fished the Arrow at Muckland on Saturday, only the second time I have fished a river. I found this beat quite difficult, little of the beat is easily accesable, where the river splits, it is narrow and needs chest waders. Myself, with waist waders, and lagely inaccessible bank, found very little fishable water.

Do you mean the WUF beat at Monkland? I fished there early in the season; I also found it difficult and blanked. Eventually I came to realise that you miss out on a lot of fishing if you don't have chesties so I bit the bullet and bought some.....luckily a fellow forum member was selling a pair half price!

I still have half a dozen vouchers to use up.....

TF

Yes, the Monkland beat, have you fished many of the Arrow beats, I headed for this one as it was closest to Birmingham.

Do you fly fish on the Teme

Same here except closest to Worcester; not fished any of the others.....yet. I have fly fished the Teme, not caught a single fish but I'm at the wrong end really. I understand the Grayling fishing is quite good around/above Ludlow; if we have a dry spell of weather this winter I'll give it a go.

TF

Try going upstream a bit, iether on the Arrow or Lugg. The nearer you get to the Welsh border the more interesting it becomes. As you move out of the Herefordshire plain where the rivers are cutting and meandering in the deep soil you will find more gravels and some bedrock. The Grayling disappear as you move higher.
It is true that chest waders are a big help. Particularly to negotiate some overgrown bits. Ability to Dibble, Roll cast and even Spey cast is a huge advantage as their is often no room to backcast. But very well worth the effort!

I have fished this beat a number of times, the last time being last Sunday, and I love it!
The first section from the bridge up to the weir is the fastest water with the pool below the weir holding a few very nice but well educated brownies and a few grayling. There are a few deep pools on the bends and chest waders are really a must to get the best from this beat.
The best brownie I've had to date was beautiful 12 inch fish, the majority are between 6 and 9 inch but on light tackle are great fun. I tend to use a Sharpes seven foot #3 for the most part with my 9 foot #5 for Czech nymphying on the weir pool and the fast runs.
The slow section above the weir presents different challenges with some difficult access but very nice prizes!
On Sunday I went with the intention of trying the Court of Noke beat, but a couple of early birds got there first so I reverted to the Mill - there's always another time for the Noke.
In my opinion the Arrow is a great little river!

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Typical Arrow brownie

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Looking up stream towards the weir - lovely bit of water!

Hi Peter

Do you think all this rain will naff it up for the weekend?

btw fished a still water not far from you on Saturday.

TF

I'm keeping everything crossed for the weekend but judging by the colour of the Teme at Worcester, thick chocolate, and the rain we've today there's only a slim chance the river will be fishable - miracles do happen they say!

Which still water did you fish?