Feedback & Reports

Did not fish due to heavy rain.

But anyway, thanks for providing the facility to book online in advance. I am not familiar with the area and it is brilliant to be able to plan a small river beat in advance rather than having to find a random local shop (usually closed!) to buy permit or obtain map of water etc.

Hope to get a chance to visit the beat next time I'm in the area.

None caught. At least one fish seen. As the number of pools is limited, I think that 5 sections is too many for this beat.

6 x trout 6 -12 inches. A difficult, hot, sticky afternoon, until it actually began to rain properly, after which a few fish began to rise at last, but they wanted a small fly. I was using Klinkhammer and Adams in size 18. A number of smaller upwings hatching and the odd mayfly still to be seen. It's remarkable how much more ranunculus is growing on this beat than last year - must be good, I suppose. Lost one good grayling, which came up from the bottom at the neck of a pool and gave a bit of a tussle before opening up a fine wire hook.

The beat is very, very, very overgrown, the opposite bank is dog walkers paradise, but the fish are there. 7 chub to 4.5 lbs lost several, great day.

17.30 to 19.30. Wyebank section bottom pool, river up 9inches on last visit, water cooler but clear. Wading and long trotting, long rod and centre pin 8lb line with over-shotted chubber type float 1 or 2 sweetcorn on size 10 hook in edge of main flow, approx 18/24in water depth, float set at 3ft and held back. 3 chub to around 3lbs and one midsized barbel lost at net then bites ceased.
19.30 to dusk. Same pool, wading, slow rolling ledger, 6 swan shot, 1inch size curried luncheon meat on size 6 hook with long 3ft hooklength. 3 barbel to around 6lbs, 2 chub to around 3lb and 2 beautiful light olive coloured eels of around 1.5lbs, both returned.

17.30 to 19.30. Wyebank section bottom pool, river up 9inches on last visit, water cooler but clear. Wading and long trotting, long rod and centre pin 8lb line with over-shotted chubber type float 1 or 2 sweetcorn on size 10 hook in edge of main flow, approx 18/24in water depth, float set at 3ft and held back. 3 chub to around 3lbs and one midsized barbel lost at net then bites ceased.
19.30 to dusk. Same pool, wading, slow rolling ledger, 6 swan shot, 1inch size curried luncheon meat on size 6 hook with long 3ft hooklength. 3 barbel to around 6lbs, 2 chub to around 3lb and 2 beautiful light olive coloured eels of around 1.5lbs, both returned.

11 x trout 6-12 inches. Another very impressive Escley beat to match the two downstream. A challenge, though, as the flow is very slight (not much rain seems to have fallen in this valley) and the stone bottomed pools are very clear - you can see the fish and they can see you. Picky trout wanting very small flies. I always come away from the Escley thinking mainly about the fish I spooked or otherwise failed to hook. The fact remains this small stream is surprisingly well populated with trout of different sizes, plenty around 10 inches, and some seen and one lost were considerably larger. As with the lower and middle beats, it would take a long day to cover the whole thing - I just had an afternoon and skipped a lot of the top end, which has been coppiced in the past, but now badly needs trimming again. Finally (once you you have posted your catch return) there's Michelchurch's Bridge Inn near the car parking at the bottom end, where at the end of the day you can enjoy a pint of Hay Bluff and watch even more trout in the stream running through the garden. Overall this beat is excellent value.

17.30 to 19.30. Wyebank section bottom pool, river up 9inches on last visit, water cooler but clear. Wading and long trotting, long rod and centre pin 8lb line with over-shotted chubber type float 1 or 2 sweetcorn on size 10 hook in edge of main flow, approx 18/24in water depth, float set at 3ft and held back. 3 chub to around 3lbs and one midsized barbel lost at net then bites ceased.
19.30 to dusk. Same pool, wading, slow rolling ledger, 6 swan shot, 1inch size curried luncheon meat on size 6 hook with long 3ft hooklength. 3 barbel to around 6lbs, 2 chub to around 3lb and 2 beautiful light olive coloured eels of around 1.5lbs, both returned.

2 barbel on halibut pellet.

An evening session trying to float fish for the Barbel low down on the Courtfield stretch after the canoes have departed the pub..

Although the water was above summer level and flowing hard the water was very shallow ,only 4 or 5 ft max in the holes

Not very good at the float so struggled getting snagged and losing floats and halibut pellets regularly

Caught one at around 4lb, boy do they go on light gear with no weight to hinder them in fast water.

Tried the feeder and pellets for the last few hours before dark and it was like shooting fish in barrel,nothing large but a 5lb fish feels massive when caught in very fast streamy water. Lost count, but must have had 10 more or so plus some nice chub. Use heavy line around the feeder or you will be cut off by the sharp rocks.

I think this is the place to fish for barbel with heavy nymphs czech nymphing style, the chub, grayling and occasional big trout might like it too....

Many thanks to Don for putting me on the fish.

I will be back.