Feedback & Reports

A slow morning, but the fishing picked up after lunch. Tight line nymphing and dry fly were equally successful.

6 Trout, 7 Grayling

First time fishing the lugg at lyepole , although I have visited the area before, it didn't disappoint.
Even with low water conditions there were abundant amounts of fish about and the scenery is beautiful. The comments about styles etc are correct and the beat could do with some TLC but the river more than makes up for that. Will definitely be back .

2 Trout, 18 Grayling

I have been a bit disparaging about the downstream half of this beat in the past. Thinking about it, this was probably as much due to my rushing through it, having spent too much time on the upper beat in the morning, than any reflection of the water itself. Also, if I catch a few fish in the morning, my concentration tends to waiver in the afternoon. This being the case, I decided to reverse the order today, fishing the downstream half of the beat first

As a previous correspondent indicated, at these low levels, there is not much water to go at, and I only fished around half a dozen runs during the morning. However, I spent longer in each run, and was pleasantly surprised with the results this produced, often picking up 3 or 4 Grayling long after I would normally have moved off the run. A dozen plus Grayling and one Trout, all on a nymph, before moving to the upper half of the beat after lunch. A similar catch from the upper half of the beat, a few more Grayling than in the morning (but this included some very small fish) and 3 Trout. Again, I only fished around half a dozen runs, sitting on the run usually produced good results

There were a few fish rising by mid afternoon, but I had had enough by then; with the prospect of my lovely wife's Lamb Casserole, in red wine sauce, with Mediterranean herbs and Dauphinoise potatoes and a bottle of Shiraz, more alluring than a few more fish

4 Trout, 30 Grayling

I hadn't fished Lyepole for several years and concur with other reports that the beat could do with a little maintenance. It wasn't just the stiles; many of the best places to fish (and there weren't as many as usual because of the extremely low levels) are in need of a branch or two removed.
Still, it was great to be back in the Lugg valley and fishing in what seemed to be a very healthy river. Every stoned turned revealed large numbers of gammarus and various other inverts. We ended with 19 grayling between us (2 anglers) up to 1lb 5oz (14") and 3 out-of-season trout. Most of the fish came to nymphs with a few on dry. The return doesn't include the number number of baby 3" grayling caught, which must have added up to over 35.

3 Trout, 19 Grayling, 1 Other

Fished the upper end of beat. Fish caught in run off pools of faster water.
Biggest grayling was 13oz.
I shall certainly return in the winter when bankside vegetation has died back.

4 Trout, 5 Grayling

10 grayling
Nice fish in good condition
No trout seen
Low water
Fish in top section of deeper pools where oxygenated water runs in
All to Bead head nymphs

10 Grayling

The Lugg luckily missed most of the rain that hit the Wye, and there was only a few cm increase in levels.
Two of us fished from 10.30am to 4.30pm, catching approximately 8 grayling, 4 trout and numerous very small grayling and minnows. Grayling were mostly 8-9" with one at 12". Trout were 8", 2x10" and 14". Also lost another 14" trout at the net. Most caught on nymphs with a few on dries.

4 Trout, 8 Grayling

River banks very over grown, access very difficult requires work to be carried out.

4 Grayling

While the river was very low, it was carrying a bit of colour. I don't know if this was due to the overnight rain, or just the way our rivers are these days. Around a dozen Grayling and 3 Trout from upstream in the morning. The Grayling were mostly in the 8 to 10 inch bracket, but one of the Trout must have gone 2lb. This could have been a 59 Flyfishers stockfish but, if it was, it was a long way from home. Otherwise, a veritable Lugg leviathan. All on a weighted nymph. Another dozen or so Grayling from downstream in the afternoon

My two Others were Minnows - which took a Size 14 PTN with alacrity

I have been fishing this beat for the best part of 20 years. Although I had a good day today, the beat is in need of some TLC; with fallen trees and rickety stiles a plenty. While Time's Winged Chariot may be hurrying near, I am still reasonably agile, but found myself struggling at times today

3 Trout, 24 Grayling, 2 Other

River slightly coloured after recent rain. Fished all day with NZ dropper. 8 small grayling caught and released all about 20cms. 2 sizable grayling, I guess around a kilo each. All fish safely returned to the water. A very pleasant day with good weather in beautiful surroundings.

10 Grayling