Feedback & Reports

River Conditions ? At summer level and relatively clear.
Weather ? Cloudless Sky, very warm and sunny, with a refreshing breeze.

As regular Trent anglers with frequent summer visits to both the Rivers Severn and Teme for the last 5 years or so, we felt in need of a change of venue and scenery to satisfy our quest for barbel and escapism to the wilds of nature. After writing to the Wye & Usk Foundation for further information regarding the River Wye and, on receipt of the details for the passport scheme and booking office beats list, the concept of booking your own beat of river for the day appealed to us all immensely, we subsequently telephoned the foundation office and made our reservations directly over the telephone.

We duly received our road and access directions, beat descriptions and maps etc, which proved very accurate, with more importantly no wasted lost time looking for the river.

As our summer angling for barbel generally consists of a roving approach, with just a single rod, rucksack, bank stick and landing net each, we had soon spread ourselves out along the beat to enjoy our days sport. Initially the going was very slow with very few fish showing or being caught, despite some anglers changing swims several times, however after a visit from Gordon the ghillie, who we believe was standing in Colin the regular beat ghillie, the more favoured swims were soon identified and a steady stream of both barbel and chub were finding the waiting landing net, despite the bright sunny conditions. The local knowledge passed on by Gordon proved invaluable, our thanks go out to him by making an already special day more memorable.

As it was all new unknown territory for us all, with lush grass throughout bank without the more usual bare mud of well worn swims to give away the more favoured swims, the sport did seem confined to just two main areas along the beat, despite a concerted effort throughout the length of river to find the fish, it was without doubt a very special day to savoir and remember. The bird life was splendid apart from a couple of Cormorants, which we disturbed in the morning and, who continually returned in the afternoon to try and get back in the river.

Total fish caught were 25 Barbel to around the 7lb mark and approximately 30 Chub to 3lb?s, general method used was a straight ledger with hair-rigged pellets as hookbait, loose feeding occasional pellets had little effect due to the strength of flow. In addition to the fish caught, several salmon were sighted leaping in the various pools throughout the day.

We have already a booking made for later in the year and will be now planning our 2009 holidays with the River Wye in mind.

Our thanks again to the Wye & Usk Foundation for an excellent days sport.

Pwll-y-Feada was a beautiful beat with some excellent water. The conditions looked ideal and even the very friendly owner of the beat got his line wet and kindly lent us a wading staff. We saw some large fish, in 15-20lb range, moving around but despite throwing the kitchen sink at them we could not tempt them. After a couple of hours of salmon bashing I decided to try my luck for some fish that actually do feed in freshwater! I'm often the guest driving the ghillies mad, as at the sight of a whopper brown head and tailing, I drop my salmon rod in favour of my four weight. This time the move paid off and after about 45mins of Czech nymphing I had landed a dozen grayling and one or two nice trout. I also lost a mystery fish that was around the 3-4lb mark. It tore off at great speed and then pulsed around in the current before throwing the hook - win some lose some I suppose and of course it is better to have hooked and lost then to have never hooked at all!! Anyway, thank you for recommended this beat as it was a delight to fish and to meet the owner and his black panther (labrador!).

Fenni Fach was, as always, a delight to fish. BWOs trickled off from midday onwards triggering a sporadic rise of fish that, although tricky customers, were obliging. In fact we had a number of really good fish under our belt before the evening rise. It was one of those evenings where you watch as a massive hatch of sedge unfold and you ask yourself, 'which pool should I save for later' and 'should I start fishing the pool now or wait until they are really going for it'?

We jumped the gun on a couple of pools in our excitment and put down some good fish but all was not lost as we had left the big long pool downstream of the house on the corner. Here, we had some great sport not, as we were expecting, on sedges but for a massive fall of BWOs. The fish picked them off and it was reminiscent of the superb olive fishing I had in April. We landed a number of nice fish (up to 2lb) and lost a couple of beauties. Degreased 7X and small CdC seemed to be the order of the day. The F-fly was yet again a saviour for the early afternoon fishing under overhanging branches.

Anyway, it was a really good weekend so thanks for all pre-match advice. I'm planning on sticking my head into the game fair on Friday and I'll come to say hello if I see you...

Very slick arrangements from Foundation. A truely beautiful setting. Thanks a lot.

WUF Notes : 2 x Brown Trout around 1lb

The first day on the Arrow (Monkland) was very hectic and sorry for the ‘trouble’ and my many phone calls. The Monkland fishing stretch is verging on the unfishable because of overgrowth. At least I finally found the Titley stretch and the fishing (only for 1½hr) was good with 7 trout and 1 grayling.

The day after on the Wye in Bredwardine was nothing. As you told me a lot of barbel fishers and nearly NO brown trout or grayling. On that stretch they fish only for salmon until 15 of June. Anyway I was invited by Peter Hands and I fished all day long. The result 2 brown trout and 2 chub.

The fishing on the Lugg on the last day was fantastic. I could only fish for 4hrs but caught 20 brown trout and 25 grayling (up to 48 cm!) (see the attached pictures).

Lets keep in touch because next year I am coming to your region for fishing in Sept(I will stay in Builth Wells this time). So I hope you can give me some good tips!

Another fantastic day but much harder this time as a result of the conditions and/or the time of year. Great to see Stuart the Ghillie again for a natter.

Thank you for another hassle free efficient booking. Kind Regards

WUF Notes : 18 Brown Trout to 14"

By far the best fly water I've encountered on the Wye.

When booking, it would be useful to know whether the beat is ghillied (purely to remove uncertainty) and what arrangements (if any) exist regarding access to the fishing hut.

Really enjoyed my day, although did'nt see/encounter any salmon.

WUF Notes : 3 x Brown Trout to 9"

I fished Abernant on Saturday, not much rising but plenty of fish taking a gold beaded hare?s ear. Despite the coloured water fifteen came to hand in all sizes ranging from 6 -10 inches, 12 trout and 3 grayling. All in all a very enjoyable day.

Access in and out of river often difficult due to heavy growth of Japanese Knotweed. Otherwise had a very enjoyable day.

WUF Notes : 3 x Brown Trout 10" 11" & 13". 1 x Grayling 4"

I'm afraid I totally forgot to submit my voucher return from my recent trip to beat R5 - Severn Arms, Ithon (13/7/08). May have had something to do with my good lady wife calling to ask why my scheduled return home was 2 hrs late! No excuses really other than the fact I seem to have caught the Ithon in perfect condition and that 'last cast' seems to take that much longer.

This river really seems to fish well when it has plenty of water and a tinge of colour, the stretches that seem devoid of fish when low and clear suddenly spring to life.

Fish caught: 1 Grayling - 9", 22 Trout - biggest 11"

Went to Ashford House yesterday and had 15 trout to a pound or so. Early morning fish all on a small spurwing emerger that caught me 30 trout in Wharfedale one day a month back. Nothing emerging so I assume that they were taking PW nymphs (didn't knock anything on the head to see) - saw one or two PWs in the afternoon but apart from some sedges, the odd mayfly and a few YMs, no aerial bugs apart from gnats! Water was still 3-4 inches too high to get the best of the Fishery but good fun nonetheless. Blew like buggery after 11 a.m which kept the bugs down as usual. Then a couple more on PTNs and then three fish from some slower margins on one of Hans v K's small black Klinks.

Didn't fish the evening - the orchard had to be mowed - need more Brownie points!