Feedback & Reports

Cold and still and the river was around 1.3 at Ross. Bread flake and cage feeder accounted for all 3 fish.

3 Chub

1 barbel of about 5lb and 2 chub of 3-4lb. River looked OK, decent colour, maybe a bit pacy but the water temperature was very cold. Quite slow going, only 3 bites all day. Only 3 or 4 swims that are realistically fishable at the moment. Saw otters in 2 different swims at top and bottom of the stretch.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub

Was only able to fish for a couple of hours, and river was quite off-color. One OOS trout.

1 Trout

A very muddy but rewarding day on this beat.
River was 2.8m on the Lydbrook Gauge and water still carrying a fair tinge. I think with a bit less water pushing through, perhaps 2m on the gauge this would open up a lot more of the swims for Pike potential.
The very first cast of the day (just after dawn) resulted in Pike rolling near the surface when chasing in a deadbait while on the retrieve. The next cast, leaving the bait in position, ended a take no more than 2 minutes later: most likely the same fish - a decent, solid Wye Pike of 14-15lbs in the net, which unfortunately we were unprepared to photograph.
A hour or so later in a different spot another quick take from a Pike of around 10 lbs was landed (photographed).
Some good action and a satisfying result from a long days effort of scrambling and sliding the banks.

2 Pike

15 x grayling 6 -17.5 inches mainly trotting, but also Tenkara and bugging. A foggy if warmish day in which we never saw the sun in this valley. The water was very clear and at about .59 on the Cilmery gauge. However, it was well into the afternoon before we located a decent shoal which included some very handsome large grayling. This was all very satisfying as darkness fell but there followed a somewhat tragic end to the day as the Landrover suffered an apparently catastrophic transmission failure. Arrived home by RAC relay to find a jury service summons on the door mat. What else can I expect to happen?

15 Grayling

River nice and clear - trotted all day - didn't touch a fish

Had a few hours on one of my favourite Grayling beats. River in great condition, just settling down after a lot of rain, with just a little colour. Took 4 Grayling, 3 of which were a good size, one about 1 and 1/2 lb. All taken on a black and bronze jig pattern

4 Grayling

Spent the morning down on the fly run trotting but only managed a couple of OOS browns . Switched to the Town stretch in the afternoon , taking a few small grayling and one lovely fish approaching 2lbs

7 Trout, 4 Grayling

Started fishing at 11am, River was clear and high. Banks very slippery. Fished with halibut pellets to start, after a couple of hours changed to a bait I haven't used for years, luncheon meat.First cast had a typical barbel bite, but had a hook pull after a minute or so. Felt like a good fish, but they always do when you miss them. Nothing after. The only down side was a pheasant shoot on the other side of the river most of the day. Very loud.