Feedback & Reports

Hard work today, a lot more trees down than last year making some of the better pools difficult to fish. Plenty of fly life - only a few rises but managed to bring two fish to hand on an Adams and a further two by nymph (GRHE)

WUF - a suggestion for the beat map; it would be useful to show the two footbridges and the public footpaths as it’s not easy getting out of the canyon.

4 Trout

A lazy start today: arrived on water at 09:30 after a late wake-up and a chat with the missus on the old dog and bone. Getting away is why I go fishing.

Cold start. 11 degrees with cloud cover and rain showers forecast, brightening up later.

The beat is typical small Welsh stream. The first part was 1 or 2 offers in every likely pool (not all pools mind), with me covering each with a dry (para adams: I started at 18, but that was refused so pushed up to a 16 and then a 14, both of which worked well) and then giving the fast water at the head a plop with a gold bead GHRE.

I kept this up until I hit the first bridge - hey, guys, what a good idea on that stretch those bridges are, as I would hate to be down there after dark.... Apart from a forced break when 5 canyoners came splashing down towards me ( a middle aged chap and 4 teenagers). They had the decency to avoid the pool I was forced to rest (the water turned chocolate), but seem to have affected the next 3 or 4 pools that were devoid of any sign of life as a result of the fishes' domain being invaded by shocking blue neoprene clad bullocks. Then I dropped the nymph. It was taking too long. Not only that, but the flatter sections didn't really give the opportunity to use a weighted nymph anyway.

That run of small falls and pools near the ruined watermill is a right bloody challenge. I felt my age going up that... A big fat zero in terms of fish, but adrenaline and lactic acid right up there!

The flat bits reminded me of a Exemoor stream, but with fewer fish. I noticed that as I climbed the water got more skeletal and clearer. The fish got smaller and more skittish.

I finished at the top of the beat at 7:05pm... Totally exhausted. Looking back, the wading and fallen trees were part of the challenge, as they make it a wild stream and the fallen trees weren't the worst I've come across. But anyone not used to this type of fishing might be advised to go in a pair... Of course, I'll ignore my own advice. Because I'm an idiot.

The result? 10 (I think - it could have been 12) wbt mostly between 6" and 10", but the fish of the day was a perfect (and fat!) 12" I caught lower down on a 16 para adams. There were a few smaller fish too, taken in tails or up at the top of the beat, but they were all parr marked and I didn't count them. I had takes from the same number again. Some I missed and others got off the fly. Debarbed is a problem for energetic small fish...

This was my best day's fishing of the week so far. Thanks WUF.

10 Trout

After catching two fish on the dry fly in my first pool I thought it was going to be a real red letter day but from thereon it went quiet and I only ended up with one more fish, on the nymph. All sense of time disappeared down there - 7 lovely hours spent and I only got just past the first footbridge.

A short video of the highlights can be found here: https://youtu.be/CDH7f7p1msE

Such a special place

3 Trout

1 Trout

I love this beat, hard work but worth it.
All trout caught give nothing up. Fished tenkara today which works well here, catapulting nymphs under trees, great fun. Biggest was about 10 inches. One about 8 inches lept out of the stream in to a bedrock puddle not much bigger than it self.

9 Trout

Hard work, not much water and fish very spooky. Took two fish in deeper pockets on nymphs

2 Trout

Quiet on this special stream today, started at the first footbridge to avoid irritating a recent back problem, to be honest it hurt more missing the first section, just the most amazing place ! A shared rod only managed 3 wbt, possibly the lowest catch return I've posted for this beat, two to a grey duster para and one to an Adams para. Made it to the second footbridge then faced the wall of rock and waterfalls ! Looking at the beat map, this is not the end of the beat, was not going to attempt the Eiger purely for the fact we had to get back down it ! Thought about the bridge and going around but couldn't access, what and where is the end of the beat ? Determined to complete one day !

3 Trout

What a stunning beat. The walk in and out is a little challenging in places with a rod and heavy wading boots, but it's certainly worth it - scrambling over boulders and fallen trees from waterfall to waterfall is a real pleasure.
I came in the evening, around 1900, having fished the Lynfi shortly after dawn and spending the rest of the day shading myself from the heat. The water was pretty low and warm (17C) and gin clear. I saw fish rising in the first pool I approached and had a cdc olive snaffled on my first cast. A short struggle and he came off, leaving the pool devoid of life. As I made my way upstream it was apparent that nearly every pool had fish feeding, but the approach was extremely difficult. Down on hands and knees I still ended up spooking the tiny fish in the tail of each pool (often feeding in only 6" of water) which then set off a chain reaction and I watched bow waves of larger fish further up rushing for safety. Eventually, about half-way along, I came to an unwooded section that allowed me to cast into the pool from about 10 yards back, letting most of my line fall on the rocks but the fly in the feeding channel. A lovely 11" wbt obliged by taking my pale evening dun and I promptly declared victory, heading back out of the gorge before it got dark.
I'd love to fish here again when the water is a little higher and, ideally, with a touch of colour to help mask my clumsy approach.

1 Trout

Hot hot day to tackle the canyon, river low and crystal clear. Apart from clouds of gnats, midge etc not much hatching and very few rises, so I prospected with a small grey baetis and late in the day a larger light olive para. Could not find a way of avoiding the small trout at the pool tails from shooting off and warning the others. Managed to get interest from the fast heads of pools but they were very wary so only landed 4, though good sized 10 and 11" for this river. Fighting fit. The two largest came to the large olive, obviously they thought it worth the effort.
2 of the major log jams have largely cleared, replaced by 2 new ones! For those who have not fished the Clettwr, I attach photos of these jams - you can get past, with some effort - personally I would not want this changed, and only if it was impossible to move upriver without some clearance. A true wild stream!!

4 Trout

What a fantastic place to spend Sunday. Went mountain climbing with the tenkara rod. 2 trout 6-8ins and better one missed. All on the dry fly, a small caddis pattern.
Will be going back soon, once my legs have recovered!

2 Trout