Feedback & Reports

An absolutely lovely and very tough section to fish. I didn't see a lot of fish, despite some insect hatches, particularly midges and winkled out a few lovely and pretty brownies from secluded spots. All in all I enjoyed it and would likely revisit. Sadly, however, the beat information is dangerously out of date/ and / or inaccurate. I never found any beat markers, or "White posts" to follow down into the gorge to the beat start. I never found any start or end markers, despite actually managing to finish exactly at the Felindre Farm. I passed two foot bridges, which don't merit a mention on the map or description. This is a remote beat and strenuous to negotiate, having never been on this water previously it was somewhat nerve wracking to be unsure where the start was, where the end was, or indeed if I might ever get out of the gorge. I loved the place, but the beat information is dangerous. I am used to "winging it" in more risky situations than this, but all in all, the beat information and the markers do need to be updated for the enjoyment and safety of other anglers. In the end I had a pleasant day, caught a few fish and deciding that "discretion is the better part of valor", I walked back to Erwood along the road, rather than risk the gorge. As said, I thought a lovely, if physically challenging beat, but the map and beat information really do need to be updated.

3 Trout

4 Trout

Nymphs in the morning, dries in the afternoon/evening . Significant hatch of yellow sally stoneflies as well as a few various upwings.

11 Trout

4 Trout

Sunny intervals and a light breeze. On the river around 11am. Very little fly life throughout the day. The occasional flurry of yellow may duns and sporadic smaller olive upwings. Hardly saw a caddis. I spent most of the day searching the water looking for rising fish or prospecting likely spots. Rising fish were hard to find and spot. That said, when there was a bit of activity the fish took cdc emerger patterns readily. I caught 2 fish on yellow may dun emergers and 6 fish on smaller olive emergers. All fish over a 1lb and two fish over 2.5lbs.

8 Trout

Sunny intervals and a light breeze. On the river around 11am. Very little fly life throughout the day. The occasional flurry of yellow may duns and sporadic smaller olive upwings. Hardly saw a caddis. Excessive eutrophication blatant. No weed growth and all the rocks coated in horrible brown algae - the result of excessive agricultural run off and sewage pollution.

I spent most of the day searching the water looking for rising fish or prospecting likely spots. Rising fish were very hard to find and spot. That said, when there was a bit of activity the fish took cdc emerger patterns readily. I caught 2 fish on a yellow may dun pattern and 6 fish on smaller olive emergers. All fish over a 1lb and two fish over 2.5lbs.

8 Trout

This was our first visit to the Ashford House beat. Parking was excellent and access from the parking to the river was well defined. Finding a spot to gain access from the high bank sections was however not so easy with unmaintained tree and vegetation growth as well as the steep banks preventing access to the river level. However there are a few access points higher up the beat and once in allowed good wading. Fish were rising from the 5pm start and increased through the evening with a good olive hatch together with the occasional sedge. They were very picky though which resulted in frustrated searches through the fly box to find a successful pattern. With limited time availability we failed to make contact with a rising fish. However thanks to a size 14 olive nymph the evening was rescued by a well conditioned 19 inch brown trout that was carefully returned safe and well.

1 Trout

only had an hour mid-am before I had to leave, a gusty cold wind so just walked the beat

Enjoyed a couple of hours fishing in the evening, working up the river from the bridge. No interest in nymphs or wets, so tried the dry fly above the riffles at the top. Plenty of takes but nothing landed...broken off by 1 trout, most were taking very tentatively and difficult to hook. Very good dry water at the top with plenty of fish about. You do need to wade but its an interesting little beat. Many thanks to owner Barry for being so hospitable and sharing his knowledge of the beat with me.

Seven trout - five on dries, two on nymphs, mostly average size but one better one of 16". Lots of fly life and plenty rising today, but - there's nearly always a but isn't there?! - most of the mayflies were tiny Caenis. Huge clouds of them at times, but also a smattering of other mayflies which were mostly pale wateries, olive uprights and other small olives. Also some yellow sally stoneflies. The fish were highly selective as a result, the fly had to be just right or they would not bite - but that made it interesting and great fun. All but one of the risers came on various small mayfly patterns in size 18 or smaller, and many of the Caenis feeders weren't interested. Some spinners came out later too - the other one took a rusty spinner. Thanks for another lovely day out!

P.S. the Japanese knotweed and Himalyan balsam is spreading really badly now - there was even some Japanese knotweed growing midstream on debris above the waterline, rather worrying for downstream spread.

7 Trout