Feedback & Reports

The water at Abernant was high and fast moving (3') but it was clear enough. The level fell during the day, and visibility continued to improve.
Graying up to 16" were caught, most were under 12", and mainly caught long trotting with maggot, although nymphs were used for a couple.One 15" and several small, out of season trout were also caught.
We were guided by Oliver Burch, whose knowledge and expertise made our day well worth while in tricky conditions.

11 Grayling

A cloudy, wind-free day. No insects and just a few solitary rises - took a fly rod but barely worth a cast. So spent the day, as planned, trotting for the first time for over fifteen years. Was reminded from start to finish that managing a centre-pin reel is a lot more difficult that I had remembered! Found grayling though, from a few 6 inch graylets to several very fit 14-15 inch adults; most fish, as has been the case throughout the season on the upper river, were 8-11". Also six OOS trout of 6-10 inches. Left wondering why it had taken me so long to get back to fishing with other than fly rods.

6 Trout, 20 Grayling

29 x grayling 9-16 inches, 16 x out of season trout 7-15 inches, trotting. A warmer day, ending in wind and rain. River still really in flood at 2 foot 3 inches with a big current, but going down and reasonably clear. Fished some quiet water in the edge off the main flow and some quite nice grayling of 15 and 16 inches were prepared to co-operate - when unwanted trout, still very much to the fore, were not pushing in ahead of them. A few large dark olives hatched, but nothing rose. Salmon showing at dusk.

29 Grayling

No fish caught, river just too fast and too much debris floating down.

Fished 7.00am - 11.00am, river clear and just above summer levels. A pleasant morning trotting with the centrepin. The Grayling were certainly hungry, I fished 5 or 6 swims and caught in all of them. I weighed the biggest one at 1lb 15oz, I am yet to catch a two-pounder so I fiddled around with the scales to see if I could get another ounce but no joy. Oh well, I'll just have to go back again.

5 Trout, 40 Grayling

Saw a fish rise early on so covered with nymph...on and off! Quiet then until I found some fish mid afternoon which rose to a dry Witch and Orange Otter - no fish we're freely rising or taking nymph but these flies brought some up as they often do. Missed more than I made contact with...very fast...but managed to catch up with some 8/9 inch grayling and a trout of similar size. Quite a few salmon moving in the pools and I saw an otter moving downstream!

1 Trout, 5 Grayling

The river was high and coloured and full of leaves from the high blustery wind which made for challenging fishing. My favourite spot was charging through so fast that a float was out of sight in seconds and a ledger was dragged round by leaves. I moved towards the bottom of the meadow where there was some slacker water and found some dace willing to feed. Unfortunately they were very small but I persevered in the hope that larger fish would turn up. I caught about 25 of these and a dozen Grayling, plus 1 acrobatic Trout. This may seem impressive but sadly the largest fish of the day would have failed to make 8ozs. As the water level fell by a few inches during the day, I had one more go in the faster water but only added one more small Grayling. Not too much wildlife about either but one Salmon leaped fully 4 feet clear of the water. I suspect that the larger fish remain in the main flow despite the extra speed, but presenting a bait to them was difficult. In hindsight I think a much heavier more visible float may have had better results. Something to try next time.

1 Trout, 12 Grayling, 25 Other

Nil Return.

Thank you Wye and Usk. A red letter day, caught my first Wye salmon. 31" approx 11 lb stale cock. Caught on a cascade.
The first time I have been able to fish when the conditions were perfect.

1 Salmon, 1 Trout

It was near perfect, the water was droping, but getting cold and the water was ver coloured. We tried everything from hitched flys and sunray shadows to large brass tubes and of course Aly's and cascades and green Highlanders. We saw some very large fish, but caught nothing. Apart from the presence of a large Aberdeen Angus bull the beat is very accessable and well kept.