Feedback & Reports

Good 3 hour session plenty of fish rising. There were a lot flies including May Flies, Black Gnats and spinners. I landed 2 fish and lost 2 more on a wally wing May Fly.

2 Trout

Fished from 14.00 to 19.00 all fish on the dry fly small black gnat

6 Trout

A fabulous way to spend an afternoon in the glorious sunshine and an evening in the bouncing rain.
I continued to develop my rod and river skills, especially my forte of catching nothing whatsover. There were fish rising to take the plentiful covering of midges but my midges were mostly clinging to willow, alder and even a proud beech. Leaves, branches, trunks and roots - in equal measure.
Surprisingly deep pools (I had to turn back and scramble around the bank several times) and fast flowing riffles. I fished about 30% of the beat in 4 hours. There are many happy days of fishing here for those who love the challenge of overhanging trees, undulating river beds and canny wild browns. Lovers of chalk streams look elsewhere.
I shall return.

Couldn’t really have been much better. I had not fished this beat before and I was a little worried that it would be a bit noisy sandwiched between the main road and the train tracks. Apart from about four trains the rest of the day was peaceful and tranquil.

Weather was warm and mainly overcast with a few brighter spells (but most of the stream is shaded). After a very dry period we had just had two days of rain, so I was expecting conditions to be better than recent weeks. The Honddu was still relatively low in sections but it did have a good flow to it, with a bit of colour, and if you searched them out there were some very good looking deeper sections… and plenty of fish.

I have never caught so many WBT in one day before (I fished from approx. 9.30-5). They came spread throughout the day, with a bit of a rush in the last two hours. All sizes, from little 6” beauties, right up to a couple of much bigger fish that put up a good fight. And there were quite a few that I missed. All caught on a Klinkhammer indicator dropper set up with either a Hare’s Ear or Pheasant Tail nymph (the later gave best results).

I’m new to fishing small streams and their challenges, but when the fishing is this good I don’t really need anything else.

Note: In the directions to the beat, the chicken coup has now gone, replaced by a caravan.

14 Trout

Great day on the river, 38 inch long and slightly coloured fish. Estimated at 23+lb. It was taken on a gold hammered spoon single hook, and 9ft cane rod, it was fantastic scrap with lots of head shaking and jumping. Also 5 shad and a small brownie. Regards to DH for the usefull advice, who left 10 minutes before the show!

1 Salmon, 1 Trout, 5 Other

Downstream wind tricky as dry fly fishing but small hatches of olives and LBDs keeping trout up in pathches

10 Trout

This is a lovely, secluded beat and probably ideal for a morning or afternoon fish, but could last longer if you take your time, like I did! The river was in pretty good condition, and a small trout briefly took a PTN right at my feet where the oncoming stream meets the main stem of the river before rushing into a very deep pool. It shook the hook, but it was great to see so close in. A bit further downstream I briefly connected with another, larger trout, probably around the pound mark, on a CDC, but it wasn't on long!!! A handful of trout rising & quite a bit of fly life on the water.

As well as the trout, I found a bird nest in the hole of a tree whilst having lunch (they made quite a racket, somehow mistaking me, a 6ft human, for their mother bird!!), I saw squirrels (grey alas) and woodpeckers. And I also found a fledgling corvid lying almost motionless on the floor, clearly either injured or ill. Either way, it was in a very poor way, but it was amazing to see one so close. And buzzards overhead. It was a delight to be out with nature and to see all these amazing creatures! I'll definitely be back. Thanks WUF and the farmer landowner for making this private beat available.

First time to this beautiful beat. Good weather, warm, mild breeze but only very sparse hatch of mainly yellow upwing flies and midges. Only fish seen and co-operative were small ones who took occasionally dries. Lovely deep blue-grey deep pools but no takers to variety of nymphs and dries. Strange. Would love to return. Expertly coppiced and managed in an "invisible" and natural manner, preserving the naturalness but allowing excellent access. Thank you

Pretty much perfect conditions. Maybe the sun was just a little too bright.... Plenty of fish. Dry may have been a better bet. 3 on peacock and march brown

3 Trout

18 Trout