Feedback & Reports

After a night at the Severn Arms – still as welcoming and cosy as ever – we were determined to get out on the rivers. The Wye gauge at Rhayader was still showing 0.75m and looking off the bridge at Llanwrythl the river was clear but pushing through at a heavy lick. The Irfon was showing 0.59m on the Cilmery gauge so we decided that was a better bet and plumped for Cefnllysgwynne – looking at the river off the bridge at Builth confirmed it was clear and fishable. But wading was still challenging where there is bed rock.

There was very little surface action – a few olives and needle flies - and only 1 fish was seen to rise and then come to an artificial, and that was the best fish of the day, a 14” grayling. 6 wbt and 4 grayling was the final tally on prospecting likely spots, best trout 11”. All on dries – parachute ginger quill or grey equivalent. Again we lost as many as we brought to hand. There must have been a stocking with flying fish as one good trout leapt at least 6 times on being hooked before finally achieving long range catch and release. And he wasn’t the only one!

My phone only recorded 8000 steps against the 10000 target but I reckon that on a beat like this in chest waders they should count double!

6 Trout, 4 Grayling

Fished well. 4 fish over 8 pounds.

14 Barbel

Opposite pump station. 10 in first 10 chucks. All but one smaller than average maybe 4lb one about 8. Lost a couple on inside snag. Then river came up at least a foot and trees were floating down. No bites for 2 hours. Cast around a bit into slacks but nothing. Decided to pack up so last cast (by this stage needed 120g feeder to hold in flow) and rod ripped round wish I’d had scales as def pb I think it would have gone 12. Then suddenly another 3 all round about doubles. All on 10mill dumbbell, usual pellet ground bait mix in feeder. Sure smaller baits, long hooklinks and small hooks were key although did mean losing a few.

14 Barbel

1 Barbel

Overcast conditions on a rising river, a great days fishing in heavily fished swims.

22 Barbel, 8 Chub

River dropping but nothing seen or caught, shame really as I thought we would of at least seen one.

Had a great day on this beat , water was rising for a while but didn't ruin the fishing. The large fresh cut branches that some fool decided to throw in upstream could have but luckily we saw them in time. Most barbel were between 6 & 8 lbs , with one being 10 lbs 2 ounces .

11 Barbel, 6 Chub

Great beat, good to be back on the water after recent high water conditions. Lots of tugs to swinging nymphs but only yielded one wbt to hand. No hatch to speak of and only saw one rise all day. Lots of red kites suddenly appeared at around 5ish. Usual regular fly by from Kingfisher and Dippers. Fabulous welcome from Dylan the dog on arrival.

1 Trout

Overcast skies, 11C-13C, no rain, light winds. Fished entire beat from 13:30 until 17:30. Caught six (6) brown trout all in good condition and measured 10cm - 17cm. Caught one on a dark sedge, one on a black-bodied klinkhammer, and four on parachute adams. Beautiful beat, with a good variety or pools, and riffles. Access easy, but firm footwear recommended. Two merlin seen overhead, and three dipper seen along the beat. A very enjoyable half-day.

6 Trout

3 Chub