Feedback & Reports

Ach, a blank ledgering with worms but that's probably my lameness - certainly missed a couple. A few trout coming to the surface. Wish I'd taken the fly rod but it was just a quick exploratory visit.

Many of the beats booked up, so I defaulted to an as low down the river beat as I could book, and so booked Wyebank. Not fished this beat before and probably wouldn't again on a warm Saturday, with the World and his wife on the water.
River very low, although there is some good fly water on this short beat, the constant flow of canoes over any fish that were present, I think contributed to keeping the fish either very low or in deeper water. Saying that spent nearly all the time on the fly and had two reasonable pulls, but inexplicably I failed to connect with either.
Did 'land' one 6 inch salmon parr which took a liking to my tube fly.

I had a lovely day and met up with Don who game me an update.
I saw four fish but didn't catch a salmon; however I did catch a 5.1 lb pike which I released back.

One Rainbow taken on mini goldhead damsel between the two of us. One more lost by the boat. Only these 2 bites all day despite good conditions and a lot of fly activity. Several other fly fisherman drew blanks also.

Looks like it needs restocking again. Also care with restocking - different locations. Fish remain by the ramp for a day or so when first stocked. Local anglers know this and clean up.

Also apart from Wye and Usk there is no returns info for day tickets from the site (currently the majority of tickets bought) to record catches so no one knows how many are being taken. Struggle to see how you can have an effective re-stocking policy on this basis.

Perhaps Wye and Usk via internet and phone should be the only source of bookings and get rid of onsite machine. (which is a hassle anyway because you need 17 £1 coins) This would allow Wye and Usk to insist on catch returns and follow up avoiders.

Food for thought for Welsh Water.

What a lovely day to be on the river, no salmon showing or caught but a prolific trout rise on No 1 beat. This was the 1st time of fishing this stretch and it could probably have done with a drop more water but we will return. Proprietor extremely helpful as well. Booking through WUF was quick and smooth.

lovely sunny day but not much activity on the river, several fish rising to a small hatch dark olives in pool just below the bridge in the afternoon otherwise river appeared devoid of fish. Caught 1 trout here on a small March brown ~ 6 oz. River was very low. Pools that were waist deep this time last year were only knee deep today so suspect river would fish better if we had a bit of rain. Do the fish move upstream when the water is very low like this ? The pools in the river just upstream are quite a bit deeper than on the Skenfrith section.

4 trout between 8 and 10 inches and one 4 inch grayling, all on either a size 16 tungsten nymph or a size 12 elk caddis, fished NZ style. Warm sunny day with sporadic hatch of small olives especially around midday. A few fish rising throughout the day. Stayed at the Riverside Inn - a very pleasant experience.

Started off misty, bright day; water crystal clear. From bridge to upper weir 3 WBT 6", 10" 14" and 2 OS Grayling 8" & 12"; Klinkhammer and Rambo GH - Spotted 2 WBT 2Lb + mark.

Very attractive beat. Unfortunately water levels quite low and clear. One pike caught, no salmon.

Glorious relaxing day - with usefully cold water (still) but weather, locals, anglers and moving salmon all showing a sunny disposition. None to the (tube) fly, however, but an utterly invaluable time thanks to Don's generous and sympathetic advice. Also, with my being temporarily disabled, this was such an easy, accessible beat, with a continuous run of beautiful streamy fly water. Thanks Seth for the introduction.