Feedback & Reports

No Fish caught. Very difficult conditions. River coloured and rising when arrived.Very little fly life, no fishing rising throughout the day. River gauge at Llanstephan showed the Wye level rose four inches between 8am and noon that day. MP.

James and I fished one of our favourite beats for the first time this year. We had the pleasure of the company of kingfishers, salmon and sea lampreys although the flock of 10 goosanders when we arrived didn’t inspire confidence.
However all was in order. There were sporadic hatches all through the day – olives and yellow mays prominent but not necessarily the most numerous – other less conspicuous winged insects were far more numerous. The fish weren’t really impressed by the insects however and never really settled to regular rising patterns – a lot of oncers or experienced fish that were happy to keep rising to something miniscule whilst continually ignoring our offerings.
We habitually fish dry fly – that’s it! In the first two hours we had 8 fish between us – of my 4 I did not see any of them rise before I hooked them, and had I not been looking directly at my fly at the key moment neither would I have seen the take. All were extremely gentle – but well hooked. They were caught by fishing the likely spots fine and far off. The best of these 4 was a lovely fish of 15” which looked more like an Usk fish with the number of spots. The others were smaller.
James managed 10 trout and 2 grayling – two more 15” trout amongst them and a 16”er in the grayling. His 15”ers thought they were safe staying on the far side of the fast water but they haven’t encountered James’s suicidal wading before – chest waders over topped! Still it was a lovely warm day and the fish were worth it.
Despite current low flows the Wye lacks the algal slime that the Usk seems to be suffering from and there were at least 3 salmon in the beat. We fished to 9pm on a cracking day! All safely returned - Thank you as always.

14 Trout, 2 Grayling

The weather was almost spot on, but unfortunately rain higher up had left the water carrying some colour, with less than 2ft visibility. Fished the usual deep nymphs initially and took a nice brownie of 9-10" and a grayling slightly larger, both taking a pale GRHE. Sporadic rises meant the dry fly got a run out and a smaller brownie was added to the score, but sadly the rises tapered off in to the afternoon as the NW breeze strengthened and cooled the water.

2 Trout, 1 Grayling

The river was still a bit coloured from recent rain but was at a nice level (about 15" at Llanstephan I think). Not many flies about and very few fish rising so went with nymphs. Had two trout from the faster water, both very fit and lively at about 12". Lost 2-3 more.

2 Trout

A mixed day weather-wise with occasional bright sunshine alternating with heavy showers, quite muggy ahead of a terrific rainstorm that evening. A reasonable number of uprights trickled off all day but surface feeding was subdued. I alternated between PTNs and diawl bachs suspended below various olives, pale wateries etc and tempted up perhaps a dozen rises. Two trout and two grayling stayed on the hook long enough to get them to hand, all between 6-9" and safely released. The real surprise came at the lower planks where a salmon snaffled my PTN and screamed off to the other side of the river. Wading across to untangle my line from the rocks he ran over meant my waders were flooded but, remarkably, the hook remained fixed and I got what looked to be a 6lb fish to the net. Not bad on a 3wt rod I thought. Safely released and swan off strongly.
Lovely beat, very much enjoyed the day.

1 Salmon, 2 Trout, 2 Grayling

River was about 1 foot on the Erwood gauge but still looked as though there would be a chance of a fresh salmon but unfortunately I only hooked an over enthusiastic trout (returned). Perhaps the air temperature was too low or else the fish are taking their time ascending the river. But it was my first foray in 2016 and I'll be back.

1 Trout

1 ft on gauge. water looked nice, 3 x cracking trout on tube fly, one nice pull off salmon. no visual signs of fish.

3 Trout

1 Trout

All on small nymphs. Average size ranging from very small to 6 inches, 3 fish of 12" stood out from the bunch.

20 Trout, 3 Grayling

5 trout caught on floating line using Sedgehog flies. 4 small trout of 8 inches and 1 at 1 1/2lbs taken. Salmon seen and plenty of parr in the river.

5 Trout