Feedback & Reports

Having had some great sport at Backney the previous day, my companion Gavin and I arrived at Holme Lacy with high expectation. The weather conditions looked ideal, overcast and 12c with the river carrying just a little colour. After walking the section we settled into swims on the downstream end of the stretch. Gavin was very soon into a 6 lb plus barbel whilst I was finding all the snags in front of me with every cast so moved into cable crib. Once again I found the snags with increasing regularity which wasn't helped by weed dislodging the feeder and pulling the hook into various nooks and crannys. As the morning wore on the debris coming downstream decreased and presenting a bait became easier although 4 oz was needed to hold bottom in many areas. I managed two barbel, a chub and lost a barbel and Gav too had another barbel. At lunch time I had a rove around with a deadbait in various swims looking for pike but to no avail. We then met Colin the Ghillie who was very helpful and interesting to talk to, and on his advice decided to move to swims at the top end of the section for the afternoon. I caught a succession of barbel and chub from my new swim, as did Gav from his. The way these barbel fight has to be experienced to be believed! Amazing battle every time and what stunning specimens to boot.
We finished the day with 10 barbel between us from 4 1/4 lb to 6 3/4 lb and 7 small chub. All caught on a variety of baits.
A great days sport in stunning surroundings. Can't wait to go back.

First time on the beat. Water low with some areas very slow moving.
Very very windy, when I turned my back on the wind I thought my landing net might throttle me as it spun in the air.The good thing about this beat is that it has many bends and it is possible to get out of the wind.
I only manage half a dozen small Grayling and out of season BT although missed a very good fish in a very brief fight. In fact if it had not turn over on the surface I would have thought I had simply snagged on a rock, which is where the rest of my setup ended.
A good call for anyone traveling some distance to these 'Marcher' beats is breakfast at Morrisons in Leominster which opens at 8am. This is located on the A40 on the way to Brecon/Builth, Going to this beat might entail a little detour of five minutes to the other side of this town, but a breakfast like this keeps one going all day, especially when daylight fishing time is so precious at this time of year.

Two barbel up to 8.5 lbs - one small chub about 3 lbs.

Caught 2 barbel diectly after arriving - 12 o clock but that was it for the day despite trying several swims. Opposite bank was busy with anglers.

River low but still lightly coloured. Weather relatively mild for the time of year - on the whole things looked promising. In spite of moving about and trying boilies, pellets and meat, only 1 barbel caught of about 8lbs, plus 7 or 8 chub up to maybe 3.5lbs. Looks like the barbel have shut up shop for the winter, but still a lovely place to spend a day.

River was at 1ft 6" on the Llanstephan gauge. Some overnight rain and an afternoon shower or two. Short session of 4 hrs. 5 grayling caught & released. All quite small fish ranging 6"- 11". Taken on pink shrimp stopper or spectra/red tag, jig nymph point. Spotted at least 2 leaping salmon ....pleasant sight.

I had a most enjoyable lunch at The Bell. The food was excellent and the service was very hospitable. The meal aside, I fished the beat before and after lunch. It was cold, windy, and occasionally rainy. I tried a variety of tactics, but all to no avail. I can give no evidence that there was a single grayling in residence, or any other aquatic life for that matter. That said, it was a beautiful stretch of river and I will definitely return. However, I might wait for the trout season.

A pleasant enough day with the water at 8 degrees and 1'6" at the start but which then unexpectedly rose to 1'9" over the course of the day. So it was really pushing through making access to certain usually accessible and fish-holding parts of the beat an absolute no-go. No midday olives and no rising fish at any time but I still rose a couple of 10-12" fish to a HE emerger whist fishing duo. Surprisingly litle on nymphs fished this way, apart from a few graylets, and nothing Czech nymphing on bigger usually attractive bugs. Maybe the rising water put them off or maybe the ladies have begun to move to pastures new? Probably now time to get out the trotting gear for more efficient searching (but not here of course!).

Only 2 6" grayling on nymph, very quiet. Farmer said the river had more water than for weeks, but still clear and low. Real highlight was seeing in the space of 5 minutes either 1 otter twice or two otters - going upstream and very close.

What a remarkable stretch to fish, inclusive of two storey accommodation (some fishing hut )I also managed a sixteen pound pike which was still in summer condition, took a pike shaped plug immediately after hitting the surface on around the tenth cast just downstream of the lodge, wonderful condition beautiful markings. A truly great place to fish definitely be back soon.