Feedback & Reports

Felt adventurous so went to the Duhonw, a stream pretty much ignored by everyone including me. Parked at Dol Lynn Wydd farm at the bottom of the beat, the owner of the house did not mind me using the small pull in opposite the house. He said he had never seen anyone fishing, didn't even know if there were fish in the stream! Found a way in with his advice, and waded up the full beat - easy wading except for the stretch above the last bridge where the stream turns into a Clettwr clone. There is much tree growth everywhere, the WUF description is out of date! Nevertheless, where I could get a para adams on the water in reasonable style, the trout were there - landed 4 at 7 to 10", and missed or lost many more. I think some clearance work to open up some of the pools would be very worthwhile, the stream has plenty of feisty wbt. Just don't expect to be able to use 'normal' fly casting!

4 Trout

Perfect summer flow conditions for the bottom pool which fished well early and late with barbel to 8lb and chub to 5lb. Also enjoyed trotting a float on faster water on the far side past the island which produced some good barbel and chub on the centrepin. Most fish to pellets but with meat also doing well. Don't pack away too early, the best fish came at last knockings! Lovely start to the season.

24 Barbel, 28 Chub

Occasionally the angling gods smile down on you and today was my day. An early start saw action from the second cast with a 4lb Chub. Then the Barbel moved in. Apart from a spell between 09:00 and 12:00 with no bites, I caught Barbel regularly all day, and what fish they were. I had 20 Barbel in total with 3 fish between 9lb and 9lb 13ozs. These were topped by my first Wye double that went 10lb exactly. Simple feeder and pellet tactics were all that was needed. If you ignored the taps from Chub, the Barbel bites were rod bending, bait runner screaming, unmissable takes. On days like this it seems ridiculously easy. It makes up for all the difficult days when the fish will not co operate. I have caught large numbers of Barbel before and I have had a handful of 9lb fish before, but to catch this many large Barbel in a day is exceptional fishing in anybody's book. What a fishery! Time to plan my next trip I think.

20 Barbel, 4 Chub

Had a red letter day. Got to river for dawn and fished Boys Rocks. After a worryingly slow start the bites and fish just kept coming with a quiet few hours around mid day and another spell of fish and bites until early evening. Total 11 Barbel and 2 big Chub both over 4 Lbs easily. Must have lost 6 or seven other Barbel. Fish were between 4 Lbs and 9 Lbs most over 6. All but one fish on feeder and pellets with one Chub on rolling meat. Makes up for my blank last year on my last trip but that's fishing.
Just one small point is the lack of access to the top end of the river. Any more than 2 anglers will need to be able to clear some swims. Love the Wye but it really should be better as people travel a long way to fish it!

11 Barbel, 2 Chub

Fished 7.30pm until dark. Two wbt 5" and 10" in first 10 minutes on coch y bondhu - then blank.

2 Trout

Bright sunny day, some fish rising in the morning but no luck for me. The highlight for me was when I saw a mink run down the bank and swim across the river. Memorable day despite no fish caught.

Very little hatching but the lower hedges and fields next to the river are loaded with spinners of all types. Managed to winkle out a few fat trout on GRHE and Para Adams with the best two fish at 12" and 13".River now getting pretty low making the fishing tricky.

7 Trout

My favourite beat with wonderful views. Lots of salmon jumping and barbel spawning.

8 Barbel, 6 Chub

No fish caught.

Started fishing at 10.00 with a strong down stream wind, there were a few fish showing on the surface but decided on the nymph. Walked through the first field and started fishing. The water was suprisingly warm but I managed to tempt 2 small BT of about 8", Moved up the beat through the other feild and managed an aditional 10 BT to about 1 1/2lb all taken on a caddis pupa in the faster runs.

12 Trout