Feedback & Reports

Quite a slow day to start but it picked up before midday. Finished with 4 barbel and 2 chub between us, went away happy with a p.b chub of 4lb 9oz, it looked more like 6lb in the net!

Got there 11am river clear but pushing through hard, r/h bank looked featureless, opted for swims on l/h bank. Trying to find a piece of water not affected with floating weed being pushed down, left us with only 2 options...the first and last swims on the beat. As NP had the most luggage I got the farthest swim, fast water with a small area of slack. Chose to ball in 6 balls of heavy fish meal ground bait at head of swim, laced with 3mm, 11mm pellet and hemp. Fished meat on one rod and hair rigged pellet on the other, alternating to see which the fish favoured...meat won hands down 12 chub from 2 lbs to 4 1/2...later 2 barbel 7 and 10lbs both ripping 25m of 15 lbs braid off the reel. Lost 6 fish (think 2 were barbel) on sharp snag and weed 1/3 way across river. NP had one bite in 7hrs in first swim - lost very good barbel, constant weed made his fishing very difficult on the day. Can't help wondering where fish will hold up when winter levels and coloured water are there?

Tough call whether to forgo the Rugby live or record and fish. Couldn't resist the opportunity of decent water and sure enough it looked perfect if still a touch tea stained.
I hadn't really mentally realised it was October until I was properly cold & stiff having worked down the beat. Still after re establishing blood flow, try again and 9Lb hen fish on T&L in Lady Alexs' Catch. Short but very deep.
Thanks as ever WUF. Now I have to battle my family for the TV - and I still don't know the results!

Took a last minute decision to book this lovely beat as the River cam at Rhayader was indicating falling levels and no significant rain had fallen in the previous 36 hours. I'm glad I went, the level was fishable and the water clear.
Four fish to hand, the first a super Grayling at 1 3/4lb Czech nymphing, the other 3 on dry fly on an "O B" Red Tag. 2 x Grayling both over a lb and a pretty out of season BT at about 3/4 lb.
This is indeed a lovely and secluded beat. The wading is however a challenge and I'm glad I took a wading staff, even then I sat down and took water on board!

Slow starting day which picked up late in the afternoon. One very small out of season brownie on a goldhead nymph plus 6 grayling. Smallest grayling around 1lb, biggest pushing 2lb with one lost a fair bit bigger. All grayling caught on dries although very few rises seen throughout the day. Lovely beat despite the sometimes tricky wading!

This pretty much appeared the only beat available on Saturday so I took a chance. The river was in good condition - up a foot with a nice colour. Fished the only real swim on the beat - below the rock. Unfortunately there was masses of weed coming through at all levels of the water. Fishing was impossible in the main channel. You could fish the near side where there was little flow - but also little fish action. I managed one small chub in 4 hours. An opportunity missed as I am sure they were feeding - just not good enough to get them !!

Found the river a little high and fast but the slower water at the bottom of the beat proved productive. Started fishing the 'Klink & Dink' combination but the fish were only interested in the Olive Klink. Ended up with 5 grayling mostly in the 10" category but one beauty of about 1 lb. Also returned 3 trout around 10". Altogether a very satisfying day.

It is indeed a beautiful beat and I was looking forward to spending the day with my young son. Unfortunately the river was pretty much unfisheable as so much weed was being carried from upstream. As soon as the bait was cast in, the weed would attempt to wisk the rod away from you.

It is a shame that notice is not given to fisherman a little in advance like a few chalkstreams when weed cutting is underway. This would help choose a worthy day out on this wonderful river.

I hope I find better luck next time. The view and the scenery werre nearly worth the £40 nearly?

WUF Note - weed cutting rarely takes place on the Wye. The recent rise in water levels have been the first for a while and as a result have released debris that has been collecting in the margins. This is normal for a first rise after many weeks.

Good bags of sizeable grayling on all rods (promptly released) and few Brownies, one over 2lbs (equally released in good shape). Water clearing out after spate, good hatches after 14:00, persistent when lull of wind.

The day after fished Wye at Doldowlod, very disappointing for colder water and windy condition, minor hatches, but we spotted a wonderful coloured cock salmon around 20 pounds (1 meter long!, no kidding!)

Nil caught. No takes. Saw a few trout rising - great day had, look forward to next season. Many thanks to W.U.F