sound in the gorge around Arthur's Cave. Apart from the remains of the railway line, the whole area used to be worked for iron, and in parts of the river you find yourself wading, not on gravel but on ancient furnace clinker. You can see the same in the bed of the river around Wyebank and Courtfield.

Blank in a cold day but I will definitely be back here.

No fish. Very cold.

No fish. Very cold day.

New to this beat so just finding our way round with the fly rod / where and where not to wade! Lower limit of beat has Martins Island which you can wade to from above Island on left bank pointed out with white spray paint and some steps cut out of bank. More spinning water than fly but some nice spots to get to know.

1 Trout, 1 Barbel

Fished with the fly. A nice stretch of water below the foot bride on the right bank, the river looks fishy around the island. I thought if I could wade out to the island it would be a great spot to fish but access to river looked a bit iffy with out kwowing your way out. I spoke to Adam when I was leaving. Its a shallow wade out at the bottom of Martins Pool on the left bank and he is going to improve the access to the river bank which makes returning worthwile when the weather warms up a bit.

An enjoyable but unproductive day. A fair bit to go at for both fly and spinner but also big chunks not very accessible. The most obvious fly run was below bridge on right hand bank which was a long easy wade which looked very fishy. I'm sure a more confident wader will find more fly water especially around the island at bottom of beat. As it is a fairly long beat it is usefull having a vehicular track (no need for a 4x4) running the length of the fishery. Would definitely try again as there is clearly potential, but after Easter I'm sure canoes will be a problem unless fishing early and late.

Superb tranquil setting. River at just under 2ft on Ross gauge and 6 degrees centigrade. With time constraints decided to concentrate on what looked the best water around Biblins Bridge. Good fly water on the inside of the bend for 400+ yards and an easy wade. Other places Slaughter Crib, Botchers Rock and the left hand bank below the bridge all suited spinning rather than fly, I thought.
Anyway no salmon either seen or caught all day. Bet this beat will be a nightmare for canoes in the summer unless the angler gets up with the sun or earlier.
I would suggest that there may be some conflict with coarse anglers in the summer as it is obvious from boot and box marks on the ground that salmon croys attract barbel and pike anglers.
There are a lot of driftwood trees wrapped up in bankside vegetation making it difficult to move along the bank even on the stone walkways.

Nil catch at Seven Sisters today. I felt that this beat could only be fly fished properly from below Biblins Bridge from the right bank. A 400 yard stretch of good fly water. There were other pockets of decent fly water but the access to these were not so easy.
Only one canoeist, but I don't think I would like to chance this beat after Easter, it was busy with walkers and mountain bikers today, come the warmer weather I can imagine this beat being quite congested.
However a nice stretch of water, which you can't complain about too much if it's free.

No fish caught or seen..