Feedback & Reports

43 x grayling 8-15 inches, 1 x chub about 5 pounds, 17 x out of season trout 7-14 inches, long trotting. A cold (6 degrees) dark day with a seemingly permanent mist hanging in the Wye valley ended in rain at dusk. The river was running high but clear, as it has all week, the level coming down very, very slowly. Grayling seemed to be properly on the feed and there are no complaints from me now about their fighting qualities in a strong current. Most of these were junior class fish around 11-13 inches, but a few of the larger ones just failed to make 16 inches. Two days before, I fished the Pwll y Faedda beat which is just downstream, and this also fished very well for grayling with the trotting rod. Generally I like to see the Llanstephan gauge at 18 inches or below for the fly rod in winter. That suggested level is mainly a matter of access (and safety, I suppose). At higher levels than that, the trotting rod is generally a better option on those beats which allow it, provided you can get into a position to cover fish. The easy wading at Abernant is usually a good bet in high water.
Generally speaking, now we have reached mid-November, I don't think the 2012 autumn of grayling fishing will go down as one of the best... and by autumn grayling fishing I mean top of the water sport with dries and spiders and the like. There were good days here and there which some people managed to capitalise on, but not so many opportunities as one flood came after another. We are still getting a few large dark olives hatching after lunch, but consequent rises have been very brief and I expect the fish will probably stay down for most of the time now.
What has really impressed me this week is the number of salmon in the river. I spend a lot of winter days on the main stem of the Wye and I cannot remember a year when so many have been showing - every 5 minutes or so one comes up with a noisy splash, in the usual places and also in some new ones. In the higher water this week I had the impression that upstream movement was still going on slowly. It wouldn't be a bad thing if the rain would stop for a bit now. And a good period of frost, I suppose, will start off the spawning process to round up what has been memorable year for salmon on the Wye.

A damp day but most enjoyable, five trout count in lovely condition and colour. Unfortunately no grayling.

Not one bite. With relative low water this beat proved difficult on the day as the river appeared relatively lifeless.

Dank overcast day, no breeze & clear river (what am I going to use as an excuse!!!! maybe the Otters Holt at the far end of the beat!). Worked my way back from the far end of the beat upstream without success. Reached the section just below the Bridge where fish were rising caught 1 out of season WBT 9" and missed several others.

Turned up to find the river totally void of life. Just the way I like it! Started at the top end and managed a 4lb chub after an hour using a boilie bait I'm testing for a mate. I then worked my way down each swim using my trusted free running ledger approach finishing on 3 chub and 5 barbel, the biggest just tipping 9lb. Great days fishing.
Word of caution to those going be careful on the banks as some swims are pretty steep and the mud can be deadly. I nearly ended up on my back a few times.
Cheers for a great day. Hopeful I'll be back very soon.

6 barbel up to 8lbs 5oz and 4 chub up to 5lbs 10oz.

I didn't catch anything. The day looked promising, with the right weather and river conditions, unfortunately half an hour into my fishing the felt soles on my waders decided to part company from the boots. This beat is a beautiful stretch of water but with mostly bedrock it is a dangerous place to be without being fully equipped and confident.
My wife and I stayed in the Caer Beris Manor on the Irfon(another beautiful beat). We enjoyed our stay and even got a room upgrade so we were well pleased. The staff are all very friendly and welcoming but I don't think the food is worth writing home about.

4 x grayling 9-18 inches, 20 x out of season trout 8-14 inches, trotting maggots. A dark, cloudy and very warm day with the river at a good fishing height for once. This is the first time I have fished the Leen with bait and it made an interesting experiment. This time last season we were rather worried that the 2011 drought and months of low water had damaged the large grayling for which this beat was known. This day produced just four, from some deep corner swims which I don't believe I could have reached into with weighted flies. One was a really nice fish of 18 inches, and another made 15 inches. Otherwise, the out of season trout were still very much dominating the pools and well forward on the feeding lies - frankly difficult to avoid. The by-catch of trout was about evenly split between lovely wild Arrow fish, mostly around 10 inches, and what appeared to be stock fish, although nicely turned out, up to about 14 inches. After all these weeks of flood, it felt good to be out on the river in the fresh air and landscape of North Herefordshire.

Great day, river at 2' on the gauge at Lani. Air temperature at 15 degrees, overcast day with upstream wind, great conditions for trotting, managed some nice grayling to 1 3/4 lb, 3 Chub to 4lb and a few brownies. All in all very pleasant day on the upper river.
Thanks to WUF as always great service.

13 grayling up to a pound, 4 small brown trout and one parr, taken on weighted nymphs. Salmon showing throughout the day. Lovely stretch of river, wading good for the majority of the beat we fished. Directions to the beat from WUF spot on.