Feedback & Reports

Snow on the Sugar Loaf did not inspire confidence in a day's dry fly fishing, and so it proved when I arrived. There was not a sign of any flies or fish moving, so I trundled a weighted PTN through the pools and did get a couple of tugs, but no fish. As the afternoon wore on, there were a few grannom and LDO in evidence, so I changed to a dry LDO and fished the lower half of the beat. The few flies were not enough to call it a hatch and the few fish rising, not enough to call it a rise, but I did rise a few fish to my fly and landed 2 of 9" and 12" (returned). An entertaining afternoon and I look forward to coming back in May. Excellent, efficient service from the Foundation - as always.

The water was low and a bitter wind blowing downstream...after an hour of hard fishing I said "Mr Pashley find me a fish!" and as the words left my mouth I had that heart stopping double knock of a take. I think Mr Pashley had a wry sense of humour as it turned out to be a lovely Pike of some 15lbs! (great sport on a 7ft spinning rod).

What a differece a week makes! Arrived at 9.30 after the heavy early hatch on previous visit and - nothing until 12.30. No hatch until then and trout less than enthused with with a stiff north-easterly breeze. Takes were finicky with many missed. Worked hard for two on an olive emerger at 3/4 lb and 1/2 pound (safely returned) but still a lovely day out.

1 and half pound brown trout plus a ten pound pike all returned. All on same Editor tube fly.

Cold afternoon, but there was the odd fish moving. There is plenty of evidence of the recent coppicing work, but many of the pools are still quite a challenge. There were certainly times when I wished I had remembered the 6ft cane rod. Only able to fish for a few hours and took a couple of small brown trout. Lovely beat though and well worth a return in better conditions.

A bitter north easterly wind, snow capped mountains and low clear water resulted in an expected blank. The only trout seen was wedged between the jaws of a mink at the bend towards the top of the beat. An aerial display by a red kite and a decent hatch of March Browns mid afternoon punctuated what was otherwise a day characterised by hope over experience.

6 x trout 9-12 inches and one out of season grayling 10 inches, caught on various spiders in the dubs of pools. An air temperature of plus one degree, and a wind whirling snow in my face. It comes to something when you bring a trout to hand and it actually feels warm. I left just after lunch as nothing hatching.

Freezing cold morning with snow meant we could only get out in the afternoon. Good water level and easy wading. We didn't see any rises or any fish on the river at all. Reported strong smell of sewage and gas rising from the river adjacent to The Bell.

WUF Note: It is important that anyone coming across evidence of pollution report it immediately to the Environment Agency's emergency number: 0800 80 70 60.

15lb fresh salmon caught on flying C - assisted and photographed by MH, the best fish Gary has ever caught!

Nil caught but lovely place and we'll definitely be back - snow didn't help!