Feedback & Reports

So, water was v low (0.97m Monmouth gauge) which meant quite a lot not possible to fish a fly through, but can see the huge potential of this beat for sure. The water running down from Slaughter to the foot bridge is just wonderful and can imagine a lot of fish get hooked here. Below the bridge down to Martins it was all too slow for a fly, so fished hard with a spinner, scrambling the banks and wading the edges, didn't connect with one, but did see a fish roll in the Smokehouse pool.

I don't want this to be just another negative post about the canoe civil war that haunts this part of the Wye, but I put up with as much as I could on the top half until finally a large pack of men came through, one with a sound system so loud I could actually feel the bass through the water. So I wound in the line at that point. Around 50 % of them have obviously been briefed and passed me behind where my line was, but the other half carry on straight through the middle of the pool. The grumpy man in me feels it is perhaps a bit unfair to pay £50 to fish a beat where the main part of the day is virtually impossible, but the more easy going utilitarian in me says there is still a lot of water and I was outnumbered around 100:1 by canoeists, so I should give way to them. I doubt I will fish there again at this time of year, but would consider coming back from June when it's available mid week. In the mean time... i think we should all do a rain dance!

Highlight was filming two MASSIVE wild boar cruising down the treeline of Lady Wood in the half light on the way out!

Lost a pike on a salmon fly at the margins

Before even casting a fly, I knew that the two days booked where going to be a complete waste of time.
If there were salmon present, it was hopeless with so many visitors swimming, plus dogs and children in all sections of what could have been a fabulous piece of water. Canoeists were also present the whole day and it was laughable that it was offered for a day of fishing.
Not impressed and I won't return.

WUF Note: The top half of this beat does get busy during peak tourist season, and in this unfortunate circumstance meant it wasn't fishable. We have amended our notes to help inform anglers of this to prevent a situation like this reoccurring in the future.

Had a lovely couple of hours fishing before breakfast. Moved a nice salmon about 15lb just above slaughter crib. No other salmon seen for the couple of hours I fished. Popped back out early evening for another hour or so. Salmon showed twice in slaughter pool as I arrived. Covered it with a spinner hooked & landed a small pike Couple of casts later hooked & landed a twaite shad of around 2lb. Couldn't find the salmon. Will be back again on this stunning beat & hopefully fish for the whole day.

1 Pike, 1 Other

Level at 0.68 at Ross. Nice height and plenty of fly water on this beat. Given the good weather it was also busy with walkers and a fair few canoes. My friend had a pull on the fly straight after which an estimated 20lb + salmon leapt clear of the water. I then hooked a c. 15lb salmon on a flying c only for it to thrash at the surface and throw the hook after about 15 secoinds or so. Both contacts in Slaughter crib. Only other action was a 5lb pike and a small brown trout.

1 Trout, 1 Pike

A coloured cock fish 63 cm from Culvert pool on a small Alexander this morning.

1 Salmon

Two salmon contacted. A lovely beat.

Fish lost in Upper Camp Run mid morning, & a couple of other fish seen, otherwise very quiet. Good fly water from Slaughter Crib to Bilbins Run. Access / egress tricky from left bank, but easier from right.

The river looked promising with a mist hanging on the water, and with the Llanstephan gauge at about 1' it seemed a perfect height for salmon fishing. Regrettably, I didn't see or touch a fish all day but I did see a pair of mink, several kingfishers and yellow wagtails. I got to know the beat better and found a very pleasant fly run at Salmon Rock that I've not been able to find before. Not catching didn't spoil the day, in fact it was a pleasure just being there.

Didn't quite make it for a salmon (although I learned from other rods this beat had three yesterday). Instead, a nodding acquaintance handshake by Botcher's Rock and a fish lost after a couple of minutes in Camp Run. Both these early in the day. At this water level (0.58 at Lydbrook), there is a huge amount of fly water available once the suspension bridge is crossed - from Slaughter Crib right round the corner and well on the way to Seven Sisters Rocks are a succession of accessible pools. A glorious autumn day after a chilly and misty start. I fished the owner's rod, for which many thanks.