Feedback & Reports

A few fish coming to te the surface but nothing to my efforts of dry and nymph. Spent my time in the lower two fields so lots more to see for next time. River bed is very uneven and rocky making wading deceptively tricky.

The river was still at a height that was a bit high making dry fly presentation challenging … and I could not wade the river to access the upper part of the beat.

There was a fairly constant hatch throughout the day with olives, olive uprights and yellow Sally stoneflies keeping the fish looking up. Fish came all through the day and James landed all of his on one single fly … a grey dun parachute. Best trout and grayling about 17”.

At close of play I waded up the beat… there was a fish rising under the trees on the near bank in about a foot of water. I dismissed it as a tiddler and moved on. James came up half an hour later and it was still rising but more enthusiastically … head and tailing taking hatching duns. He saw its back and dorsal fin … a huge grayling, at least 3lbs! He had the sense to change his 3lb tippet for the strongest he had … 3.5lbs! As soon as he got the fly somewhere near the fish it walloped it …. And charged out in to the gutter at the centre of the river. Despite having changed to uprated tippet once in the faster heavier water in the gutter the inevitable happened …. Ah well next time.

12 Trout, 3 Grayling

Two Trout on fairly heavy nymphs due to river pushing through a bit. I had them early on and in succession but oddly never had another take after that. Nice venue and parking right next to river.

2 Trout

wash off

3 Grayling

Great to be back on one of my favourite beats. It was unusual to see the water so low and crystal clear, especially this time of year. A gusty wind made for challenging fishing with the French leader, but I managed to fish the majority of the beat. As the light faded, I’d caught just 2 small grayling shots and 2 oos trout (one was a lovely fish around the 2lb mark). This is an interesting beat, but take care amongst the bedrock, felt soles and a wading staff are advisable!

2 Trout, 2 Grayling

3 Grayling

2 Grayling

Landed 2 lost 2, wasn’t really expecting much. First time on the beat. Only fished a few hours as it was bloody cold. Leaky waders.

The lower beat didn’t feel very good for grayling. The upper beat much more so, would definitely recommend crossing at the bridge and walking around the house, down to the lower pools.

2 Grayling

Rained off, no fishing possible