Feedback & Reports

River low as everywhere at the moment; but running clear. Some very slippery bedrock at the top end - so be warned !

Several small trout on nymphs and a couple of grayling. My friend caught 2 other trout on a dry fly (olive pattern I think).

The directions seem a bit off - there is no gate "immediately" on the right after crossing the rail track (as per instructions).

Perhaps the Wye & Usk Foundation could check the access description and update it as it seems to be inaccurate to me ?

8 Trout, 2 Grayling

I absolutely love this beat, but the directions desperately need updating. The white posts leading to the start of the beat haven't existed in over a decade and the path is now so overgrown and blocked with fallen trees that, had I not been before, I think I'd have given up. As it was, it's been about 3 years and it felt much harder - I had to slide/fall down a shallower bit of escarpment as the path finally disappeared into a thicket. It took 30 mins to get to the start.
A lot of people won't be able to make the route in (or won't want to risk tearing their waders) and the fishing itself requires a bit more clambering and some hands and knees approaches. Better to make that clear in the instructions then risk people being disappointed and annoyed.

After this prolonged dry spell I was hoping the previous two days of steady rain would pick things up. The Clettwr was still lower than I've ever seen it before so many of the runs and pools I have fond memories of were just too shallow. There wasn't a huge amount rising, which is unusual in my experience here, but there were fish congregating in the deeper pools and feeding a little on the surface.
I fished from 1300-1530 and came out at the half way point at the old mill, taking the footpath out of the valley and back to the car.

I fished a small PTN under an olive emerger, casting to the deep runs and anywhere I saw a rise. The nymph was hit regularly wherever fish could be seen moving but there was only one rise to the olive - there was an eruption as soon as the fly hit the churning water just below a small fall, I saw a silver flash and something pulled very hard for about 4 seconds before the end of my new silk furled leader snapped at the tippet ring. I was pretty upset, as you might imagine...

5 fish to hand on the nymph, all of a good size in good condition, largest about 10". Every one of them went like a rocket with plenty of leaping and head shaking - another 4 were lost after a short period of jumping about. The only thought at the back of my mind was that everything I hooked today was big. There are always good fish here but usually plenty in the 6" and below category too - I hope this isn't a sign of problems with juvenile fish coming through.

The pool where the two smaller streams cascade into the Clettwr, just below the old mill, was, as ever, the most productive part. Only thigh deep rather than chest deep this time, there were still around ten trout rolling and bubbling. About half of then must have hit the nymph and the second one that stayed on went tearing around the pool so much that, once I'd released him, everything else had been spooked and gone into cover.

It was an excellent day and I really do think this is the best beat I've ever fished in the UK. If you can manage the scramble in and some slow, stealthy approaches, then this really is worth visiting.

5 Trout

Half a dozen touches, bumps, pulls and on/offs mainly in the
Gravel Catch. The day saved by a heroic 4” troutlet that took my perdigon as I was retrieving to re-cast.
Difficult in-the-face wind made good presentation a major challenge.
Saw one rise in Gravel in several hours but moving down to the hut pool for the last hour, a few fish were coming up just before it was time to go.

1 Trout

Three nice trout on the Mayfly. Many more hooked but unable to land. Also, in clear water, trout can take a good look at the fly before deciding that it is artificial, and returning to the bottom of the river. Despite low water, the beat is entirely fishable

3 Trout

2 Trout

Stunning morning. Fish were rising but weren’t terribly interested! Fished with a variety of wets, dries and nymphs. Most rises were close to the dam wall.

Dry fly very hard with wind and rain but lovely beat.

3 Trout

4 fish. 1 proper one!
Difficult conditions windy and wet. Water low. Insects sparse. Tough day.

4 Trout

One of us got 4 euronymphing. Winds up to 56km/h downstream so casting a normal line was tricky! No fish taken. Paths down are quite crumbling so wouldn’t recommend if you need easy access.

4 Trout

Arrived a bit later than expected so just fished the evening for a a 2-3 hours. First time on the Edw and what a gem this beat this turned out to be. Plenty of fish showing in a variety of water, but they were very easily spooked: The slightest attempt to get a cast to them resulted in instant disappearance. Learnt a lot and need to work on my approach, wading stealth, casting skills and general finesse. Caught one perfect small wild brown trout so really happy with that. Will definitely return for another visit. Thank you.

1 Trout