Feedback & Reports

Decided to give the lovely Pilleth beat a bash this morning , turned up perhaps a tad too early for any trout to be looking up , as it was only half ten when I walked down to the start of the beat , having parked my truck in the field , with some very inquisitive sheep and lambs !!!!!

Initially no action on the dries , so opted for a eighteen tungsten nymph , and had my first Lugg brownie of the day , about nine inches , lovely colour s, and slipped in the deep pool from where he came . . . .

I did see a rise at eleven , so seeing as I prefer dry fly sport , I put on a CDC and elk , also noticed the first mayfly of the day about then too , excellent !!!! Second fish on the CDC and elk , cracking , great take too , third ditto , about ten inches , again on the CDC and elk , I did change the fly to Parachute Adams as plenty of upwings about by midday !!!!

Last two fish of the morning where on the ever reliable Adams , did the business , nice splashy take s , one of eight inches , another of eleven inches maybe , so fish honing in on the flying insects by then ! spot on . Was a really fun four hours , five gorgeous Lugg fish caught and released , and plenty of wildlife down in this secretive valley , a weasel put in an appearance , as did the resident kingfisher and two lovely dippers following me upstream , a fun few hours in Pilleth , back soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 Trout

3 x trout 7-11 inches, Parachute Adams, very low water. This beat really is in a state at the moment. I remember I pruned it with Tony Norman back in 2012, but I'm sure it must have been done since then. Today, I'm afraid the thick growth of branches blocking nearly all the pools defeated me. I managed to do some of the top section, or at least where I could get in, but I gave it up as a bad job before lunchtime. However, I was able to see enough to realise that it has a good head of fish in it, some of them good ones. The good news is that Pilleth has been adopted now I see, so with a thorough pruning this winter and hopefully some attention to the stiles and gates, we should have some fishing next season.

3 Trout

Got very frustrated with this venue. Access up the river was extremely difficult, mainly because its fenced off both sides and when you do gain access to wade up stream you come across cattle gates across the water and fallen trees. No fish rising but plenty of Mayfly hatching. Stayed for 3 hours then gave up.

A really nice part of the lugg, first time I've fished this beat and this far up the Lugg. A bit disappointed how overgrown the beat is rendering many parts unfishable with a fly rod. Water very clear making it hard not to spook fish trying to get into a castable position. I think a good clearing party this winter would transform this beat into something special as there is certainly plenty of trout here!
There's my moan out of the way so onto the fishing! Fished duo for the first half of the beat taking one on my own variant pheasant tail nymph. With a nagging downstream breeze and trying to keep casting low to keep under the tree canopy I took off the nymph and fished a size 14 hares ear klinkhammer I tied the night before. Brought 2 more to hand and loosing 3-4 due to using barbless hooks.
As for flylife there was a few olives and a handful of mayfly. I see two herons and met a really angry duck that was hell bent on trying to keep me away from her nest pretty much disturbing several good pools upstream of me! Found a gill plate off im guessing a large trout that ended up being otter food.
All in all a nice couple of hours away from the real world!

3 Trout

7 Trout

My first visit to the Lugg and wow - what a lovely little stream - not easy to fish though with many fallen trees and fences across the river. But these small streams are starting to wake up now and although there were few fish rising, there was a lot of insect life and the first few mayflies were starting to hatch. I caught 11 wbt all to a small size 16 DHE. Mostly 8 -9" and one a good 12".

11 Trout

No fish seen or caught, first go here, and I'm still getting to grips with fly fishing on rivers, lovely day to wander up the river though

Still a bit early in the year for here but gave it a go. Tried various duo combinations with point flies ranging from PTN to 2.5mm jig due to some of the pools being quite deep and with snags. Started at the bridge and worked up. Startled one trout just before the castle mound, otherwise nothing seen or hooked. No fly life to speak of. The beat is reasonably accessible early season, and the wading is easy if you pay attention. Goosanders seen, so there must be some fish to be had !!

Tagged this beat onto a session at Litton a mile or so away. Drove down to the bridge through the field as per beat map instructions if dry. Have a 4x4, wouldn't fancy it in a car (there is alternative parking).
Only fished for half an hour moving upstream from the bridge. It was very overgrown and so I gave up after landing one very hard fighting 11" wbt.
Maybe the lower section of the beat is more open, or perhaps a stream for earlier in the season. I'll try again next year.

1 Trout

Fished for about 5 hours on an overcast day with an increasing downstream breeze. River low and clear with about half a dozen fish seen rising. 8 trout, mostly 6-9 inches, caught with a similar number unhooking themselves. 5 were caught on CDC dry flies and 3 caught nymphing with a tungsten beaded nymph.
Note: The several pieces of silver foam that have been put over the barbed wire fences to enable you to reach the start of the beat are breaking up and need replacing. Luckily I had brought a tea towel with me which enabled me to get over them without ripping my waders.

8 Trout