Feedback & Reports

PB and JB had the pleasure of the company of DC and MP having extolled the virtues of this beat to them for a few years now! But it was touch and go – Llanstephan gauge was showing 2ft and turbid, but Rhyader was on 1ft 4inches and looked clear so off we went.
The river looked superb on a wonderful Autumn day and given the recent flush through even the bed was pristine – no blanketweed anywhere. Plenty of flow through though – we suspected the fish might not be in the usual places as they probably still had to reorientate themselves after the recent flood – and very little surface activity to be seen too, although a few large sedges emerging.
However the fish were there and would look to our flies – a total of 18 throughout the day, DC and MP started with New Zealand style but soon switched to dry only. Best grayling of 18” to JB and DC had an 18” OOS WBT.
A very creditable performance given we were not sure we would be able to fish 48 hours before!

5 Trout, 13 Grayling

River was coming down off a very high week (according to the locals :) but was fishable. Spent the better part of my two hours out trying to figure out where I could wade without dying! Very slick to wade, but managed two small brownies on some sort of jigged Czech nymph pattern.

2 Trout

1 Barbel

Water was a healthy level after the recent rains, but you could see where some of the flash flood damage had been done. Fished it with a 9ft rod nymphing, although my best advice is to use a 7ft rod because of how often I got caught in trees all day, losing some good leader and flies in the process (sigh). Despite this though, the beat has wonderful access, a few decent pools and some gentle gravelly runs. The temperature was warm and trout were still rising... (it's been a bizarre year weather wise lets be honest). Anyway, I took four 8 inch brownies on the nymph, one possibly 4 inch grayling and one 4 inch something (could have been a parr?). Only one trout was out of a deep pool due to my poor skill as an angler, I probably should have been getting down deeper haha.
All in all this beat is good but not spectacular, some nice little trout and later in the year I imagine grayling.
Are there bigger fish in here? I certainly think there could be, I shall be checking the catch returns to find out!

1 Salmon, 4 Trout, 1 Grayling

first time on this beat, I guess it is what it says on the tin but I wasn't expecting rocks the size of houses and big really deep pools! not exactly pocket water is it. it certainly is a spectacular looking beat and possibly the best parking spot of them all. if you hunt around a bit there are several grayling looking spots around but the obvious big glide above the hut is the easiest to fish ( all be it , it was a little deep today) not sure why but it was more coloured here than it was at doldowlod yesterday? warm sunny day but nothing rising so all fish caught on nymphs. grayling to 14" trout all about 9"

8 Trout, 9 Grayling

Wash off

Fished for only two hours a.m., spinning. River still high (1100mm), but fishable. Nothing seen or caught.

Only two takers of my luncheon meat today;Tried several quieter inside crease edges as the water was still rushing through a bit but as there is so much water to choose on this beat , I may have chosen the wrong areas being new to this coarse fishing. Water was surprisingly clear considering the recent flood.
Both chub around the 5lb. mark & in good condition but had noticabley empty bellies;Must be difficult to feed when the water gets so high? Saw two otters playing & chasing each other on the far bank..of course they dived into the water as soon as I moved to try to reach my camera.
Wildlife was a constant theatre all day from families of long tailed tits to Skeins of Canadas.It warmed up enough for the dragonflies to give a performance as well.The day was too short.
Thanks to WUF & river keepers.

2 Chub

Great conditions on the final day of a miserable season resulted in an injury time winner... A 38” hen fish on a red pot belly pig. Fish never left the water, and was returned safe and sound to continue her journey and spawning! We certainly need her gene pool and offspring for future seasons...

1 Salmon, 3 Trout

Last day of the season, the river was still a little high, but fining down and clearing. What a truly lovely day, fished comfortably in shirtsleeves until after 6pm. An almost perfect day, only thing missing , A FISH....
Nil return.