Feedback & Reports

My first time on the mighty Wye this season. Not that there was much mighty about it today; in 20 years of fishing the Wye, I cannot remember seeing it so low but, in spite of the low level, it still maintained a reasonable flow. While the low river opened up runs that would normally be out of this timid wader's reach, Jeez, was the bottom slippery or what, and, like DC of West Hereford the other week, I struggled to stay upright (never mind studded soles, it was more like wearing roller skates)

On a whim, I decided to start on the top of the beat. Conscious of the low river and the bright sun, I concluded that it would be difficult today. Based on this, I spent longer than I normally would in each run. Probably a mistake, as all I caught were Trout in the 7-8 inch range; all on a Klinkhammer, mostly in shallow water - with a long time between fish. For the most part, these were not rising fish, and were caught by fishing the stream; with more missed than hooked. By the time I moved down river, I was under a bit of time pressure. A pity as, unlike upstream, there were fish rising, with the Grayling that I caught all good fish, in the 12-14 inch range. I suspect I would have caught a few more if I had stopped for another hour, but the prospect of my wife's Lamb Casserole in a Red Wine and Mediterranean Herb sauce, with Dauphinoise potatoes, out-weighted the desire to catch more fish

If memory serves, the first time I have ever caught more Trout than Grayling from the Wye

5 Trout, 4 Grayling

Last minute decision, started fishing 15.30 and finished 18.45,all took on nymph's in quicker water ,surprisingly just one grayling which shook itself off

3 Trout

Decided to move a bit further downstream from my usual haunts, and give Doldowlod a long overdue visit, as I last fished the beat almost exactly seven years ago. Since then, two new knees and a dodgy back made my afternoon session below and along The Channels “interesting” – most of the time, it felt like I was having to concentrate more on the need to stay vertical than fishing! However, as in the morning and evening on the upper part of the beat, rising and non-rising fish were willing to take a #16 Hare’s Fur emerger and #14 grizzle EH caddis. Little need nor desire to plumb the depths today. As in the last two months on the upper river, there was little fly: a few pale wateries, plus some midge and sedge. The grayling ranged from 11-16”, with the 12-13” year-class the most prolific - three fat 16” fish of 1.5-1.75lb were the best of the day. The trout were 9-12”. With water temperatures of 15-17 degrees, all fish were safely returned. Nice to be back on this lovely beat, though increasingly challenging for old men. Use it or lose it!

5 Trout, 15 Grayling

2 Trout

Fished the bottom 3 fields from early afternoon to 8pm - several fish rising in the slower water but non to my dry fly. I tried everything in the box.
Fished the channel with nymph and dry and eventually had a take on a dry - small fish and lost it
Water was good my catching was not.

4 x 6-8 inch trout from pocket water on dry fly in brief evening session

4 Trout

Micro flies did the business but sadly lost cost me a sewin! Can see why the grayling fishing is highly rated here too. Nice spot

4 Trout, 3 Grayling

Very hard going ! Grayling not really showing today . The 7 to hand were 12 -16 inches , nothing bigger moving in the time I was there to nymphs , spiders or dry . Very few rises and nothing in the faster water which was a bit disappointing as I'd hoped for some good sport euro nyphing the heads of pools and streamy runs .

7 Grayling

River was low as expected, two grayling on nymph's in the quicker water missed a couple also and one decent trout on a dry fly on the flat one of the very few i saw rising. Forgot to spray with jungle formula, good day for horse flies. Lovely couple hours on the river

1 Trout, 2 Grayling

A cooler day than of late with a bit of welcome cloud cover. The river low but in great Nick… no slime anywhere and weed growth showing. Water temp 17.5 when we arrived 11.30 … 18 by 15.00 and 18.5 by 17.00. Water level dropped by an inch over this time was dam water being released?

We hoped for a hatch but nothing consistent forthcoming… plenty of sedges and gnats around though … a few spinners first thing and occasional duns in the evening were the only ephemera.

Fish sporadically rising throughout the day although not in the usual places. 10 trout between us up to 16” all heavily spotted beauties and 5 grayling including 3 in the 16-19” size range which we haven’t seen for a couple of years. With the water so clear every stone on the bottom was visible even in the deep runs but the grayling just appear out of nowhere . Magical!

All fish taken on usual parachute dries and all swam away strongly ….

10 Trout, 5 Grayling