Feedback & Reports

8 x trout 9-13 inches, 7 x out of season grayling 6-13 inches. The upper Wye has been fishing surprisingly well, despite very low water levels so early in the spring. On this occasion, an unusually sustained large dark olive hatch lasted from quite early until nearly three in the afternoon, resulting in fish rising all over the gravel flats on pool tails. For once there was a mild upstream breeze. A small Dark Olive Sparkle Dun accounted for most of them, and the rest came to the Waterhen Boa from a team of North Country spiders short-lined upstream. A delightful early season day. Ty Newydd, Abernant, and maybe parts of Gromaine are upper Wye beats which should produce similar conditions.

Cold wind down the valley but some March Browns about. Unfortunately, no rises and I caught nothing in 4 hrs fishing.

No springers, but 2 x well-mended kelts 33 inches and 38 inches, both on Black and Yellow tube fished off fast sink tip. I used to know the lower part of this beat as Middle Hill Court, but the upper part was unknown to me. The whole mile makes an excellent combination with enough water to keep you busy all day, whether fly-fishing or spinning. Plus it's a beautiful and quiet bit of river, what with the castle in the distance and wheeling buzzards, except for the very top where the A40 makes itself heard. I didn't see one canoe - is that some kind of record?

Caught another large kelt on an Hokkaido Sea Bass Killer and lost two others. It measued over 36 inches so it was a large fish released very carefully. No fresh fish obviously seen after the excitement of yesterday on Courtfield.

Nothing caught. Couple of takes on size 18 black gnat.
Plenty of water. Nice beat.

Caught 2 well-mended kelts between 10.30am and 2.30pm.
The second a beautiful fish of about 16lbs - very silvery. Lovely day out, nice beat.

I caught 10 Brownies and 10 Grayling. All fish returned. I caught the Browns and most of the Grayling on a size 16 grhe, and also a couple of Grayling on a Klinkhammer.
It was a brilliant day - I really appreciate the help/advice received at WUF. Apologies for the delay in the return but I have had neither internet or phone access (at Craswall). Thanks again, it was a real privilege.

Fished 13.30 to 18.00. Sunny and later overcast, water clear and lower than of late. Black/yellow silver spooned flying-c, barbless hook. From the Little Willow area on lower part of beat I caught a strong and well mended kelt of 33" nose to tail cleft. 2 other fish surfaced whilst playing the kelt so continued and caught a fresh run fish in excellent condition and colour of same length.

I then moved to the wood section but the sun was out and no action. When the cloud arrived later several fish were dolphining in mid Leggs Meadow so I covered this area and hooked a large fish that did a lot of headshaking then shot off downstream. Eventualy it came to the net but I had to drop into silted river past my waist as I only had 12lb leader to the spinner and the fish was too long for net! A 42"-43" fresh run cock(?) salmon in excellent condition was released in the water.

I then lost a small kelt in poor condition at net. There are obviously more fish lying up in this beat and with cold nights and lower water they may be expected to hold up for a while, though many may be kelts.

Lovely fly water fished from the right hand bank. Caught one well mended kelt.

Fished Wyebank and Courtfield under the guidence of Don. Caught 2 fish on the day, one on Fly and one on Spinner. Both well mended kelts unfortunatly of 34 and 28 inches. Did not connect with any of the springers and didn't actually ses any thing that might have been one.

Lovely day and a fish on the fly. Cant be bad, I thought. Shame Rudi had to come along and put me to shame with his two springers! Well done to him.