Feedback & Reports

2 Trout

Four fish hooked, 2 (WBT 10" & 16") caught; river very coloured from overnight rain. Should have claimed a wash off, after a very long drive and the thought of a wasted journey. I decided to fish the seams close to the bank where the water started to clear. Access to clearer water approx 200 metres remainder coffee coloured and unfishable. Fished PTN and GRHE on long leader and tippet 16ft all fish caught on PTN.

WUF note - Wash-offs are issued at the descression of the Foundation and owners when the river is deemed completely unfishable. Given conditions and that 4 fish were hooked and 2 caught, unfortunately a wash off would not have applied here.

2 Trout

Cloudy breezy day, a little sun later in the afternoon. Hatch at around 1pm for about half an hour, caught 3 on dries, two very nice fish. One fish later in the afternoon on a nymph near one of the small brook junctions. Very enjoyable.

4 Trout

Water a bit coloured - no hatch to mention. I didn't see one fish! The winter has been hard on the trees and I found navigation difficult, making sure I was on the correct bank particularly around the big bend and where the minis are in the barn.
I also fished the Middle Escley on the same day.

Sad to say I didn't catch one fish although I did rise one on an olive Klinkhammer. I had fished the lower river earlier and much preferred the middle beat. Again the water was slightly coloured. I saw a few (very few) dark olives coming off the water but no natural rises at all. It was a difficult early season day. Similarly to the lower beat, I found it hard to get round some trees. Also I was unsure where to park - "after the stone bridge, turn right and park on the grass" but actually you have to go through a gate to do so - unless I parked in the wrong place!
However don't get me wrong I shall come back and fish this beat again it is a beautiful wild stream and I believe it a privilege to be able to do so, so thank you.

Set out lunchtime to fish the Lower beat and was disappointed to see another anglers car in the parking area. Checked his dashboard and there was no paper etc indicating he was on the "upper" as per the simple instructions for this beat so presumed he had beaten us to the lower.
We didn't fancy the upper for various reasons so had a bit of drive around checking out other beats in the area.
Returned to long town on the way home to find the angler returning to his car. When I asked him which stretch he had fished he said the UPPER!!!!! I was more than a little perturbed by this!!!! WHY CANT PEOPLE FOLLOW. SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS?????!!!!!!!!!!!
So having wasted hours of our fishing time when we could have been on the lower as we planned we got the rods out and only had time to have a go on the first 200 yds or so below the bridge. We'd missed the hatch but still managed a few.
Personal thanks to the selfish angler who could not follow the WUF parking instructions and wrecked our day!

6 Trout

Spinning, river fairly high and coloured. Two small Brown Trout on pink Flying C, both in lovely condition and safely returned. Colin the Ghillie most helpful as always!

2 Trout

Still and misty, drizzle in afternoon and heavy rain after. Not cold.
Hatch at 1pm for about half an hour, fish rising and caught 3 around a pound.
Tried nymphs rest of day, nothing.

3 Trout

A soft grey day - the forecast rain did not materialise and the river was in great nick. LDOs and March Browns (? - didn't actually positively identify, not sure they were dark enough!) hatched from 12.30pm till 2pm and in that period we should have had 8 fish on dries - but every one came off, 7 threw the hook and the one that was properly hooked smashed my 3lb point! The rises were often very subtle and even in the fast water I could see fish coming to the fly before they got there - probably means I was trigger happy! Resigned to a fishless - but none the less lovely day in the valley with wood anemomies out - we decided on 1 last go at 3.30pm. Just as I was entering the water a fish rose a couple of rod lengths out - so I waited and up he came again. Given the earlier experiences I wasn't over optimistic but a much more confident take of my size 12 para olive resulted in an excellent scrap from a 16" typical Usk Brownie - well hooked at last, safely returned. First fish of the season! Final score Fish 8 - Bullocks 1.

1 Trout

This looks like a lovely bit of fly fishing when the river is about a foot lower than I experienced. I shall definitely book again in the future.

1 Trout