Feedback & Reports

4 trout, biggest about 10" on a para adams, with a few others missed.

4 Trout

Tough day, managed to winkle out 4 trout to 8" on a small olive para from some short runs, but spooked everything else I saw in the low crystal clear water. Very enjoyable day nevertheless.

4 Trout

One trout caught on size 16 olive para adams, missed a couple of other takes, no sign of rising fish apart from those that took my fly.
River was very difficult to fish due to low overhanging branches and fallen tree's on nearly every decent pool.

1 Trout

A lovely stretch of river, caught eight fish 7-9" on klink's and elk hair caddis. After an early start and three hours fishing that flew by, I was pretty well done and did not fish the LLanthony beat. The smell of cooking bacon at Treats sandwich van was too much to resist.

8 Trout

First time on this great beat, lovely day. Fished all pm but had to leave at 6.30pm - a pity. Steady flow of various flies hatching, but few fish rising. However, the trout were ready in the runs and pools to inspect and occasionally take my para. and elk hair offerings, and I landed 10 between 7 and 10". There may well have been an evening rise, will be back to try! Also a buzzard glided over going upstream, wings brushing the trees either side - made me feel insignificant! And there is a holiday yurt in one of the fields with wood cabin loo etc - I nearly trod on the wine and champagne bottles cooling in the stream, but resisted temptation!

10 Trout

Parked at the designated spot, and proceeded to the nearest access point (east bank) as shown on the beat map. Imagine my surprise to find a wire fence topped with barbed wire, and a near vertical drop of 6ft to the water's edge. My days of clambering over fences, while wearing chest waters, and then abseiling to the river are long gone - if they ever existed!
The other bank (the other access point) looked a gentler affair, so I made my way back to my car and along the road, over the bridge to the other bank. My heart sank as I approached the river as I found a similar fence, but thankfully in the corner by the bridge (slightly hidden behind a large shed) is a stile.
The conditions were bright and no rising fish to be seen until reaching a significant pool approx 1/2 way up. A couple of risers here, but I failed to induce a take. Interestingly, a makeshift stile (old chair and rubber mat over the barbed wire) has been built over the fence on the east bank at this point. Someone (poachers/anglers with local knowledge?) are clearly accessing this pool directly from the nearby road: something for the WUF to investigate perhaps.
Fished wet flies into likely areas for the rest of the beat, but no joy.
A beautiful little stream in a perfect setting.
For those of you not in the first flush of youth please be aware that there are cattle gates strung across the river in places - I wish the WUF would detail the number of these in the beat details as negotiating them does detract from the fishing (the Middle Escley beat is a veritable obstacle course of these objects).

Fished this beat quickly as we'd taken our time on the beat below. 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Loverly stretch of water. Caught 1 ( 12" - 1lb?) great fish. Raised 3 more.

1 Trout

Couple of hours fishing from 1pm. Had one take on a gold head nymph. Nothing other than that. Cold, hale, rain and snow but great fun none the less. More of an early season dust off than a serious days fishing. Clear water early on but getting murky toward 3pm due to heave rain. Great beat!