Feedback & Reports

I really love this stretch of water and have fished it many times with lots of success. I have to say though that I was finally overcome by the state of the bank undergrowth to the extent that I only stayed for a couple of hours with a catch of just one brownie of about 11". Moving between my favourite stretches of water has become too much of a challenge. I will go back, but only when my options elsewhere are limited or in early season when the vegetation is not so dense. It would be great to see work done to improve access to this stretch of river so that it can be enjoyed to the full by all.

4 grayling from 1.25 to 2.5lb and 2 trout, 0.5 & 0.75lb.

Quite a slow day compared to previous experience on this stretch. 9 barbel, and 4 chub between us. A beautiful stretch but with relatively few places where you can access the river bank. The greasy banks meant that even some of those were unsafe to fish. I'm sure we will be back.

I checked the Upper Usk camera at 08:30 just before leaving and everything looked set for a reasonable days fishing. I got to the beat at 10:30 by which time the water resembled strawberry thickshake.

I flicked some nymph's for a couple of hours in the likely runs but with only 3-4" of visibility underwater it was always going to be tough.

No great surprise that the tally for the day was zero.

River rising after overnight rain, though it day stay reasonably clear. Fished for two and a half hours around midday. Resorted to a beadhead and spider combination and had a 8" fish on a waterhen bloa, together with a few other tugs. Excellent access/directions to this beat.

Aproximately 60 x trout between 3 rods on floating lines and a variety of traditional wet flies, ranging from small and dull like Grouse and Claret and Williams' Favourite, to brighter patterns like Silver Butcher and Black Pennell.

Frank Ward in his "Lakes of Wales" writes of Bugeilyn: ""The Shepherd's Pool" lies, dreary and remote, on a desolate tract of elevated moorland north of Plynlimmon, and 7 miles from Machynlleth. The mountain views on the ascent to this lake are very fine. It is boggy land around and the water is peaty, but holds many fine trout".

I have to state I never find it dreary at all; it's a wonderful place if the weather is kind, as on this day of intermittent cloud and sunshine with a soft, warm, breeze. The view south to Plynlimmom as the sun was setting was fabulous.

Ward again: "One of 4.75 pounds was taken here (by Mr Francis H Audrey) in in June, 1929, on a Wickam's Fancy fished dry with a 4X cast."

That's something to dream about. The best we managed was 13 inches.

Ward also mentions that the 80 acre Glaslyn which you pass on the way to Bugeilyn (not to be fished) is in fact fishless for some reason and all attempts to stock it in the past have failed. Bugeilyn just naturally contains lots of beautiful trout, without any human interference.

Incidentally, the Star Inn at the now almost deserted lead-mining village of Dylife nearby, apart from providing accomodation to benighted hill-walkers and anglers, does a very nice dinner. Try the roast duck with damson sauce.

River nice height sl.tint. Fished hard for 8hrs in lovely surroundings. Saw two kingfishers and a mink. Didn't see or touch a fish - packed up gear and was walking back to the car when a 10lb bar of silver leapt out of the water just where I had been casting. That's salmon fishing! Will be back. Thanks to WUF for a most enjoyable day. Service charming as ever.

Lovely day despite horrendous shower in the afternoon.6 x chub including my personal best at 6lb 1oz !! 3 x over 4lb. 4 barbel including 1 x 5lb 2 x 6lb 1 x 8lb 2oz.

Had a great day here, two of us fishing took a total of 9 Barbel to 8lbs and a decent chub from the top of the fishery. Fishing was very quiet during noon through to five pm. Really enjoyed the location with lots of wildlife to watch when the fishing was quiet. The A40 does drone a bit but after a while you just ignore it. All the fish fell to elipse pellet fished over a bed of groundbait. As usual the river is tough on tackle so be prepared to loose some. Will be going back once there is some water in the river again.

The water was quite low in the river and it was very hard (pretty much everywere) to get a cast away. Lots of trees and plants made it difficult to wade without scaring the fish away. Especially for my father. Have to admit the maximum lenght of the rod-advise was 7,5" and we both had 8,5" rods. Still i managed to catch 7 small trout but my dad cought nothing. We fished 2 hours or so.

The beat surely needs some more cutting. For us tourists we have no idea what the beats look like and i think this beat has to be closed untill either the water is heighter or easyer to walk on the side of the river and cast.

This was our last day in Wales and altho the last day wasnt as planed we still enjoyed the fishery. So thanks WUF but please use my advice.