Feedback & Reports

Wet and dry fly fishing. Both were small that were caught

1 Salmon, 1 Trout

I fished here again, almost to the day, for the first time in four years. On a fishing-perfect, almost windless, cloudy day, never have I seen the river so low and the fish so inactive during the last 14 years’ fishing this wonderful beat. We can only think that the prolonged spell of unseasonably “hot” water has negatively affected the fish, particularly and perhaps not unsurprisingly, the grayling. Only today, for the first time in a month or so (?), has the water temperature been a safely fishable16-18 degrees. Grayling in particular have been much more responsive during the last two months in the significantly cooler upper river down to Doldowlod, below the Elan confluence. We covered the beat from top to bottom, with the old man, concerned about his verticality, sticking to the less perilous features! Fish were caught on jigs and spiders and, as usual in August, there were a few pale wateries and some sedges, but hardly a fish rose even in the usually prolific areas of both halves of the beat and, in stark contrast to the upper river of late, fish were very reluctant to get off their backsides for a passing emerger. Nonetheless we had some fish on a #16-18 pale HF emerger, grizzle EH caddis, CDC and Elk and a deer’s hair emerger, with trout to 12” and grayling to 13” plus the bonus of GR of Letton’s 8lb barbel on a brown Jumbo Gum peeping caddis! All fish safely returned. Many thanks to the owners for maintaining impeccable access. Hard to see the river below Builth becoming more prolific until we have lots of cooling rain and much lower daytime temperatures i.e. probably not any time soon!

14 Trout, 15 Grayling, 1 Barbel

About 25 degrees and sunny so only fished heavy beaded nymphs on the bottom. Most fish in strong current section at the head of Lady Alexander's Catch. Caught the best trout (3/4lb) at about 2.30pm. All other fish came after 6pm.

2 Trout, 3 Grayling

1 Trout

5 Trout

Fish from 5-7.30pm. All fish caught using wet fly in the faster water at the head of LA catch and Abernant stream pools. Biggest trout around 1.5lb, grayling around 1lb.

9 Trout, 1 Grayling

Beautiful stretch of river and met the owners who were delightful as they visited their riverside cabin. Caught 2 brown trout of under 1/2 lb each (no need for a landing net!). One was high-sticking a white shrimp thing (sorry!) through the riffle and the other was downstream swinging a PTL nymph in a fast section of current. It was a blustery day with a threat of rain and the temperatures were under 20C. There was a hatch late in the day, but didn't really see fish moving. Having said that, I saw a pair of magical looking grayling - estimate 3lb each - close to shore in the calm upper pool. Problem is I have no idea how to fish for them (or anything else, if truth be told! :)

2 Trout

Really nothing there. Tried dries, emergers, swung wet flies and nymphs. Didn't get a solid bite all day. That said there is ample reason it may not have fished well. It was quite hot and bright.
Enjoyed my day none the less and the Abernant beat is beautiful and likely a great spot under the right conditions.

18 Trout, 1 Grayling

18 Trout