Feedback & Reports

Started early on this chilly September morning but my efforts to get on the river didn't materialise into fish. A heavy fog stuck to the river until mid-morning, this made spotting anything very tricky. However by 11am things had cleared and I managed a few trout to 15". All swimming off safely.
Another trip planned soon.

4 Trout

Conditions good. Trout 1/2 to 1 pound. Grayling 3/4 and one of 1 and 1/4 pounds

4 Trout, 3 Grayling

This was my first visit to Dolgau and I found myself constantly wondering why I hadn't decided to fish it sooner. The water looked inviting and the well maintained riverbank and facilities a great credit to the beats owner.
I started fishing the downstream section at 9am but due to the amount of quality water to fish only had time to briefly fish the upstream section in the afternoon. I fished P/T nymph patterns on a french leader all session which produced 5 x trout between 3/4 & 1 3/4lbs and 4 x grayling between 1 & 2lb. All fish were in good condition and safely released.

5 Trout, 4 Grayling

Washed off Abernant with a big brown flood coming from the Irfon, so WUF kindly fixed me up on Dolgau. Never been there before but I will be back. It is a beautiful and well maintained beat with some very promising looking salmon pools. I started off above the bridge with a couple of nymphs and caught a 12" brownie with my third cast. I caught a few more, smaller brownies and had several pulls in the Bridge Pool before moving up but the trout were less obliging in the bigger pools. The owner came down for a chat and he suggested that the water was just right for a salmon, so I put on a cascade and fished through the top salmon pool. Although I did see a grilse jump, he did not want my fly. I did catch a few more trout on the nymph as I fished back down to the bridge and then changed to the double hander to fish the 2 pools below the bridge with a cascade. There was a moment of excitement as I hooked a fine wild brown trout of about 2.5 pounds in the Oak Tree Pool. He would have been a lot of fun on my 5 weight trout rod but despite being a very feisty and active fighter was no match for the salmon rod, so was netted and released quickly. I shall look forward to another visit!

10 Trout

5 Trout, 1 Grayling

Tough day, sunny and water was a bit high but clear. Fished 10am - 8pm. No hatch to speak of and no action in the white water either. Left a bit disappointed. Well worth another visit though as the beat is very inviting, with varied and interesting features. No doubt holds many (elusive) trout.

Worked upstream from bridge, starting at 5.30pm. Finished at dusk.
Not one take!
Not through lack of effort, fish or insect life (there is an abundance of the latter two) but just lack of skill on my part.
I used small olive and black gnats and for a spell when there were no rises, a black nymph.
Hey ho, it is a wonderful beat to walk and sit awhile and with the wall walkway, small pontoons and well spaced seats, one on which the owners have carried out considerable work for our convenience.
It is a real privilege to be able to fish this beat or as it happened this time, cast this beat.

1 Grayling

Rain is like busses - none at all or far too much. This year we waited and waited in vain until the heavens finally opened at the death of our season. Looks like one good days salmon fishing is all we will get above LLanwrthwl bridge. Today proved that amazing exception, of high, but unusually clear water. I managed to hook 6 salmon, and safely land 4. Every one was carefully retained in the net prior to hook removal, then revived and released from it later. Not one hand touched a single fish.
To me the upper reaches of the Wye are very special places, where perhaps you need to angle more so to catch. Catch it right and Dolgau is one of the very best. A wonderful end of season day, on a wonderful river, in a wonderful country, at a wonderful time of year.

4 Salmon

I fished hard all morning but the water was droping fast, we could have done with a few more days rain to help sustain the levels. Didn't see any fish but this is one lovely beat & I will be back!