Feedback & Reports

A dull, overcast day. Fished from 11am until 5pm.
Fished opposite the meadow by the sawmill working upstream to the shallow rapids. Used olive Klinkhammers and took two Grayling about 10" (Returned).
When the rain started I fished back downstream with tiny nymphs without success.
Came out of the river at the point where I had first entered and walked well downstream to dry fly fresh water upstream but could not catch anything, however crafty I thought I was being with different small olive flies and a small Daddy.
A great day to have the beat to myself nonetheless.
The water was low (wading in 12" to 24" under the trees) so casting beneath the trees to the deep run was fairly easy but I guess it could be a challenging beat when the water is up. One day is not enough time to explore the whole beat so I will be back next year!
Can thoroughly recommend accomodation at www.thehaltatdoldowlod.co.uk
We stayed there in our caravan in May and in their Vulcan Lodge cottage this time. Excellent facilities, very agreeable hosts and only a 150 yard walk the the Craig Lynn beat and a couple miles to the Doldowlod beat. Perfect!

2 Grayling

No Salmon caught. Lots of activity from resident fish in Vanstone. River very low.

Although river very low and hardly any flow in Llanobery pool I bought a Salmon ticket, so gave it a go for a few hours. No Salmon caught or seen. As there seemed to be lots of trout rising I swapped my Salmon gear for my trout rod and landed a lovely 12" Usk Trout on second cast, followed by at least another 9, all from Llanobery pool, all about 12". Great fighters. All returned. As always a great service from Wye & Usk.

10 Trout

River very low, only one proper rise seen all day, no fish to note.

Top and bottom ends of this stretch need some work to them to open up access. Despite a low clear river bites came right from the off. Moved swims a bit but all the barbel came from one particular spot, although I did get chub on float fished corn and bread from other swims.

6 Barbel, 5 Chub

Fish taken on gold head nymphs, river level was low. Nice days fishing.

1 Trout, 2 Grayling

Fished the feeder with 2x8mm pellets for 2 Chub, river still low and clear, needs a good flush through. Thanks Wye and Usk.

3 barbel caught between 6 and 7.5lb, all on pellet. Didn't fish overly hard as also teaching the other half to fish! Access to the fishery is excellent, most civilised to be able to drive and park at your chosen swim. Though with the rain it was a little slippery near the entrance gate so would be 4x4 access only very soon.
Would echo the comments of other Anglers regarding the limited fishable areas. In normal/current conditions only really two areas that you would fish. We had the fishery to ourselves so wasn't too much of a problem but with others present you could be left scratching around for somewhere to fish or be fishing within 30 - 40 yds of another angler.

3 Barbel

Arrived in morning to find the river the lowest I've ever seen it in the three years I've been traveling down here. Fished a few swims from the middle, straight down to the island and managed to catch from all of them resulting in 7 barbel up to about 7lb and 7 chub all of which were over 4lb with a best of 4lbs 14oz, all caught on pellet or boillie. It really did pay to chop and change in the clear water as they seemed to spook easily. But all in all a great day with the weather playing its part and as a bonus, Colin turned up for a chat which is always a pleasure.

7 Barbel, 7 Chub

River low and slow, fishing tough! 1 barbel around 6lbs and 2 chub, 4lbs 11ozs & 4lb 14ozs in the wood section late afternoon/evening provided some welcome action.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub