Feedback & Reports

Another great day of sport on the Wye fishing was a bit more difficult than on other trips, but perseverance paid off. Fish Caught on a mixture of dries and small nymphs. Water very low and not many fish rising.

5 Trout, 33 Grayling

The rain of the previous day had little impression on the river, hardly a tinge of color. A good flow, presumably as a result of water being let out the the dams - this was quite cold! All the fish (best 1.5lbs) came to deep sunk nymphs, mainly in the deep channel section, using a Tenkara rod. No rise to speak of, despite Sedges flying above the water almost all day. As always a lovely way to spend a day in beautiful countryside, watching Kingfishers, Herons and Red Kites.

8 Grayling

A warm day with cloud early on, little wind if any. Later on in the afternoon the sun came out and there was a light downstream wind.
I really had to try hard to get these fish despite there being a huge hatch of upwings (sorry I still can't tell the species apart).
I caught the first fish on a heavy nymph which was easily the biggest grayling I've ever caught at about 14 inches on a heavy nymph.
After that I tried various weighted nymphs but it wasn't until I was at the top of the beat that I tried a dry fly, I then caught four fish in quick succession and lost one other that dwarfed the first fish (I knew I was going to lose it after accidentally hooking it as I lifted my fly for the next cast).
Why I didn't try a dry, emerger pattern or even an unweighted nymph before this I have no idea, but as this is only my second fly season we'll put it down to experience.
Overall a lovely day on one of my favourite beats, thanks again WUF.

5 Grayling

Second trip on this beat in a week and another great day of sport. It was warmer, brighter and water levels had dropped, but this didn't stop the fish from feeding. Apart from a baron spell mid afternoon fish were caught throughout the beat in shallow runs or deeper pockets. Trout ranging from 8" to 15" and grayling pretty much the same. Various flies done the trick from dries, nymphs and spiders. Flies with pheasant tail bodies being the most successful.

5 Trout, 27 Grayling

On this occasion this beat was fished by participants on the Wye & Usk Foundation Tenkara day

2 Trout, 7 Grayling

Fantastic day of sport on a beat that I have fished in the past with mixed results. Not today though, the fish were very obliging and all runs, rifts and deep pools produced fish throughout the beat. Caddis pupa and white headed ptn produced most of the fish using the klink and dink method and later into the afternoon the fish started to take the pt klink. Trout ranging from 10 to 12" with one fantastic fish of 18". Grayling from 6" to 14" with a good few around the 16" to 18".

Only criticism of this beat is the first 200 yrd from the wooded area on the left bank from the bridge is virtually impassable and could do with a path being carved out. Lots of brambles which don't do your waders any good and a few barbed wire fences with no styles on them.

7 Trout, 34 Grayling

Breezy day temperature dropped to 13C in the evening. Very little rising all day despite heavy hatches of fly.
Majority of fish on nymph during the day, Beacon Beige and PHD were good dries for evening.

9 Trout, 12 Grayling

I spent the day at the lower end of the fishery. There were some yellow sallys and one or two mayflies hatching. Nothing caught but I felt that I was fishing correctly for the conditions if there were fish about. The Channels are a much more accessible part of the beat.

River at, I assume, a low summer level. Access to the river at the upper end seems to be only at the footbridge. It was virtually impossible to get into the water any where else at the top end. The path mapped on the "White House" side could not be located. This needs more detail.
However, although I landed nothing I had a few takes and one fish came off so I must have been doing it nearly right. I finished the day at the lower end of the beat which included watching two otter cubs playing in the shallows. They are not always enemies. Well worth the trip.

Beautiful river, good hatches.

1 Trout, 1 Grayling