Feedback & Reports

Suitably fueled and insulated by “the Big Breakfast” at The Halt Cafe, we met up with Frank Williams at Doldowlod for a days tuition in the art of Grayling fishing. Conditions were surprisingly good, the river being relatively clear and not too high. This day was more about learning new techniques than catching bucket loads of fish. Frank is a patient and encouraging tutor with an engaging manner. He's a good investment. You never stop learning at this game which is why it never loses it’s fascination.

Six fish caught, five Grayling and one out of season Brown Trout. The best, a 1lb 4oz Grayling on the dry, the others on weighted nymphs. All fish returned.

A most enjoyable day. But we found it difficult to find the fish until Colin arrived at the end of the day and we caught a few barbel in quick succession. We know where to find them next time. 6 barbel 1 chub. Looking forward to next week.

3 x grayling 10-12 inches, 5 x out of season trout 9-11 inches. A proper solid grayling came off after a few seconds in one of the holes. This is a new beat to me and I didn't really do it justice - the nymph rig I use on the Lugg and the Arrow doesn't seem quite right as this is a much more open, clearer stream. But it's a very nice stretch of water with good access and some interesting pools. I look forward to fishing it on a dry fly day.

2 chub, around 4lb and 1 barbel of 6lb. Hard going, particularly with such a wet day - never stopped until 14.00. One complaint: the blurb issued by the foundation states that "There is an excellent and comfortable hut with cooking facilities and a separate w.c." Great shame that it was locked - apparently only opens when the ghillie is on the beat. Maybe this misleading information should be updated - it would have saved me bringing food and tea bags!

Excellent day on a beat we haven't visited before. Plenty of colour in the water and a fair amount of floating debris but otherwise looking good. The persistent rain, wind and cold made the banks an interesting proposition without crampons but we wandered up and down the river trying the numerous swims available. Half a dozen chub to well over 4 lbs and a couple of nice barbel to 8 lbs on small pellets and corn without any baiting other than feeders made us forget the weather (I'm writing this on the 27th and the sun is shining with temperatures in the mid-teens). Caught some in the faster water below the island and some in slower stretches upstream.

Good day - thanks WUF. Can we be clear on whether or not we are allowed to drive upstream from the hut. The computer says 'no' but the well-worn tyre tracks suggest otherwise.

WUF Note : Please note that anglers are NOT permitted to drive along the bank.

River about 1.5 feet up. Plenty of chub on this beat, lost count of how many, at least 15, including two fish not far short of 5 pounds. The barbel were harder to find but ended up with 4 to about 7 pounds. Nice beat, plenty to fish to the whole lenth of the beat. Yes all on pellets!

9 x grayling 10-17 inches, 2 x out of season trout 6 inches, mostly on dry fly but a couple on traditional grayling wets (Grayling Steel Blue and Treacle Parkin). We switched plans to fish the Irfon as main Wye was still rather coloured this morning. A very cold frosty start, but grayling eventually started to rise, although in a rather finicky way. Not easy fishing, but the bag included quite a number of nice 15 inch grayling and one very solid 17 inch male fish.

After a very cold start to the day, the sun managed to punch through the valley mist and provide us with beautiful sunshine for the rest of the day. 4 beautiful grayling to @40cm with several missed. All fish were taken throughout the mid section of the beat, and all fell to weighted bugs. This was a great day out, on a great beat provided by a great organisation. I will be back as soon as I can. Many thanks to the Foundation and Charles Picton.

Wyebank Section. 16.00 to 18.30, overcast but mild. Evening walk to use maggots left from trip to Glanwye. Met 2 W&U anglers leaving after blank day for Barbel. River falling and clearing but water very cold the probable cause of the lack of barbel. Trotting, centre-pin, chubber float lightly over shot to size 14 hook on 4lb line set at 3 to 4ft and held back on edge of flow. Loose feed maggots with 2 on hook. 1 x 3lb plus chub followed by dace to 12oz every other cast until very dark. During this summer only caught occasional individual dace when using sweetcorn for barbel/chub and thought the heavy presence of a cormorant family and immature goosanders had cleared most of dace so good to find a large quality shoal present again.

Wyebank Section. 16.00 to 18.30, overcast but mild. Evening walk to use maggots left from trip to Glanwye. Met 2 W&U anglers leaving after blank day for Barbel. River falling and clearing but water very cold the probable cause of the lack of barbel. Trotting, centre-pin, chubber float lightly over shot to size 14 hook on 4lb line set at 3 to 4ft and held back on edge of flow. Loose feed maggots with 2 on hook. 1 x 3lb plus chub followed by dace to 12oz every other cast until very dark. During this summer only caught occasional individual dace when using sweetcorn for barbel/chub and thought the heavy presence of a cormorant family and immature goosanders had cleared most of dace so good to find a large quality shoal present again.