Feedback & Reports

I've fished this wild stream on numerous occasions but I am still slightly in shock because of the size of the fish we caught. Five of the seven were whoppers. I'm only estimating but they must have been in the 14" range, and nice and fat. I have caught the odd big fish here before, but not so many in such a short space of time.

Good conditions, overcast, clear water, good strength of flow. Fished from noon until 4pm, sharing one rod between the two of us. All on Hare's nymph below a Klinkhammer.

A perfect wild stream day.

7 Trout

Lovely stretch of river in great condition.

8 Barbel, 12 Chub

4 Trout

After a night at the Severn Arms – still as welcoming and cosy as ever – we were determined to get out on the rivers. The Wye gauge at Rhayader was still showing 0.75m and looking off the bridge at Llanwrythl the river was clear but pushing through at a heavy lick. The Irfon was showing 0.59m on the Cilmery gauge so we decided that was a better bet and plumped for Cefnllysgwynne – looking at the river off the bridge at Builth confirmed it was clear and fishable. But wading was still challenging where there is bed rock.

There was very little surface action – a few olives and needle flies - and only 1 fish was seen to rise and then come to an artificial, and that was the best fish of the day, a 14” grayling. 6 wbt and 4 grayling was the final tally on prospecting likely spots, best trout 11”. All on dries – parachute ginger quill or grey equivalent. Again we lost as many as we brought to hand. There must have been a stocking with flying fish as one good trout leapt at least 6 times on being hooked before finally achieving long range catch and release. And he wasn’t the only one!

My phone only recorded 8000 steps against the 10000 target but I reckon that on a beat like this in chest waders they should count double!

6 Trout, 4 Grayling

Fished well. 4 fish over 8 pounds.

14 Barbel

Opposite pump station. 10 in first 10 chucks. All but one smaller than average maybe 4lb one about 8. Lost a couple on inside snag. Then river came up at least a foot and trees were floating down. No bites for 2 hours. Cast around a bit into slacks but nothing. Decided to pack up so last cast (by this stage needed 120g feeder to hold in flow) and rod ripped round wish I’d had scales as def pb I think it would have gone 12. Then suddenly another 3 all round about doubles. All on 10mill dumbbell, usual pellet ground bait mix in feeder. Sure smaller baits, long hooklinks and small hooks were key although did mean losing a few.

14 Barbel

1 Barbel

Overcast conditions on a rising river, a great days fishing in heavily fished swims.

22 Barbel, 8 Chub

River dropping but nothing seen or caught, shame really as I thought we would of at least seen one.

Had a great day on this beat , water was rising for a while but didn't ruin the fishing. The large fresh cut branches that some fool decided to throw in upstream could have but luckily we saw them in time. Most barbel were between 6 & 8 lbs , with one being 10 lbs 2 ounces .

11 Barbel, 6 Chub