Feedback & Reports

4 Barbel

We had fished Golden Grove on the Towy the previous night and blanked so needed some fish!

Its only when we got on to this beat we realised how low the river is – the grayling flats were no more than a foot deep and devoid of anything other than small grayling. Little insect life either so not easy. Only a couple of small trout to hand until fishing upstream we reached a favourite corner where a large oak tree overhangs the river and which was a banker spot for grayling …except the tree has fallen, luckily parallel to the river not across it. In so doing a new earth bank has been created across the uprooted root bole – 3 burrows in it, one of which judging by the mess and the racket from within every time they sensed movement is occupied by kingfishers….They have chosen a good location, the resulting changed water flow means that there is no longer the deep corner for the grayling but a fish rose in a midstream glide. After a few casts a fish took – but not the expected grayling, a 14” trout. And the fish rose again so a few more casts later another fish took – a beautiful 17” trout. And the fish rose again….so a few more casts later another fish took – a 10” trout. Suspect he was the one that had been rising all along as no more rises….
A tricky day then – finished with 7 trout.

7 Trout

1 coloured salmon 12lbs with lure for Cherry salmon. She had a lot of river rice on her body. I picked away before relieved.

1 Salmon

D & G enjoyed yet another day on this nice stretch with G catching most of the fish including a nice 1.5lb wbt. The wind was problematic as it was stronger than forecast and upstream. There was no visible hatch of any kind so most fish taken on nymph, including the 1 other, a foul hooked minnow !
Looks like planning permission has been requested to demolish the wooden lodge and build a new premises. If granted I wonder what will happen to the beat.

6 Trout, 7 Grayling, 1 Other

Not a good day, 12hrs watching the rod and not even a twitch. Tried all the usual methods that have worked well in the past. In the past have always fished this swim in flood conditions and usually raining, this time very shallow, crystal clear and surprisingly warm water also a scorching hot day. Some big salmon jumping all day. I think we need some rain.

Some really nice chub but barbel hard to come by

3 Barbel, 20 Chub

Fished a variety of swims but without too much success

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

4 anglers fished 2 on top section on island and 2 on bottom section most fish caught on pellet on feeder or staight lead.

29 Barbel, 5 Chub

A fabulous day at Lyepole ! I've wanted to fish this beat for years but the opportunity just didn't arise until last week. I was not disappointed ! There is water for virtually every style of fly fishing and at every turn in the river you're presented with a new set of challenges. I was mesmerised into fishing several shallow riffles and inviting gullies before I twigged that most of the fish were holding up in the deeper pools. My final catch return was rather modest and could easily have been trebled if I'd spent more time actually fishing than just walking the entire beat. I shall be back in the autumn and winter !

Incidentally I have just read the return posted by B.S. of Bristol for the previous day and find it hard to recognise his or her description of the neat. I didn't encounter any balsam and the tree cover was just as I would have expected for a small, intimate river.

3 Trout, 31 Grayling