Feedback & Reports

I had a superb day. Beautiful spot. River was very low. All fish were caught on a French leader setup. Using a mix of caddis patterns often 3 fish at a time.

2 Trout, 50 Grayling, 2 Chub

The last of five days on Howcaple first three days river carrying some colour and overcast barbel feeding well, then colour dropped out and weather got hot and sunny best times early morning and evening, all fish caught on pellet and hemp in feeder, best two barbel 8lb and 9lb all fish fought as only Wye barbel do with savage bites and powerful first runs heart stopping stuff. This outing gave a good chance to try my new mark Tunley 1.75lb dark carbon barbel rod great action and superb build quality, if you are looking for a new rod check out his web site, looking forward to my next visit to the lovely river Wye.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Wet fly, nymph. Cool and windy. No fish but Kites in the sky, wild orchids under a tree and a beautiful location. A lovely day out. I had my permit checked by a ranger, a thoroughly nice chap and a pleasure to chat to. A credit to his employers ....well done.

2 Barbel, 5 Chub. Caught on pellet, feeder rig. Very hot conditions. Caught mostly early evening.

2 Barbel, 5 Chub

First ever river fly fishing trip. Fished from 5pm until darkness. Overcast with downstream wind made fishing difficult. No luck fishing upstream of the beat entrance but a few fish rising. The river came alive 20mins before dark with fish leaping and rising all over- one bite was missed and two fish (one of good size) came off the hook, frustrating but a really exciting end to the day. River looked healthy with a mix of shallow and deeper areas. Lots of wildlife about. All bites were on a hairs ear.
Thanks to Wye and Usk foundation for there help in recommending this beat for a beginner, nice and easy wading. I'd also recommend the fishing tackle shop in Brecon (fishtec) went in to buy line and got given some free flies to try.
There was a trout hanging around the start of the beat with what looked like a pretty bad fungal infection on its head and gills.

Water at a nice level and clear,plenty of fly life but only sporadic rises and we couldn't work out what they were taking. GC did well taking 5 grayling,2 of which were 15 to 16".
This is a lovely beat and hopefully with a few more visits we will learn how to catch the number of fish other anglers manage.
Thanks to W & U and the fishery owner for providing such a nice place to fish.

3 Trout, 6 Grayling

Windy and cloudy day with sunny intervals, we fished with worm had 2 fish both returned 1 trout 3/4lb and 1 perch of the same weight.
Later in the afternoon we went fly fishing did not see a rise at all no fly life, a lovely location beautiful scenery. Did see a group of ten cormorants, (won't help the fish stock).

1 Trout, 1 Other

First time on the Irfon. Blown away by the beauty. River very low. Only a few small fish rising. Iron blues hatching. My thanks to the beat owner. Very impressive. Feels lovely and wild but good access and no barbed wire in sight!

3 Trout

Water normal summer level so ignored the first field as flow was sluggish around the croys so nothing for it but brave the uphill hike to the woods and fish the fabulous looking rapids and broken water in this section. Set up a couple of swims down from the largest rock opposite the end of the man made bank opposite. Started 3/4 way over downstream where it shallows a bit approaching the streamer weed - normally good in hot weather. No joy so dropped short in the main flow and had fish straight away to various pellet combinations with hemp and 3/4mm pellet through a block end. Fish seem bigger this year - all over 7lb and one must have been nearer 10lb as it was considerably bigger than the 8lb fish I had weighed the previous day at how capel court. Did not take scales this time due to the walk. Itchy feet made me move to try and catch chub on the pellet waggler -just one then left at 2.30 for long drive back. On the best map it seems to indicate that there is no break in the fishing but the pleasant owners of the riverside property you walk through said that was not the case and you could not fish from their bank or access the river from their garden. Pity as this is the most popular spot fished by the far bank anglers who always seem to do well. Lovely stretch and the wooded section is proper wild fishing.

4 Barbel, 2 Chub

A nice beat with good parking. Breath taking scenery but the river on it's bones today.

5 Trout, 1 Grayling