Feedback & Reports

Caradoc was a lovely beat to fish and I can see with 1' to 2' of extra water the whole river would liven up, as it was .24 on the Ross guage and we were always going to struggle I think.
Unfortunately we would never fish Caradoc again at the weekend as canoe traffic was very high especially in the morning. Despite several signs displayed by the owners not to beach, light fires or BBQ's the shingle banks below the suspension bridge were a magnet for groups of canoeists to do exactly the opposite. I had two chaps decide to try and stop mid-stream in the narrows, right opposite me as fly fishing this run, to chat with mates around a fire on the bank. I politely asked if they could move through quickly and was answered with the stock answer " you don't own the river " to which I replied " no but I do pay a rod licence and rent to fish the beat and they contribute nout" and off they went having completely disturbed the pool. These were followed by the same group of approx. 10 canoes that upset another angler later in the day downstream at Upper Bigsweir ( seen on his catch return ). We could hear them coming from over half a mile away playing a loud sound system on board and as they went by a trail of cannabis smoke filled the air, young Welsh lads on a jolly up, but as they passed my brother fly fishing below me one decided to capsize in the last and most promising pool at the bottom of the river. After about 10 mins of chaos trying to sort themselves out they were gone to annoy those downstream.
I hadn't fished the Wye for about 15 years and this was a 4 day trip to celebrate my brothers birthday so was surprised at how things have changed, and to me a lack of respect from walkers who think its ok for there children to throw rocks into water you are about to fish, dogs owners doing the same with sticks and canoes all over.
Apart from all the moans we did have a great time and my brother managed a fresh 9lb fish on his birthday fishing a guest ticket at Ross on the Friday.

first on the fly, water very low, 4th cast, 7/8lb estimated

1 Salmon

Fished on the Cothi and Amman river. Water was shallow and really clear, not a very good day. Using a spinner caught one small brown trout. 6" in length under half a pound. Bring on the rain.

1 Trout

Had an enjoyable day again, but unfortunately no Salmon. Very few trout rising in spite of a hatch of small olives. Higher river level desperately needed.

9lb clean bright hen fish for guest Phil Kerwin fishing on Club waters. Black SH f/c was successful after using fly for most of the day.

1 Salmon

Blank, but an interesting day anyway. Yet again that cold and increasingly strong wind was blowing over the pastures. For a long time, nothing seen hatching or moving. Just before 12, the first rise of the day seen in a foam line at the entry to a deep pool. The fish took a size 14 Parachute Adams first time over it, jumped twice when the hook was set to show his considerable bulk, then streaked down past me in the shallows to the pool below, where he made a beeline for a mass of roots and debris. I thought I had no choice but to hold hard, upon which the 5X tippet gave way with a nasty jarring twang. So much for the first rise of the day. The second and last one was about 2 hours later, when I found another fish rising at the head of a pool. That one took a Hairwing Sedge and the hook was set again, but it came off after a couple of seconds. That was all the action and so I was thoroughly trounced by the trout of Bucknell. Never mind, it's worth the ticket price just to wander around this lovely place, particularly the cricket bat willow plantation. One day, perhaps, I'm going to come across an off-grid cricket bat whittler, seated under a tree and plying his craft

Found the beat hard work today, level low, lots of slime and algae and a wind that at times made casting nigh on impossible. Not a single rising fish. Three small trout to wet flies in the faster, oxygenated water. Rain required.

3 Trout

A day fishing this beat during a Mayfly hatch a few years ago remains my most memorable day fishing. Since then there has been clearance work performed on this best; I assume more work has been done since last season. It isn't good news for the fly fisher. Much of the beat is now too shallow to fish and other sections resemble a canal with virtually no flow. There are short sections that contain fish but it's not what it used to be.
WUF note: this problem is down to the drought we are now experiencing

1 Trout

11lbs to M.H on F.C.
Also 10 lbs to WUF rod on fly on 4/5 appears not to have been reported.
Likewise, a fish taken by Robin Stewart on fly on Redbrook on 27 April.
Water now perfect for lower beats but still few fish.

1 Salmon

21 Trout