Feedback & Reports

Started at about 1300 above the bridge in bright conditions which remained all day. Fished French style nymph experimenting with types but had all the success on green/olive variants of hare’s ear. Had a good sized grayling quickly from the run clear of trees, and after that caught a combination of grayling and brownies as we worked up the beat. Found one nice run about 200m before the weir which was easily open enough to cast and provided a couple of brownies. Nothing else above this point, but not much time spent there either because there was nothing obvious. At 1630 we started to work our way up from the downstream limit. A nice grayling from the pool right on the downstream limit, then nothing for the remainder of the beat up to the bridge.

Had some dinner, and the got back on the water above the bridge again at 2000 and waited to see the fish moving. It took a while to get going but there was a reasonable amount of fly on the water and from 2100 we had a lot of fun stalking and casting to rising fish in among the trees. Very tricky trying to cast below the trees and not landing the line directly above the fish, but any presentation that was half decent generally gave a rise. A lot of strikes that didn’t hook up, probably because of the size of the fish, but three brown trout and one grayling were brought to the net on the dry fly before it was too dark to see. The flys were cdc spinners, size 18, and the colour made no difference, probably because it was just a silhouette by that time. This was not far off small stream fishing with a 6’ 3 weight.

A couple of swimmers, but no trouble. Its a very pretty spot and a nice day out. Think small stream when you go.

5 Trout, 5 Grayling

Another great day spent on the beat. 4 trout and 2 grayling all good size caught upstream of the bridge on size 12-14 pheasant tail nymphs. Lots of hatches occurring but few fish were rising. Some lobster sized signal crayfish and lots of Himalayan basalm so remember to check, clean and dry gear after fishing.

4 Trout, 2 Grayling

Hard days fishing. One fish fell to grey duster other to a orange bead nymph . Waters just coloured but thinning down
Not sure if the cost matches the venue ?

2 Trout

Started at the very bottom of the beat, much of which is only inches deep, worked my way up until I came to a bend which was too deep to wade, got out, and couldn't get back in anywhere missing a good 200yd stretch.
Faired better above the bridge and managed 1 grayling in one of the pools. No rises seen all day despite a sporadic hatch of yellow mays.
Not sure this beat justifies its price tag and should be added in my opinion to the Wild Stream portfolio

1 Grayling

River conditions were good with plenty of fish rising from about 13:00. Tried a number of different dry patterns/sizes without getting any interest at all. After about 3 hours and near the point of giving up, I tried a deer hair emerger and immediately got plenty of interest with two nice WBT around 10" caught in the space of 15 minutes. Sadly, having discovered what it takes to catch fish, two canoeists appeared after which everything went dead again. Gave up and went home. What a disappointment after spending £59.

2 Trout

Myself and my Father had a fantastic days fishing with outstanding guidance from Oliver Burch. Although very wet for almost the entire day the fish were taking and the river didn’t rise much but did become increasingly coloured. Success on the lower half of the beat was using the nymph with Grayling being most active in the morning.
In the afternoon we moved to the parachute fly coaxing a number of trout to take.
Our largest trout was around 12 inches and grayling around 14 inches.

14 Trout, 7 Grayling

A lovely day spent with my son on this beat. When we arrived the water was slightly coloured from the rain the night before. The mornings fishing was quiet but after lunch we were able to catch 3 trout up to about 8 inches. Missed a few, but the majority of takes were on small nymphs, with the occasional fish going for a dry. As others have commented very few fish rising. Overall a fantastic beat which we will be definitely returning to. On a side note as we were fishing a 20 foot branch came down just below the bridge which may need removing. Missed us by minutes!

3 Trout

A thoroughly enjoyable day on one of the very few beats I have returned to multiple times. Such a picturesque beat with plenty of variety of water to fish. Lots of insect life but the mayflies appear to have dwindled. Few rising so the majority caught on nymphs. Shame to have to challenge someone with a spinning rod just below the bridge. They soon cleared off but just to make you aware. I have the details of the sign written vehicle if Wye&Usk wish to pursue.

7 Trout

Touch of colour to the water which was still not much higher than my last visit three weeks ago. Bankside and overhead growth more in play which made for an excellent stalking "wild" day. Warm conditions, mainly overcast with some sunny spells very light breeze at times. First two fish on nymphs from the pool at the very bottom of the beat ( cracking grayling and 6" wbt). All other fish were wbt on dry fly from 6 to 10" (see photo for a jaffa) mainly winkled out from under overhangs. Still had variety of mayfly all day and a Grey Wulff was the most successful. Soaked up all the usual wildlife, evidence of otters with quite a few crayfish remains on the gravel shores. Had lunch watching very busy fly catchers. Mid afternoon, heading up to the top of the beat, was surprised to be overtaken by the greater striped American paddleboarder! She apologised for disturbing me and splashed her way up through all the water I was about to cover. I refrained from casting a heavy hook in her general direction in an attempt to puncture the inflatable vessel. It would only have caused more commotion. An hour and half later we met again as she made her way back downstream to the bridge. Maddening at the time, but was soon forgotten.

WUF Note: The Lugg is a publicly navigable waterway downstream of Presteigne, whatever the height.

9 Trout, 1 Grayling