Feedback & Reports

A stunning location, and another great section of the Honddu… but what a weird day. I managed to land 11 fish (all small WBT) but hooked, fluffed, missed, shook-off and got ‘spat out’ by at least 25 other fish in different places. It was extremely frustrating. It can’t have been the hooks, because they are what I usually use, maybe it was my technique… I’d like to think that the fish here have different shaped mouths to the norm!!! I think that a better fisherman than me would be up in the +20 zone for the day if even just a fraction of the chances were taken.

The day started with low cloud and a bit of drizzle, but that soon burnt off and it turned warmer with light cloud and sunny spells. I liked the fact that you parked mid way down the beat, easy to get back to the car for food and drink. It was difficult to find the start and finish of the beat. I don’t think I was in the correct place at the bottom, but I did eventually find the upper limit sign.

There is a great variety of fishing on this beat, with some open spaces to allow you to cast, and then a few tighter almost unfishable spots. The wind was a bit of an issue, so I fished nymphs off a Klinkhammer for most of the day. Interestingly there were quite a few takes on the Klinkhammer, so later in the day/early evening I switched to drys with some success.

Met the friendly farmer/land owner for one of the sections, and she was happy to know that there are fish in the stream. One word of warning though, there is a campsite that runs along much of the length of the beat, so I would stay away at weekends (is it open at weekends?) and any holiday period. I would say that it is a no-go during these times. Now is perfect.

11 Trout

1 6" and 1 9" wbt to para adams and klinkhammer.

2 Trout

A plump half-pound trout, safely returned. Caught on a para Adams, at about 4pm, in a pool with a good many rises. It took on a long line, and by the time I had played it all the other fish were spooked. Beautiful beat, but in the upstream section too few gates/stile from the field to the river. From the top limit I had to wade back down for over a quarter mile, before I could get out, and the first 400 yards above the bridge is inaccessible because of a barbed wire fence. ( Later, I realised I might have been able to enter the river below the bridge and wade up under the bridge.) The section below the bridge I didn't try, as a camper was active on the bank, and drove a truck down it.

1 Trout

Turned out a super day! Rained most of the day but humid, river a bit higher and a little colour. Plenty of flies hatching, on the way to the start saw a couple of rises so went with the para adams and did not need to change. Landed 10, all sizes from 8" to 14", missed or pricked others, all from streamy and fast runs. All the fish in excellent condition, the biggest smashed into the adams in a small, fast pool, jumped then sped down to the next pool which I was able to get to and eventually bring him to the net. Didn't mind the rain!!

10 Trout

Cold morning made for tricky conditions. Managed a single brownie of about six inches in length - saw a few rises but couldn't tempt any to take.

1 Trout

Read JD from Porthcawls recent comments with interest. I too usually try the para adams first and often stick with it. Today I thought I might try alternatives, and usefully there were all sorts of hatches going on, during and between showers. River clear but with good flow. By the end of the day I had used a small iron blue, medium grey duster, and larger mid and light olives, trying to match colour and size of what was around. All caught fish, I landed 15 from 7" to 11", the largest ones on the light olive including a much bigger one that came off when jumping. All from the faster runs and heads of pools. Fascinating and rewarding day, must try to keep flexible and use the fly box!!

15 Trout

See feedback for Lower Henllan.

Two small brown trout fell to olive hare's ear nymph on a fairly quick visit to the Honddu before returning home. A nice beat and AB's first ever wild brownie! I think the rigours of the last two day's fishing was taking it's toll half way up this beat as we both agreed at one point that " we were fishing like a pair of clowns ! "
All in all another enjoyable trip, and a definite convert in AB, another nutter added to the ranks folks !
Thanks as always to WUF.

2 Trout

In the morning the water was high and very murky after heavy rain during the night. No fish seen. A campsite dog took a liking to me. There were multiple squirrels eating cob nuts and also a hornets nest in a tree next to the bank. After 2 hours of no fish I left. I returned in the evening the water was more fishable but the nearest I got to a fish was a rise to a klink otherwise nothing seen.

Very enjoyable days fishing, a nice change from fishing the Usk. From noon onwards there was a steady hatch of a variety of upwings and a few Dancia. Stuck with a size 16 Elk hair caddis that did the trick when presented well. Stayed in the VW van at Court Farm camping field, LLanthony the night before, waking to a glorious morning and a lazy breakfast.

10 Trout