Added by Reuben Sweeting 12 hours ago

In the absence of rain so desperately needed, anglers once again had to rely on the next best thing: a strong, consistent wind. Fortunately, it proved to be a worthy substitute for parts of the week and played a crucial role in the eight fish that were landed.

With the exception of Friday, when bright sunshine largely cancelled out any advantage the wind had offered, fish were landed on every day of the week. It serves as another timely reminder that even in challenging low-water conditions, there is always an opportunity for those prepared to make the most of favourable circumstances.

Looking ahead, the forecast offers a glimmer of encouragement, with showers predicted on most days throughout the coming week. While the prospect of any substantial rainfall still appears unlikely, even a modest rise in water levels would be welcomed by both anglers and fish alike. As is so often the case with salmon fishing, optimism remains essential—and, for now at least, we continue to live in hope.

Added by Reuben Sweeting 1 week ago

The settled spell of bright, hot weather continued throughout much of the week, accelerating the decline in river levels, which have now fallen below -2". Unsurprisingly, these conditions had a significant impact on sport, with both the low water and rising water temperatures making life increasingly difficult for anglers.

As temperatures climbed through the middle of the week, many anglers quite sensibly chose to spend their time enjoying activities better suited to the weather. This proved beneficial not only for themselves but also for the welfare of the fish during what were becoming increasingly challenging conditions.

A welcome change arrived over the weekend as cooler temperatures, cloud cover and a fresh breeze brought a noticeable improvement. While conditions remained far from ideal, they were sufficient to stimulate a little activity, preventing what had looked set to be a blank week. Four fish were landed on Saturday, providing a timely reminder that there are still fish willing to cooperate when conditions become favourable.

Looking ahead, the forecast offers little encouragement in terms of rainfall, and river levels are expected to continue falling. As a result, success is likely to depend even more heavily on the presence of a favourable breeze coupled with cloud cover. Anglers planning to fish in the coming week would be well advised to make the most of the early mornings and late evenings.

Added by Reuben Sweeting 2 weeks ago

The week on the river was very much a tale of two halves, with a dramatic change in weather conditions having a significant impact on both river levels and sport.

Rain at the beginning of the week provided a welcome lift in the water height, raising levels to a little over a foot. Combined with cool, overcast conditions, it created good conditions, and anglers enjoyed some of the best sport of the season so far. Monday and Tuesday accounted for the lion's share of the week's success, with 20 salmon landed during the opening two days.

From Wednesday onwards, however, the arrival of bright sunshine brought an abrupt change in fortunes. As temperatures climbed and the river began to fall away, the fish became increasingly reluctant to cooperate. Thursday proved particularly challenging, with wall-to-wall sunshine and exceptionally high air temperatures resulting in the only blank day of the week.

Despite the difficult conditions in the second half of the week, perseverance was rewarded, and by Saturday evening the weekly tally stood at 35 salmon landed.

Looking ahead, the forecast offers little encouragement for anglers, with continued warm, settled weather expected. Those planning to fish next week are likely to find the greatest success during the cooler early morning and late evening periods. As water levels continue to fall, downsizing tackle and adopting a more delicate approach should help maximise opportunities until more favourable conditions return.

Added by Reuben Sweeting 3 weeks ago

The river continued to benefit from the tail end of the previous week's welcome rise in water levels, and anglers began the week with plenty of optimism. Those encouraging conditions were reflected on the river, with action experienced across the beats and a few fish landed during the opening days.

Unfortunately, the weather soon became the dominant factor. Conditions changed dramatically as the week progressed, swinging from gale-force winds to hot, bright days accompanied by a complete lack of wind. As a result, the fishing suffered.

Despite the unsettled weather, a few anglers continued to find success, although opportunities became less frequent than they had been at the start of the week. By the close of play, a total of eight salmon had been landed.

Added by Reuben Sweeting 4 weeks ago

The week began with the river continuing to run at very low levels, and sitting below zero on the gauge. Despite the challenging conditions, small runs of fresh fish had entered the system in the preceding days, and anglers enjoyed some encouraging action on Monday morning. Unfortunately, while several fish showed interest, none were successfully landed – although some were very close!

The hot, bright weather that followed, while not reaching the extreme temperatures experienced further south, did little to improve prospects. With little water and plenty of sunshine, conditions remained difficult for both fish and anglers alike.

A welcome change arrived overnight on Thursday into Friday, when thunderstorms brought a sharp rise in river levels and transformed conditions for the final two days of the week. As is often the case, Friday proved something of a transition day as the coloured water gradually cleared and settled, with the fish perhaps needing time to adjust.

Saturday, however, saw much more favourable water conditions, although the return of bright sunshine was far from ideal. Even so, anglers had some limited sport, landing eight salmon over the course of the final two days of the week.

As is so often the case following a thunderstorm, the fresh water has been running away almost as quickly as it arrived, with river levels already dropping rapidly. With showers forecast during the coming week, everyone will be hoping they deliver enough rain to maintain some much-needed water and encourage further runs of fresh fish into the system.