Feedback & Reports

We fished early (6am - 8:30am) and late (8:30pm - 9:30pm) as we were holidaying in The Old Post Office in Skenfrith (available via Welsh Country Cottages and good for large family group bookings). Unfortunately we didn't manage to tempt anything in the very hot, dry weather though we did see a few trout and, in the deepest pool, a couple of large chub. The beat access is very easy and the river is straightforward to fish with both wet and dry fly, I am sure that it will fish very well in more propitious conditions.

Another morning on the Hindwell – very challenging fun in the deep, tight pools above the bridge.

8 Trout

River extremely low and clear, weather very hot. 1 chub taken early on the tip in 18 inches of water. After that it was a struggle for even a bite. Tried trotting some corn but nothing doing. Lovely part of the river despite the walk.

1 Chub

Decided to start later and fish into the evening. Fished end of beat. Became rather hot when sun broke through. Caught barbel about 8lbs midday and a large eel late afternoon. Caught nothing further.
Thank you Adam for your helpful information and hope to meet you again. Another enjoyable day on the Wye. Thank you WUF.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

Float fished sweetcorn. 2 roach, 1 rudd all in excellent condition. Carp present but not feeding during what was a very hot, bright day. Lovely venue, many thanks.

3 Other

Beautiful stretch of river with clear water and bright sunlight. Only fished 10am to 1pm, probably a mistake. Only saw one fish, none taken. Using klink hammer size 14 and stone fly nymph size 14. Numerourous changes of nymph. Lovely stretch with loads of small pools, surprised at the result. Probably time of day, will be back.

Fished the wood section. 5 good chub caught to one rod. Some nice eels caught and small dace. No barbel which was due to the low river conditions. Lots of canoe traffic which did not help the fishing and we even had people swimming through our swims.

15 Chub, 10 Other

We caught and released 5 small trout, ranging from 6 to 10 inches in the morning on the upper section of the beat. In the afternoon, we moved to the lower section, however as temperature rose, the fish became less active and had less appetite. Although we patiently carried on fishing until late evening with the belief that the fish would start to rise as the temperature dropped off once again, we ended up no catch in the afternoon.
We saw some decent size fishes cruising at the bottom of shallow water but they were not interested in flies and disappeared to somewhere as we stared to fish.
Water was very clear, the level was very low, and the flow on the pools was very slow like still water.
It's been long hot days, we need rain, and the fish need rain!

5 Trout

I was welcomed by the owner when I arrived at the river and he told me a lot about the beat including its rich wildlife and the importance of avoiding the environmentally sensitive area. He corrected the map sent by WUF showing me that the lower limit is slightly further downstream of the wooded area. There is a sign on a tree. He didn't think the upstream limit stretched as far as that shown.
The fishing was challenging as the river was incredibly low and conditions bright, hot and still. I was casting to fish I could see on the long glides and although a number had a go at my dry fly none of them stuck (my poor timing, I suspect). If I could have spent more time there I'm sure nymphs would have paid dividends in the deep pools and gutters. I saw fish of varying sizes including a couple of good grayling and a chub. I'd certainly like to return to this beautiful stretch of the Irfon and wouldn't be put off by hot, dry conditions.

There is never a bad day on the Wye, but the low river and hot bright conditions are making it tough going. There were a couple of swims that produced the fish but one of them was very difficult to return the fish safely, so it took two of us, one in the water to land and unhook the fish safely, and one fishing. I drew the short straw and spent my time in the water, may be not so bad given the weather. I would just like to emphasise that in these conditions the fish welfare should come first and if you can't land and release the fish safely in a given swim, don't fish it!

10 Barbel, 3 Chub