Feedback & Reports

River level dropping but slowly, very coloured to coloured even for spinning packed up after 45 minutes waste of time nothing showing.

Two fresh fish, each 33", c.14 lbs. Three more lost by other anglers.

2 Salmon

Fished the Gwent AS Gilwern water this morning and yesterday evening. Water still pushing through with a bit of tea colour, but blessedly relatively wind free, and warming up again. Yellow mays, sedges, mini-caddis and some smaller olives showing, in particular yesterday evening. Over both sessions I had 25 fish of 8-16 inches, most, but not all, rising fish. Yesterday evening, I initially had fish on a small mini-caddis (Agapetus) pupa shuttlecock (there are now lots of mini-caddis around) as I did this morning, until about 10 a.m, when emergence, confirming many years of morning observations, seems to stop. After fishing the mini-caddis pupa yesterday evening, Baby Sunfly (BBS) proved to be the go-to pattern with suspected nymphing fish taking it with abandon, until my only one disappeared on a long-distance release! Changed at this point to the UB Ducks Dun which was almost as gratefully received until I couldn't see any more. This morning after the mini-caddis hatch stopped, BBSs did the bizz again. There were relatively few fish rising, but those that did nailed the BBS and, of six fish, three were 16 inch, fat 1.5 - 1.75 pounders. Worth giving this well-proven Powell / Lewis generic, traditional buggy pattern a go for sure. Dilly wax it all up and chuck it out there! 14s and 16s. It did me proud in the wind last week on the Arrow as well. Tight lines.

25 Trout

Rod 1 - 6 Rainbow Trout
Rod 2 - 6 Rainbow Trout

12 Trout

River had dropped around a foot since previous visit on 9th June and lost most of its colour. We fished the fly on the Ysbytty beat in the morning but had no response, so off to the Mardy armed with spinning rods which produced a fish of around 11lb to the Irish Minnow. This was not as fresh as the fish caught on the 9th and had marks to suggest it had been through a drift net. It also had part of its tail missing, suggesting an encounter with seals perhaps. He probably thought his time was up today but was quickly released to fight another day.

1 Salmon

Fished for salmon with John Lewis. Water colour and height perfect for spinning at .77m.
John hooked and landed a 10lb hen fish from the sill above the rock at 11.50. Nice fresh specimen which was duly unhooked and returned. Took red and copper fc.
John also hooked a trout of 1lb on the same lure at the very bottom of the beat at about 5pm. Fish returned OK
2 other salmon moved in the chine.
I had no luck.

1 Salmon, 1 Trout

River in fine form, fish everywhere. Syndicate member had a fish of 20lb this morning. I hooked something on beat 3 on a small cascade this evening. Put a good bend in the rod for a few seconds​. All I managed were 3 shad for the day.

3 Other

Afternoon trying to make amends for yesterday's losses, but not today. Saw fish moving through the orchard.

Three brown trout caught and released on dry flies, including Parachute Adams. Largest fish was around 9-10 Inches, caught at dusk.

3 Trout

Fished for 3 hours or so on lower section of beat (up-to end of left bank access). Wading and access is fairly easy along the length, and certainly plenty of fish in evidence. Some sections very difficult to cast in, but where it is possible, fish very willing to take whatever was offered. I lost / missed probably three times as many as I landed, once being so pleased to be able to land a fly on the water that I forgot to strike!
Will certainly return to explore other parts of this river.

6 Trout