Feedback & Reports

Been a while since my last visit, access generally good, although at this time of year, the undergrowth remains jungle like.
Water not as clear as my last visit, a milky tinge which suggested something other than soil/mud creating the colour.
No sign of any hatch and didn’t see a single rise all day. I did stoically try a dry fly on numerous spots but to no avail - shame as I always like to get at least one fish on a dry.
Had an encouraging start, with a couple of grayling and a trout, caught in the spots where they’re supposed to be but strangely I failed to find more, which was a surprise with the grayling as, from earlier reports, it sounds like there are plenty there.
All fish caught on nymphs/wet flies, either small gold headed ptn and a treacle parkin.
The lack of catching seemed to coincide with a spell of losing flies to the river gods. However, that is all part of fishing these smaller, tighter beats.

1 Trout, 2 Grayling

Judging by the puddles in Sned Wood car park when I arrived de bonne heure, it had rained heavily overnight. This was reflected in the river which, while still running low, had a milky tint to it. This beat was already in need of some TLC; the more so now, as the recent storm has brought down another couple of trees. Not that the Grayling appeared to mind; with fish from most of the runs I fished as I made my way up river. Unlike my last visit, with no lunch time fry up to distract me, I ventured downstream in the afternoon; where it was equally prolific. Only 3 Trout, but let's call in 30 Grayling ; mostly fish in the 7-8" bracket, with a handful of larger fish, and all caught on the same tungsten nymph

3 Trout, 30 Grayling

What a beautiful beat saw a few rising fish through the afternoon access to the river was good although some of the stiles were a bit wobbly

Poor day. Never seen the Lugg so low. Saw 1 fish rise all day, which I managed to tempt and the subsequently lost.
New fencing in place which keeps the ever curious cattle at arms distance. Couple of new trees down, one right in the middle of my favourite winter trotting run. Bah!
All topped off by the 1inch tear in my waders.

My goodness- Hot and still this PM- got my courage up and went for teeny weeny dries. So 3 to the net and 4 more where I let myself down. As mentioned earlier, Himalaya need their balsam back and the styles are getting tricky. Definitely worth a revisit but I will bring a bill-hook and a car mat to cross the wire. (Just fished upstream of the bridge- not sure of what it's like below. )

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

Lyepole continues to fish well - in spite of the low level and a hot, bright day. Steady progress upstream in the morning, with Grayling from most of the runs that I fished. Mostly fish in the 7 - 8" bracket, with a handful of bigger fish. Let's call it 2 dozen. A friend turned up at lunchtime with his gas cooker and lashings of sausages and bacon. Although the intention was to fish downstream in the afternoon, replete with a thoroughly unhealthy lunch, somehow I never quite got around to it. However, my friend - who is very much a 10ft 7wt Reservoir Man - did catch his first ever Grayling with more or less his first exploratory cast with my 7ft 6in 3wt rod

4 Trout, 24 Grayling

Water low, steady fishing with fish to single nymphs in the pocket water and rifles…

8 Trout, 5 Grayling

All fish caught on nymphs under a klinkhammer dry fly. Superb male grayling late afternoon downstream of the bridge. 2 mink cavorting about entertained me for ten minutes upstream of bridge. Better than the paddle boarder I met last time I was here!

2 Trout, 11 Grayling

A few hours fishing and a few fish caught including a very nice trout; 4 Grayling and 3 WBT all on nymph, no rises seen. River getting low but still some good pools and runs. KM

3 Trout, 4 Grayling

Caught a small grayling to a nymph very early on at the bottom of the beat. This was the only take. Changed fly a couple of times. Fished a dry fly in the afternoon, a few fish moved but refused to take.

1 Grayling