Feedback & Reports

A blank day for both rods. River was significantly higher than normal level and fast flowing due to the recent snow melt. Despite trying most of the beat with a wide range of nymphs no fish were caught. Still, a great location and we will try again.

Blank. This was the day when the weather changed from sub-zero arctic conditions to thaw, resulting in Herefordshire being covered in a clammy fog. It was still necessary to break up the ice to get into position in most of the pools (how does one do that quietly?), but the river, which really seemed in quite nice condition during the morning, began to rise and colour up with snow-melt later. Whatever the reason, I couldn't make contact with grayling in the usual places. One nice experience was an encounter with a very large otter which surfaced in front of me, paws and head out of the water and rudder lashing about behind, regarding me for a few seconds while I fumbled about to find the camera - too late as always - before he submerged again. I can only hope his fishing was going better than mine! I tried the Lugg again at Lyepole a couple of days later, but found it in coloured flood.

Very nice looking beat with a good mixture of water. Today was the mildest temperature for some time, so expected to catch a few. I managed 2 10inch grayling on the usual heavy bugs, my friend blanked! Saw the usual cormorants trying to come in to fish, the rivers are having a bad time of it with all the lakes frozen. These birds seem to be multiplying out of control and need to be thinned out before its too late!

Excellent days fishing. Slow start but picked up around 1pm with Grayling falling to copper headed size 16 nymphs. I had 4 small grayling and my fishing buddy caught his first ever grayling which was the best fish of the day about 1lb+, fishing czech nymph style. It made the day even better than it already was. Packed up just before dark and will be back to fish this excellent beat again.

Spurred on by favourable catch reports,this was my third visit to the Eyton beat in as many weeks. Filled with the anticipation and hope that we all feel at the beginning of a days fishing I arrived at 10:00 hrs with an air temp of minus 2! and a hard frost on the ground. The river was conisderably down since my last visit and running very clear.

The first hours fishing was difficult as my rod eyes froze making retrieval and casting difficult,however when the sun finally came through the temp rose solving this problem, however it took a long time for my middle finger to thaw out! To cut a long story short I had a completely blank day, fishing from 10 00 to 16 00 hrs,not even a knock. I tried everything, fishing deep and through the riffles and in fast and slow water. I tried many types of flies, shrimp, czech nymph, PT's, ugly things with flourescent attractor beads, red flies and very tiny flies.

I am a beginner to Grayling fishing, but I just don't understand why I blanked. Could it be that it was just too cold?

Perhaps my judgement was coloured by too long away from the river (in my opinion), the offer of positive temperatures, and a beat that was new to me. The river was cold (4°C), as would be expected, and had that slightly milky haze due to mucky melt water. There was the regular splashing, as chunks of the thawing bank fell in.

I made my way upstream, working hard to find some feeding grayling with usually-reliable, deep-fished nymphs. Managed 3 hook-ups to a lovely, washed-out looking 1¼lb BT, and 2 grayling (care being taken to avoid damaging their delicate yolk-sacs). Either the larger grayling were elsewhere, or not remotely interested in what I had to offer - that's fishing.

During the day, without actually looking for them, I noticed cormorant(s) circling on at least 6 occasions. I'd definitely like to try the beat again, especially in the trout season !

A big change from my last visit as the water had now dropped considerably and the clarity was much improved. Positively balmy 6 degrees with cloud and a light breeze.
A difficult day - I think two weeks of sub zero temperatures has had an effect and fish were well and truly switched off - the usual places failed to produce any response. Did see a salmon cutting a redd however which was really good. Persisted with bugs and got a beauty of 2 lbs + just below the footbridge and one other at 10" lower down but, that was it. Still a lovely day and good to be out after the awful conditions. Perhaps the fish have moved into those deep featureless reaches which are so difficult to read?

Sorry for late submission

Fished the middle section which is a meandering piece of water with plenty of fishy looking pools & riffles. However after 4.5 hours of fishing heavy bugs/nymphs i only caught 1 small Grayling. River looked good, but air and water temps were very cold, with squadrons of Cormorants gracing the skies. Great looking beat with good access and by past reports a good head of Grayling.....will definitely give it another go.

River in very good condition although a little up. 9 grayling caught from 20cm to 41cm. Only fished part of the water so want to return and explore more.

Our visit coincided with a strong siberian northerly wind which added wind chill to an already low temperature - boy it was chilly! River still carrying some extra water although colour good - still quite pacy. Thank God for neoprenes! Nymphs were the order of the day and the slightly quieter water on the inside of the bends was targeted. After a slow start started to catch a few and whilst it was enjoyable it was hard work too with the wind being quite troublesome. By 3pm the cold got the better of us but we had 17 grayling and three trout between us. Best grayling a good 2lbs. Best fly pattern - Oliver Edwards' peeping caddis - weighted.
Nice beat - would like to come again when water down and weather warmer! Odd BWO stuggling out but nothing rising.