Feedback & Reports

Lots of Salmon showing in the early morning but takes apart from 1 pike . We must have seen at least 15/20 fish in the lower pools. Thanks to Adam for his help and also to the staff at Ye Hostelrie Goodrich especially Andy. I would recommend staying here anytime you are in the area.

1 Pike

The day was overcast and the forecast was for rain, so thankfully canoeists seemed to be discouraged, although sadly not eradicated. We were fishing with fly only and we covered all the fly water above and below the bridge, on the Symonds Yat West side of bridge, before heading down to the sand/gravel bar which looks as if it may have been washed away during the winter. We ended up fishing the island and then one more run down to the bridge. We saw one fish crash out of the water near Martin's Bar, impossible to reach with a fly. The water level was surprisingly low and we were told the farmers were given permission to abstract water from the river in the last few days. A very pleasant day with no fish caught.

Nothing caught. Far too many very inconsiderate canoeists which made the day extremely frustrating. Had one idiot fall out of his canoe and when he saw it floating off with his girlfriend aboard he decided instead of hopping aboard his buddies boat, to follow behind to swim for it less than a rod length directly in front of me and directly across the pool I was fishing. When reprimanded for his lack of consideration he couldn't fathom what he'd done wrong. There are a few great pools but access is difficult due to steep banks and lack of ladders.

Bank holiday Saturday - Wye full of canoeists, making fishing difficult. Water still low, but improving. No pulls.

No salmon, lots of canoes.

River running slightly high with some colour, but looking good... saw a fish move in Slaughter crib pool.
Hit into a shoal of Shad and IR took two fish on a size 10 Willie Gunn so changed to a bigger fly, LB took 3 shad before doing the same on an Allie's Shrimp in Botchers Rock pool. Hooked and lost a salmon in Biblin's Run, on a long tailed Willie Gunn size 8. River seemed to colour up even more in the afternoon. An enjoyable day on the river albeit with no fish...

5 Other

Low water and sunny, nothing caught but could see how it would fish well in the right conditions.

Late report and sadly not much to report. Fished from 6am until 10am when canoe traffic meant an early finish. Nice water but no sign of salmon. JC managed one trout.

1 Trout

Italian guest, Corrado Benassi, caught a salmon estimated at 20lbs (94cm) on Lower Symonds Yat beat on a 'Willie Gunn' tube fly, double hook. Returned safely. Many fish rising on this stretch of the river, during the morning.

1 Salmon

So, water was v low (0.97m Monmouth gauge) which meant quite a lot not possible to fish a fly through, but can see the huge potential of this beat for sure. The water running down from Slaughter to the foot bridge is just wonderful and can imagine a lot of fish get hooked here. Below the bridge down to Martins it was all too slow for a fly, so fished hard with a spinner, scrambling the banks and wading the edges, didn't connect with one, but did see a fish roll in the Smokehouse pool.

I don't want this to be just another negative post about the canoe civil war that haunts this part of the Wye, but I put up with as much as I could on the top half until finally a large pack of men came through, one with a sound system so loud I could actually feel the bass through the water. So I wound in the line at that point. Around 50 % of them have obviously been briefed and passed me behind where my line was, but the other half carry on straight through the middle of the pool. The grumpy man in me feels it is perhaps a bit unfair to pay £50 to fish a beat where the main part of the day is virtually impossible, but the more easy going utilitarian in me says there is still a lot of water and I was outnumbered around 100:1 by canoeists, so I should give way to them. I doubt I will fish there again at this time of year, but would consider coming back from June when it's available mid week. In the mean time... i think we should all do a rain dance!

Highlight was filming two MASSIVE wild boar cruising down the treeline of Lady Wood in the half light on the way out!