Feedback & Reports

16 x grayling 12-17 inches, mostly 14 inch fish; 7 x trout 6-10 inches. Heaven, if we ever get there, must be something like an autumn day in the Irfon valley with the trees colouring up and a pod of grayling in the pool! As usual, the Irfon came into condition before the Wye as the floods fell away, running clear although there was a good push of water coming through. There do seem to be some very handsome grayling around this season, but, if I have any complaint, it is that this year so far they seem to be slightly less reluctant to rise than usual. That is not to say that there are no rises, and a dry Red Tag brought 7 or 8 up on this day (and on the next, when I was out with another rod). But the nymphing system seems to be needed for a lot of the time, particularly in the afternoon when the odd rises seemed to die away somewhat. Also, I'm extremely sorry for the people who were staying at the Cammarch Hotel, but were washed off by floods at the beginning of the week and hope they will get a second chance to enjoy these beats.

After very helpful advice from the Foundation, an afternoon on what is a spectacular water - the upstream section especially. Sporadic fish rising, although to what I don't know. Result no fish landed although one lost. Watch out for the electric fence!

4 barbel and 1 chub.

4 Brown trout 12" - 11". 2 retained/2 returned. A pleasant ½ day.

River a little high but fining down after rain. Caught six barbel one chub from swim by hut, all caught on pellet feeder.

4 small brown trout 4"/5". 1 x chub 4". None taken.

6 fish biggest approx 11".

First time here. River in good nick after rain. A few showers drifted through during the day but quite warm and fishable. Not much fly, just one or two pale wateries and not a single rising fish. Raised two trout of 10-12" to a hare's ear emerger whilst fishing Kiwi style but had nothing on the nymph. Bugged some likely looking spots but only had one more trout on a pink bug and found no grayling. Didn't seem to spook anything either. I expect that the four goosanders with which I shared the beat did better than me! The presence of these FEBs must be a concern on such a lightly fished and relatively undisturbed fishery. A dog-walking local, also a fisherman, said that they are usually present up here, a view confimed by the owner of the fishery below Lower Clochfaen who, by chance, I met at the start of the day. He said that his water is virtually fished out, citing goosander predation and blaming the local otters for the demise of his last shoal of grayling. Not good news - maybe R1/R2 could be targetted using the Upper Wye FEB control licence?

Arrived about 10.30, River high and coloured. Carried all my tackle downstream, passed another fisherman who had already caught two barbel. It was very slippy towards the island and a little too difficult to carry the tackle so settled in another swim, very quiet, caught 1 barbel, about 6LBS a beautiful fish.

Colin appeared from nowhere and recommended a swim a little further upstream, he even helped me carry my tackle - a real gentleman and a wonderful man - Thanks! Set up there, had a few bites and by close of play caught 2 Chub and had my line snapped striking at a clonker of a bite.

A wonderful day's fishing, would have been wonderful if the river was down a little. Would definitely return. Thanks to everyone involved.

Had a most enjoyable day even without seeing a salmon. The sheer pleasure of casting a salmon fly in such beautiful surroundings. River reluctant to drop and carrying some colour. Had a sleep on bank at half time {after very early start} and was woken by two helicopters overhead. Perhaps they thought I'd pegged it! Saw three goosanders one of which was fishing considerably more competently than me. Didn't blank though. Caught and safely returned a feisty brownie which was at least half as big again as the flying C with which it picked an argument. Back to do it all over again next week.
Once again, thanks to the WUF and Glanusk staff, charming and helpful as ever.