The coarse season kicked off with low and cool water, with 2 to 4 inches on the gauge through to the end of the first weekend followed by a rise and colour to 1ft 6 inches after summer solstice, which fell away by Saturday evening the 25th June to 4 inches and came up again fast Saturday night to 3ft plus and rose to 3ft 6 inches by lunchtime today, the biggest rise since last winter.

All of this made for some interesting fishing. The Courtfield has been fished lightly compared with the past four seasons and rod catches reflect this with some good bags of chub and some barbel being caught. Mark and John Evan had the following to say.

“My son booked this beat for us so that I could try and catch my first Barbel, mission accomplished the weight 6lbs, I was over the moon. It didn’t last long as my son caught one that went 8lbs 4oz. Sod’s law that your son catches one bigger than you.
The day was really good because on top of the Barbel, between us we had 24 Chub up to 4lb 12oz. Caught on pellet with feeder and straight lead and also on the waggler fishing pellet. I would say this fishery is well worth a visit considering it was our first and will be looking to come again.”

It was Wyebank however which took the cup for the best report and the catches by Mark Lane and Tim Smith were probably amongst the best from the river.

“Our second visit to Don’s beautifully presented and sensitively managed traditional mixed fishery. We knew that early season barbel can be slow on the river. Very pleased to report 26 barbel to 9lb, 16 chub 2 over 5lb over 3 days. The canoe menace reached its peak on Sunday, whilst most were polite and having a good time some were drunken yobs who did not understand the meaning of private property and it quikly became tiresome asking them to pack up there picnics and depart so we could fish. Fortunately this menace is short lived and by 4pm the river returns to normality. The fishery is absolutely stunning and it is a joy to catch scale perfect fish in such quantity using traditional methods. Thank you Don for a truely memorable few days.”

Rudi’s report from Friday also demonstrates just how well Wyebank has fished this first week. Special note should be taken of Rudi’s observations of salmon. If only the water had stayed down after Saturday we might have benefited from some salmon catches comparable with years gone by but as it stands now all fish are probably ‘flying’ upriver somewhere. Incidentally  salmon were seen surfacing like dolphins today, apparently below Hay bridge.

“River up perhaps 1 foot but clear. Fished middle croy 10am to mid-day, 1 9lb plus barbel and 2 around 7/8lb on large halibut pellet.
Fished pool behind submerged bottom croy until 16.00hrs and caught 4 more barbel all over 7lbs and lost large one that went downstream to end of spool line when hook snapped at bend, (a size 8 carp hook by reputable manufacturer) All on large halibut pellet with loose fed small pellets.
An 11lb plus barbel was taken by a W&U angler from this swim on Wednesday.
Salmon seen frequently surfacing between croys, tried heavy flying c with no result.
For those who have fished here recently and been entertained by the loneley duckling, its still alone but alive and growing fast.”