Feedback & Reports

Well this was my second ever fly fishing attempt and things couldn't have been more difficult.
Stayed overnight at Bronwye Guesthouse in Builth Wells, highly recommended, where a huge full English set me up for the day ahead. Things didn't look good after heavy rain all night and the surrounding hills were covered in SNOW!
I arrived at the Irfon, and as I'd feared, the river had risen overnight and was pushing through at quite a rate and was heavily coloured. I wasn't confident wading in such conditions but attempted to fish before calling the WUF to find the day was officially a "wash off".
Fantastic looking venue even at this time of year, the owner was friendly and very helpful and I can't wait to return in better weather for another bash free of charge.
As you've probably guessed no fish were caught.

Tough day with low temperatures and persistent rain. The river was running through quickly and rising, such that we couldn't hold the bottom with a 4oz feeder any more than a few yards out. Two started in the lower village stretch, one in the woods and one at the woods end of the meadow. Mid-afternoon the two moved from the village to the meadow and late afternoon, JC took two barbel in quick succession from drain cover swim, 10lbs 6ozs and 11lbs 14ozs! Turned a tough day into a great one and gave us something to toast in the pub that evening and raised spirits for the next day.

2 Barbel

Overcast very cold rain one 7lb barbel chub to 3lb pellet meat hard work a little disappointing.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

Weather was horrible. Couldn't fish where we really wanted to due the wet conditions.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Arrived on a wet morning to find river just starting to colour up and rise from previous nights rain. Both of us started in last two swims at top of the beat but after a bite less hour or so and some snagged tackle I moved to a mid section swim and M H to the end of beat. Got bitten off by a large Pike first cast which didn't bode well. However after introducing some bait the swim came alive and two Barbel and one chub followed. M H managed a chub and S M managed one more Barbel at end of the day. Barbel were 7lb 6oz, 6lb 9oz, and 6lb 6oz, all taken on pellet.
Rain finally cleared as we packed up and we slipped and slid our way back to the car. A nice beat that I would definitely return to. Would recommend the Royal in Ross for accommodation and China Boy Joes as an excellent Chinese restaurant. The first one I've been in that has frogs legs on the menu!!

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

Blank

Decided not to fish as I wanted to go on the Wye again for the last day of the season and couldn't afford the petrol for both trips. A bit disappointing as I've fished it before and it's a nice venue but a last chance for a Wye Barbel for 3 months proved to be too tempting.

Probably the coldest day of the week and certainly the wettest. A hard day with the river rising and the rain pouring. Nothing caught on the feeder but when we switched to trotting the float for chub using maggots we managed three nice fish. Looking forward to revisiting the same stretch in the summer. Thanks to Don.

3 Chub

Arrived at the beat after driving through lashing rain still eager as schoolboys, we had a plan like you do, especially this time of year to rove the whole beat to try and find them but as it was raining and very muddy we found a spot each, up went the brolly's and that's where we stayed.
It was Neil's first barbel trip and no matter what the weather, he was on cloud nine! A very good carp angler but now wants to try some proper river fishing as he puts it. He didn't let the side down on a very hard wet day he ended up with a nice 4lb chub and a very welcome 4lb barbel, we were made up for him. Myself, I lost a nice fish early on to a sunken tree, not concentrating on the take and Len lost two fish to similar circumstances. Can't wait to next season for a few more barbel trips. Neil even more so! P.s. We all made it back up the woodland path just!! It could do really with a lot better hand rail and some steps are very dangerous... not joking! A note also, as we were fishing two blokes came and saw us friendly they were and they said there was nowhere else to fish. I said when you book only three people can fish this beat they said they had booked it weeks ago when I booked it we were the only three booked in or so I was told. Chancers??

WUF Note : This beat only allows a maximum of three anglers. This party was the only booking taken that day. If anglers encounter any other anglers on the beat please contact the Foundation as soon as possible.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Wonderful fishery! The best kept salmon water on the Wye for me. No jungle warfare thanks to Mick the ghille who has strummed and cleared the pools and made it a much safer place to fish! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. This is a good model for other fisheries to follow as the steep banks need more secure steps and footholds and ropes and secure stakes to help us up and down.
The fly water was amazing. I was able to chest wade at least 4 of the 11 pools. Saw a salmon show in the Gabions.
Caught a 7 lb pike at the end of the day.

1 Pike