Feedback & Reports

A stunningly beautiful location, with a perfect stream, but low water levels made fishing very difficult. Arrived at around 9am with mist/cloud hanging on the tops of the surrounding mountains. It felt slightly muggy, and there was a tiny bit of drizzle mid morning, but it soon burnt off, turning into a hot and bright day.
Access was good, the banksides felt more open than other stream beats that I have fished – not so hemmed in by hedges, more like open woodland – but I soon realised that with such low water levels this was not going to be an easy day. There were barely any fishable spots it the first few hundred yards, but I managed to catch two perfect WBT in two tiny deeper spots before the Yurt. Having not fished this beat before I was beginning to think that it was going to be a short day, but as I waded upstream it changed… a real Jekyll and Hyde character. There are some deceptively deep and large pools, but apart from these trying to find fishable spots was really difficult.
I worked my way up to the end of the beat, having some success, and then spotted a largish fish just under the last big tree. No matter how hard I tried I could not get it to come out and take my hook… actually that is not true, it did take my nymph but I was too hasty and struck too soon. It just sort of sat there knowingly under the tree roots, as if it knew what I was up to!
I then decided to walk back down and try and fish some of the small runs, again with some success. It was only early afternoon by the time I reached the bottom of the beat again, but I wasn’t satisfied... so I went back up again, and there seemed to be more fish around this time. I made it right back to the top of the beat again, and that fish was still there under the roots. Still no luck.
The water was very clear but I had some success fishing nymphs off a Klinkhammer, all in the faster water. I missed a few. All fish were small (6”-8”) and very healthy. There was some fly life, but no rises that I saw all day.
Tricky fishing, but what a beat and what a location.

7 Trout

Fished this beat for 3 hours. First trout of the day was a plump 14" on a dry mayfly taken in the first deep pool I came across. It put a good bend in my 6ft fibreglass rod as it tried to get in the tree roots. Caught a smaller one further up but missed and lost a few fish on the mayfly. The river was very clear and there were a few mayfly about. The only rises I saw was to my mayfly.

2 Trout

Last trout trip this year, very pleasant day with the Honddu running clear but not too low. Small number of varied flies about but no rises. Explored the runs mainly with an iron blue para and landed 9 trout, from 7" to 12" - all very fit! Spring seems a long way off now....

9 Trout

Fair amount of water after recent rain. Klinked and dinked for 3hrs early pm.1 wbt8"to dry and 2 smaller to gold head nymph.

3 Trout

The river was lower than I thought it would be which made for tricky fishing but a rusty Klinkhammer worked its charm at the head of the pools. A few hours fishing followed by a good hike around the hills made for a good day.

6 Trout

Plenty of water and a good colour. Didn't see a single rise. 3wbt largest 8" to Hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs. An enchanting beat.

3 Trout

T-shirt weather up in the hills. River a picture - clear with good flow. All types of fly hatching, olives, mays, various black bodied of different sizes. Some trout rising but seemed to be going for variety today. Anyway, they were rising to my para adams and olives bounced down the runs and fast water - eventually landed 15 and missed quite a few as well, mainly in the morning as a cool downstream breeze slowed things down after 2.30. All sizes from 6" to 12" but mostly very fit 10/11 inchers. Also a pleasant chat with the Yurt holidayers in the first field! What could be a better way to spend the day??

16 Trout

Spent a good afternoon one this beat. I only manage a single fish but rose 2 others. I fished most of the beat with a 3.6m tenkara rod. I did not have too much trouble using this length rod.

1 Trout

Mainly sunny warm day, prospected with small drab klinks to land 4 at 8 to 11", many more missed or refused at last second in the clear stream. Very enjoyable, although the lady currently in the yurt at the start of the beat did not know there may be fisherman around until I explained. Completed the beat early so stopped at the Lower Henllan beat on the way home - see separate report.

4 Trout

6 Trout