Feedback & Reports

Fished the first third of the beat late afternoon. Six small trout on my own pattern nymph (Irfon Bug) fished upstream dead drift. Hooked two other fish, one was larger, but the hook hold lost. Very nice stretch of water: the main challenge seems to be getting into a position to cast at the likely pools without spooking the fish. The nature of the riverbank and the extent of vegetation this time of year precluded a stealthy approach from the bank which makes the game harder. I saw several fish spook from the merest hint of water movement or gravel disturbance while wading.

6 Trout

I didn't see any fish at all. In the afternoon I also fished the river Arrow just below Huntingdon where I am a member of a syndicate. Again, no sight of any fish. Some members of my syndicate are starting to worry about declining fish numbers in the Arrow. Are we the only people who have noticed a decline or is this a general concern?

It was tough going with the river low and gin clear. We persevered and made the most of a spell in the evening to land a couple of nice barbel to 8lbs 11ozs!

2 Barbel, 4 Chub

Fished ledger, meat. River,low and clear. Accommodation Flanesford Priory. Fished Lower Hill Court saturday, same method, 2 barbel, 2 chub.

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

3 trout were caught with worm as bait and with floats.

3 Trout

After guiding S and N yesterday they tried on their own. They said the canoe traffic was even worst during the day. Again the fish were caught early and late. At one point during the day they had 5 people diving in and swimming around in the swim. To be fair one chap had lost his camera over the side. They didn't find it! I suggested they asked the divers to bring back a few feeders. There must be 100's down there. No wonder they didn't catch for a while after this. Still 9 barbel a couple of 8lbs and a beauty of 10lbs 4oz all weighed of course. Not sure how many chub they caught but there must have been some. Nothing like the beauty of 5lbs 12oz the previous day.
Over the 2 day period they only lost 3 feeders. I know when I first fished the swim I lost 10 in one day. Thats why local knowledge is helpful. This was their first visit to the Wye and certainly not the last.

9 Barbel

Unless you count chucking out a feeder for Barbel, my first day's fishing on the Wye. Crikey, it's a bit different to the Lugg. Fishing a team of spiders, I picked up the odd Grayling in most of the runs/glides I fished before latching onto a pod of fish in a non-descript looking piece of water just upstream of the Bachawy. Some quality fish. Somewhat surprisingly, no Trout - but a handful of Salmon Parr. Tres bonne.

15 Grayling

One fish 1.5 to 2lb, two others about half to three-quarters of a pound. I kept the biggest fish. All were caught on nymphs.
Accessing the river is not easy. The banks on almost the whole length are heavily overgrown with bracken, balsam and brambles but once you reach the river it is a lovely piece of water.
When I arrived I put 9 cormorants off the water. I saw a mink at close range, also otter spraint and footprints. How do the fish survive?
Worth noting that there is no sign on the gate to say it is Ashford House. That may be worth a mention on the directions to the beat.

3 Trout

Fished from 4 o clock until dark. All fish caught from faster water at top of beat on boilie and pellet.

7 Barbel, 1 Chub

A common carp of about 2lb. Both the carp and the chub (1lb) were in mint condition. Caught using sweetcorn and luncheon meat baits on a size 12 with 3lb bs bottom.
A perfect morning, but ultimately finished around lunchtime as was descended on by around 30 ramblers, picnickers and dogs. Did a litter pick around lake shore before leaving.

1 Chub, 1 Other