Feedback & Reports

Fished the Taff from Rhydycar up this morning for a couple of hours. River had dropped from the recent rain but still pushing a bit. Fished a team of nymphs up river with a french leader and managed to pick off a dozen or so trout. All trout ranging from 1/2lb up to 1 1/2lb.

12 Trout

10 x trout 9-15 inches, Waterhen Bloa, Jingler and Bastard Adams. Well, the flood has dropped away again but my word, it felt cold at Brecon in a north-easterly today. The water, which must have some snow melt in it, felt colder than on opening day. Perfect conditions for the large dark olive in fact. The hatch was late - I didn't see a dun until 1 o'clock - and all over by 3 o'clock, but the river was quite lively for a period. Switched from spiders to dry flies as the fish switched from nymphs to duns.

10 Trout

A really lovely day on this stunning beat. River falling after Friday's rainfall but in pretty good nick with the little colour giving the fish some confidence. Did hope for a LDO hatch to happen, but no sign so kept to deep nymphing with some success. Managed 8 trout, biggest a slim 2lb fish which will be a lot bigger come summer. All the rest were between 1/2lb to a pound. So a good standard. Caught fish all along the beat, which I imagine could be fantastic when the fish are up in the water. Only fished till 1pm as had to do the Mother's Day thing!

8 Trout

Very cold by the Beacons this Sunday, both wind and water. Water level high and quite dark - clearly recent rains still having an impact. Good days fishing, but nothing caught...
Did see a small hatch around 2pm of dark olives, but no fish rose.

1 trout 11" and another hooked and lost.
The snow fall cooled the river down on our arrival, and fly, and the number of rising fish increased each day.
I would also like to point out that the second parking place at Fenni Fach was not in a fit state to use due to ruts and wet conditions, and nor was the track unless in a 4x4. We spoke to the farmer who said he has asked the WUF to make this clear on the beat instructions. This may or may not be true, but I would certainly ask for the beat instructions and maps to be amended accordingly.

1 Trout

The river was cold and had come up considerably over night. The beat is definitely not for a bunch of unfit 50 year olds with hangovers!, due to the rain overnight the slope by the cottage was very slippery which gave us a couple of comedy moments!
Despite the weather and the misleading barbel of about 6lb mid morning the chub were very active and each of us took a break with the one light quiver-tip rod we had between us with cheese paste to save the blank. All in all a great day in wonderful surroundings with good friends...roll on next season.

1 Barbel, 5 Chub

Although nothing caught, had a great day. River gin clear. Tenkara and fly rod used.

The river had risen a good couple of feet overnight so we settled for the first two pegs at the bottom end of the beat where parking was also easier and firmer. Fishing various combinations of maggots on the hook we had quite a few smaller fish between us, minnows, gudgeon, dace, bleak, roach, chublets but couldnt catch on pellet or meat. Two bigger chub were caught later on both around 3lb each both on maggot, one of these was snared by a 20lb plus Pike as it was about to be netted, after a battle the Pike let go and the chub survived!

2 Chub

No fish caught.(A bad day at black rock).

Our second day and we arrived to a high and fast river but at least it wasn't raining. I last fished this stretch in September and estimated the river to be about six feet higher than it was then. We all set up along the meadow, fishing close, in the slacker water. Turned into another tough day but just after 3pm, JC and myself took two barbel towards the water works end, 8lbs 12ozs and 8lbs 14ozs respectively. A few knocks through the rest of the day but the only fish to come to the bank was an eel about 2lbs to MB. Despite the tough conditions we all enjoyed our visit to Courtfield. I would recommend the bunk house at the Jovial Colliers in Upper Lydbrook. Ideal cheap accommodation for anglers. Also recommended is the Indian restaurant at the back of the Forge Hammer pub in Lower Lydbrook. Excellent meal and good ale from the pub. Looking forward to further visits next season.

2 Barbel, 1 Other