Feedback & Reports

Stunning and otherworldly gorge with pool after pool tempting upwards. This is a lovely, long and challenging beat - but no fish, at least there were none today apart from one who slashed at a klinkhammer a couple of times before disappearing back into his lair. Despite super stealthy tactics I saw no other fish apart from one rising below the waterfall at the top. Strangely devoid considering what I'd heard. Will return...

First time on the Clettwr in a number of years. Only one fish seen all day, in the larger pool with the high waterfall on the right bank half way up, but it wasn't taking.

I've never fished this beat this late in the summer before so hadn't seen the water so low - it certainly changed the nature of the beat. It is still gorgeous with some very tight, overgrown parts to navigate but, of course, less fishable water with some stretches only a few inches deep. I started at 0630 in an effort to beat the heat. The water was just under 14C, which I thought wasn't too bad considering the run of hot, dry weather. The larger pools I remembered from before were still there, just a little lower and harder to approach. The first three hours were hard work - no fish seen rising but I persevered on hands and knees approaching each pool and tiny run. It was apparent that this brook is still full of plenty of healthy fish - every pool had a handful sitting motionless on the bottom that flashed away when I got close - but I had to get really close. I got within 6ft of some decent looking fish in crystal clear water that zipped upstream only to gently slide back into the same position 3 or 4 mins later as I stood still changing flies. It was exciting to see, but they clearly weren't interested in feeding.
Around 0900 I saw the odd rise and then had a 7" trout on a PTN in one of those lovely deep, very narrow bedrock channels. A few more pulls and splashes near the dry fly kept me entertained until the waterfall below the mill which, as ever, produced the best fish of the day - 2 trout at 7" and 9" on a GRHE and PTN respectively.
I finished at 1120 having fished to just past the mill - walking out of the thick woods into the sunshine felt like opening an oven door!
Lovely day, as always. This is my absolute favourite beat and I must make the effort later in the season.

3 Trout

Great to be back down in the jungle again. While I only managed to bring one fish to hand there were numerous rises to a small Adams and some feisty takes. One day I will make it to the end of the beat.....

1 Trout

1 Trout

I arrived at the beat at about 1pm in a heavy shower of rain. The first challenge was getting to the water. I don't know if I followed the wrong path, but the only way down the valley I could find was blocked with fallen trees and was very slippy and treacherous. The last 5 meters I simply sat down ans slid over wet vegetation. Once in though, I was in paradise.

The rain meant the water was ripping through and the trout were sheltering in every crease and eddy. It was simply a case of spotting some slack water and landing my nymph in it, normally within seconds I would feel a take. That is where it all started going wrong. The fish simply took to the main channel and were swept off in to the next run before I could even think about getting them under control. I must have lost 20 fish in this way. Small heavy nymphs in natural colours seemed to do the trick.

I finally got a couple of WBT to the net and on the last accessible pool I hooked and landed my first ever sea trout. I nearly gave up in the first hour, but it turned out to be a red letter day!

2 Trout, 1 Sea Trout

2 Trout

A great day before the heavy rain hit. A lot of trees down throughout the beat, but that adds to the charm and wildness of this river. The river began to rise slowly from 11:30/12:00, but plenty of fish (12 trout up to 8" and 1 salmon parr) and plenty of fun. I've missed this beat and will be back, hopefully before the end of the season!

12 Trout

Lovely river, although is hard work venturing upstream.
Access to the river was extremely difficult and didn’t match the directions from the parking. Found myself sliding down a steep hill to try and get access. Way out from the bridge about halfway up the beat was easy though.
Definitely a few fish around, but only managed one to the net on a elk hair caddis.

1 Trout

The epitome of a wild stream. Yet more trees are down and across the river than ever before, several of the best pools are now obscured by trees. A good physical workout.

1 Trout