Feedback & Reports

Fished at all depths on the fly. Son wormed and spun. Very poor day. No takes and no fish seen other than small perch.

These small streams are really a challenge and a puzzle, especially with river levels being so low. With no decent rain for the last few weeks it really felt at times that I was fishing in puddles rather than pools!
I was new to this beat and it did take some working out. Much of the first section is right bank fishing only, but it is fenced and steep, so pretty much unfishable. Then there are sections that appear on the map to be no fishing at all. It was slightly confusing, but no major problem.
I had read previous catch reports with good numbers of fish being caught, but I was a little dispirited walking up through the shallows, but eventually some small fishable spots appeared, but it was hard going. You really do need to get to know these beats.
And what a variety – wide (ish) and shallow, tight and narrow, deeper pools, slab rock sections higher up, overhanging trees in some parts that made fishing near impossible (lots of tree and branch debris), then more open spots where you could cast properly… and of course a stunning location in beautiful countryside.
It was warm with light cloud and bright spells during the day. There was also a bit of a breeze, but most of the beat is tucked away so this didn’t really affect things.
There was a beautiful and varied show of fly life in the evening, but I stuck to the tried and tested Klinkhammer indicator with Hare’s ear or Pheasant Tail nymph. I managed 6 WBT of varying sizes in the day (missed plenty too), and then took a break late afternoon and fished the beat again (at greater speed) in the evening. I managed another 4 more WBT before dark, one putting up a great fight, especially for its size. Three of the fish were caught in the last final pool at the very end of the beat by the footbridge.

10 Trout

Arrived around 6.30 to find the river rather turbid – bullocks in the leat may have had something to do with it. There were many mayfly spinners dancing – olive spinners too – don’t think I have seen so many for years. Also a fantastic number of damsel flies …
An evening isn’t enough to cover this beat especially when the number of fish rising is as many as there were tonight…they were largely taking the mayfly spinners and we hadn’t got a decent representation, a size 12 olive was accepted by at least half of the 12 trout we tempted and safely released. The fish were without exception colourful tubby barrels that put up fantastic scraps – a 14 incher was the best followed by a 12 incher, most of the rest were around the 6 inch mark. When there is a hatch/fall of these proportions you realise how many fish there are in the river.
It wasn’t just the insect life that was spectacular – there was a woodpecker and on the way home we dodged a couple of recent badger casualties by Hampton Court Castle only to be buzzed by a barn owl and then encounter a large deer nibbling the roadside hedge – from the road side – as we drove past 10 feet away.
A wonderful evening, thanks so much for the fishing.

12 Trout

A hot and sunny day on a very low river. Quite a lot of Mayfly about, but never saw one taken. Little sign of life until a few fish started rising very close in. Assumed they must be tiddlers as in very shallow water but surprised to catch 3 all about 10-12" on a deer hair emerger. I then noticed several fish rising some way upstream, again mostly in very shallow water at the tail of the pool. Rise was starting to peter out as I got there and I lined the first fish in my haste which didn't help matters. However, some more sporadic activity got underway in deeper water and I was pleased to catch a very lively cock fish of 18" and his smaller brother of 16". However, then missed several takes and caught no more before I had to leave. A really nice beat, but some access points getting hard to spot.

5 Trout

3 small brownies all returned. Water level lower than used to, but made wading a little easier.

3 Trout

Caught on mayfly and goldhead nymphs .all returned

3 Trout, 1 Grayling

A hot day with the water low and llangoed pool very green. Unfortunately there was a large family swimming/picnicking, for most of the day in the uppper section of the beat so I gave that a miss. Salmon were active in llangoed pool but the trout didn't seem very interested in the fly hatches so I ended up fishing the bottom of the beat by the sewage works. There were big hatches of grannon and lots of trout rising down there towards the end of the day. I caught 8 from 10-16 inches on a black para dry. I did notice that there seemed to be an unusual amount of lice and leeches on all of the fish and wandered if this had to do with the weather and water height or if the sewage works had some part to play, because all the fish were clustered round the outlets.
WUF Note: Freshwater lice (Argulus foliaceus) are commonly seen on fish at this time of year and especially when water flows have been low.

8 Trout

Never fished this river before glad I made the trip up, not much water. Had a good time, but then it started to rain so called it a day.

4 Trout, 6 Grayling

1 beautiful brown trout of 12"

1 Trout