Feedback & Reports

A disappointing trip - not a rise seen all day. Plenty of insect life but nothing taking either the dry or the nymph other than a 6" oos grayling. Some compensation from the surroundings of this beautiful beat including a close up meeting with an otter.

1 Grayling

This is my second attempt here after a wash off back in March, I thought this beat was lovely back then but now spring has fully sprung this place is just stunning. Staying at Bronwye guest house again which I can't recommend highly enough.
The river looked much more inviting this time around and was crystal clear, weather started bright but soon clouded over with a downstream wind making presentation difficult, there seemed to be plenty of fly life, I counted at least four different up-winged flies coming off, not in any great numbers, probably because of the wind, but enough to start the trout taking them off the surface, usually in the most inaccessible places!
Plenty of smaller trout kept me busy in one of the pools, I missed loads of takes but managed three wild brown trout of about 5-6 inches and two decent out of season grayling on a dry fly before moving on to find a much better fish taking flies from a faster piece of water under far bank trees. Some careful wading, I found my staff essential, and I was in a position to present a fly and on the second attempt it was nailed by a wild brown trout of 14 inches, my biggest to date and a great end to a lovely day.

4 Trout, 2 Grayling

Hard days fishing in blustery conditions with no fish seen or caught. My 9 year old son was gutted.

Well this was my second ever fly fishing attempt and things couldn't have been more difficult.
Stayed overnight at Bronwye Guesthouse in Builth Wells, highly recommended, where a huge full English set me up for the day ahead. Things didn't look good after heavy rain all night and the surrounding hills were covered in SNOW!
I arrived at the Irfon, and as I'd feared, the river had risen overnight and was pushing through at quite a rate and was heavily coloured. I wasn't confident wading in such conditions but attempted to fish before calling the WUF to find the day was officially a "wash off".
Fantastic looking venue even at this time of year, the owner was friendly and very helpful and I can't wait to return in better weather for another bash free of charge.
As you've probably guessed no fish were caught.

Found the river quite high but more than fishable. Stunning place. Highly frustrating day with a lot of hook ups on the bottom. The rock here seems to grip the hook especially when fishing deep nymphs. But managed a few. Nothing bigger than 12 inches.

3 Trout, 12 Grayling

Found trout more eager than grayling with 4 and 3 respectively to weighted nymphs and a red tag. Trout in good condition considering time of year.

4 Trout, 3 Grayling

Lovely mild day and my first visit to this attractive beat. Lots of fishy looking water at a nice level but tricky wading in parts (wading staff essential). Nothing rising but persuaded 5 grayling (best 14") to take a hot-spot weighted nymph and 1 trout to a PTN. Several salmon on the move including one splashing spectacularly at the head of a pool.
Looking forward to a repeat visit when I can get to know the beat better, especially where the easier wading may be.

1 Trout, 5 Grayling

1 x 12" grayling on a weighted nymph, 4 x 8-10" grayling on dry fly (Klinkhammer with pink body) and one graylet plus 4 takes not brought to hand. Water running high and fast but clear and not too many leaves - only fished the two main pools .

6 Grayling

To be honest I wouldn't have booked this beat if I had known(it's the top end of Cefnllysgwynne on the easier bank). I thought it would be the next beat up!. I've looked at it before and it was all bedrock and fast water,today was different, it was just bedrock! Hardly any water at all, just a very narrow gutter and some Stillwater pools! Walked the entire beat looking for somewhere I fancied for grayling and plumped on a long shallower gutter near the top end. A few casts latter I had a 10" trout and lost a nice grayling of a pound+. A little further I hooked into what I first thought was a salmon but turned out to be a monster wbt!(3.5lb weighed). Yes I know it's out of season but its still a hell of a big fish for such a now small piece of water.
Thanks wye and usk for a great weeks fishing and some lovely weather for a change!

2 Trout

Gosh the river is low! Down to 2 -3 metre wide gutters in places. Fishing typically Irfon - challenging but productive. All fish on dries - grayling of 2 year classes, lovely plump 14 inch fish x 3 and skinnier 9-10 inch fish x 4. One of the latter had significant beak scarring. Brownies brought to hand nothing bigger than 9" but the best fish of the day - a 15 - 16" brownie didn't come to hand after being played for 3 mins so can't count him! Close encounter of the otter kind - a family threesome swam past under the rod tip of one rod - and also avian predators plentiful.

3 Trout, 7 Grayling