Feedback & Reports

First time here for me and a corker of a river here. Even the car parking is very good , tucked out of the way and quiet and peaceful with a super view down the valley.
Right from the first pool I was getting takes to a 14 para adams fished speculatively. The third pool up with a very nice run in to it had quite a good lot of fish showing on top. The back markers where having me at it, being the small guys and shaking themselves off (note to self ...softer action rod needed next time out) but working up to the head the larger chaps where staying on. Stunning fish, fat and healthy!
From then on up there was at the very least one fish in each run or pool and it is a series of these one after the other and fairly easy going. The bigger pools had a good few fish in them it seems.
All the fish where in super condition (8" to 12") and are quite the scrappers considering a fair bit of the water is fairly sedate in flow.
The Adams accounted for them all and lots of smaller fish having a go at it but the better sized fish where nailing the fly properly. I can live with that!
A small amount of varied fly coming off here and there and the rocks and stones where they where clean where crawling with bugs and micro caddis cases.
A pair of Kingfishers where whizzing up and down all afternoon. Stunning.
I didn't get time to do the whole beat, maybe a third of it but will be back for more for sure and am looking forward to that.
A cracking beat, don't know how this one had not got on my radar before now !

8 Trout

River very low indeed. Fished 1830-2030. But the sun came out as I hit the river, and was right in my eyes in nearly every run. Fished a mayfly and para Adams, and though I got a few rises I didn't hook any. Plenty of tly about, and a good number of smaller fish rising.

Fished for 3 hours or so on lower section of beat (up-to end of left bank access). Wading and access is fairly easy along the length, and certainly plenty of fish in evidence. Some sections very difficult to cast in, but where it is possible, fish very willing to take whatever was offered. I lost / missed probably three times as many as I landed, once being so pleased to be able to land a fly on the water that I forgot to strike!
Will certainly return to explore other parts of this river.

6 Trout

Despite the weather I had 3 hours on the river in the afternoon. River is only slightly colored and in the first pools trout were rising to mayflies. Biggest trout was around 11". Best pattern was a simple mayfly imitation fished in the surface.

11 Trout

Following on from lower beat a shared rod covered half a mile on this , one of my favourite steams, and also a first time on the Dulas for AB. 8 wbt to hand 6-10 ins, massive fly life, saw just one May taken by a greedy little bugger at a second attempt, still makes me smile witnessing this. 5 AM start began to take its toll so retired to take on the climb back up, knowing there was still more of the beat and the absolute certainty of more fine wild stream fishing to have boosted the catch return. The Mayfly hatch is something to behold here, I'll be back again for , I think, the fourth time over the past few years and AB is a certain returnee.

8 Trout

Fished 1830 to 2130. Lots of mayfly, and lots of rises, mainly small but some bigger fish. Seven returned safely, and one, a 10 inch, taken for breakfast. River very low indeed, but this opened up some pools I have been unable to access before.

8 Trout

A very muggy and warm day. River low and clear. Considerable fly life 12 pm - 2 pm including good hatch of mayfly. Fish not very active but some rises. Caught two 1/2 lb trout on dry Tups Indispensible. Vey satisfactory three hours on the river which is not too overgrown but casting skill is tested to the full.

2 Trout

Water fairly low but had a great day out with a 5 ft rod and mayflies. Largest was 10 ounces and all were returned safely. Plenty of fly life and good hatches. Loved the wildness of the river and saw 3 x kingfishers. The best rises were very close under the bank - but that was the challenge !. Great day out - thank you. R

11 Trout

12 x trout 6-11 inches, Rusty Klinkhammer. Once again that icy wind was blowing. No fish rising, so prospected again with a single dry fly - some fish lying under the runs at head of pools were provoked to the surface, and a few fish did rise naturally by mid-afternoon. I totally failed to fish the top section above the house on the opposite bank, which is now badly overgrown. Pruning urgently needed! Also there are some access problems where fencing contractors have put barbed wire across field crossing stile and access points to the river.

12 Trout

3 Trout