Feedback & Reports

In contrast to recent weeks, the weather was good. Excellent directions and map (and the key for the gate was exactly where the instructions said it would be). Only second time for me to use the Foundation, but both times have been first-class service (and both times I've caught Personal-Best fish).

Upper stretch not really fishable due to banks and water level. Long walk from the car to the lower stretch, and then walked the river for over an hour looking for a fishable swim amongst all the flood debris. Watched otters playing as I walked the lower stretch (first ever sighting of wild otters - fantastic to see!). Couldn't help thinking that the Foundation's work must have contributed to these creatures making home on the Wye.

Only caught one fish all day, a Chub. But not disappointed. It weighed four and a quarter pounds. Magnificent condition. It's really not about a net full of fish. Otters, Kingfishers, Buzzards, sunshine, Balsam plants with their exploding seed pods and a four pound Chub.

A fantastic fish on a fantastic day. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Will not hesitate to use the Foundation's services again, just wish I had time to fish more often.

Absolutely superb, could not stop reading. Have to come over to see and fish.

I am writing to tell you how I got on at Middle Hill Court fishery and Caradoc on the river Wye.

Middle Hill Court 28th August 2008. I caught 4 barbel, the smallest 9lb, the largest 14lb on halibut pellet and a 5lb chub on luncheon meat. I was also snapped on at least 3 occasions and lost one in the weed.

Caradoc 2nd September 2008. This was a disaster with the rain the previous night. It rose 6?? 8? in a couple of hours. I did lose a barbel and caught a small chub on meat.

Although the second day was a wash out, this was the first time I have fished the Wye and I have fallen in love with it.

I have been fishing the river Teme and Severn in Bridgnorth area but now will be making a bee-line for the Wye when I go for a fishing break.

P.S. the chub and the 14lb barbel are a new P.B. for me.

Thank you very much

P.P.S. See you soon hopefully

Fenni Fach (Sat 16th August) 2 x rods, 5 fish, 2 x 1 lbers. Hard conditions, best fish taken in a smaller side channel.

Pen Pont (Sat 16th August) 3 x rods 13 fish, Hard conditions in a rising river but big fish came out to play. I had 2 x 2.5lbers. The others were all between a few ounces and half a pound. One of the biggies took on the heavy tackle (8 weight with sink tip) fishing rabbit fur streamers tight into the bank above Pen Pont Bridge, the second about half way down the beat fishing a nice rifle with a team of nymphs fished very deep. Got some nice pics.

Sunday ? A high and dirty river was a wash off. We couldn?t fish. Please could you advise on a refund for Sunday?s money, or credit situation?

On Sunday we fished the Beacon Reservoir just off the A470 (the top reservoir of three). It provided superb sport with Wild brownies to over 1lb on an assortment of dry sedge and beetle patterns. A really good venue in case of wash offs, especially as you can purchase the day tickets from a pay and display machine at the visitors centre.

Over all a great visit. All the lads enjoyed it and we will be back

KT and I had an eventful day at Llyn Em yesterday.

Kev caught his first salmon, a grilse of about 6/7lbs on a mepps which he sportingly returned.

I hooked four on fly!
The first offered a brief tussle before spitting the hook.
The hook pulled free from the second as it was being drawn up to be beached and although it was not physically touched.
The third, same story as the first except it nearly pulled me off the rock upon which I was precariously perched and I suspect this contributed to the loss.
The fourth, a big fish hooked in heavy water and took about 30 yards of backing before battling it out at distance. All ended when the line parted on a rock face which forms the gutter in which I was fishing.

I don't know whether to count my blessings or curse my luck! Probably the latter since I also managed to fall in. I can console myself with the fact that I was only submersed up to my neck and my hat stayed dry. Also, camera and phone survived unlike the last time. And, it is not often that five salmon are hooked in a single day on an upper Wye water available on a day ticket.

....I was doing some work in the City a few weeks ago and a few of the traders (fishermen obviously) had the cameras on the Wye live feeds on their screens next to the share prices! Ready to drop everything when the water looked right. You must get a lot of hits on the site because of the cameras they are great.
Paul H

Well, first the git who caught the 10ber so flukily on Gromain was Paul Hansford with a size 10 Ghillie fly I think (from Lochy ? bit of a shrimp x thunder and lightning.)

Secondly, Bridge Meadow on the Usk, very nice fishing but pissing it down no sign of a fish. The bank maintenance is to be encouraged, however the use of old radiators as bank retaining structure is rather unappealing!

Third, no score on Sunday at MHC. Actually fished from 11am pretty much all day but saw or felt nothing.

The water was full of weed and rising. Every other cast either hooked growing weed in the river (even on full floater) or got some of the weed drifting down.

The beat appears sadly neglected; there is no easy access to the main pools. There is no access at all to the lower fly pool, I got horribly nettle stung trying to even find the pool and eventually gave up. There should be some onus on the riparian owner to provide the basics but having visited one of our underfished and frankly unfishable Fish the Exe beats over the weekend I understand it?s difficult to enforce.

The upper 2 pools would fish so much better from the rh bank and Paul did get over there but said it was a half hour walk from the parking place. More advice needed on instructions. I suppose though there is the option of the ?guide.?

Thank you for the wash-off offer. Does that mean we would have to take that beat again or is it transferable?

But after getting that out of the way, a very pleasant few days was had by Paul and me and thanks again for organising it so efficiently.

Our grilse (Exe)are just arriving but not in numbers yet, ditto Scotland, and last year ours took at least three weeks after they started catching on the Lochy, so watch their web-site and then start counting.

WUF note: Feeback like this is very appreciated and has been acted upon with the paths to the main pools now being re-cleared and additional signage to be put in shortly. Please could all keep constructive comments like this coming.

rivers-beats: Dan-y-Parc
weather: Cloudy, heavy showers, cool.
conditions: High, some colour.
fly-hatches: Sedges, olives & midges
4 Brown trout to 1.5lbs on Olive imitations.

Another interesting day, if the weather and conditions had been better I think it would have been a bumper day, there is obviously such a good head of trout.

I am afraid that the salmon were too clever for me - once again!

However I did land a big brown trout - did not keep it but it must have been a 3lb fish as it put a respectable bend in a 15ft rod - I thought I had finally caught my salmon!

Kind regards

First time to use the system of on-line booking. (Also haven't fished the Wye for approx. 25 years). System worked very well - very convenient, excellent directions & map. Also caught my FIRST EVER barbel, so overall an excellent experience (despite the unseasonal weather). Will definitely recommend to friends.

WUF Notes: 2 x chub to 1lb 14oz. Caught on Cheesepaste. 1 x barbel to 4lb 4 oz. Caughton: Legered halibut pellet