Feedback & Reports

Lots of fish jumping but not takes

First time on this beat even though only 10 minutes from home. Knew it was not best time of year for this beat but work commitments have limited fishing this season and needed to get out.Thought that I would at least find some fishable water as most of the Arrow and Lugg wild stream beats are not jungle. Did go prepared for Eyton's own infamous jungle sections with a machete.
Walked to bottom of beat where weirpool shows all the signs of being a regular swimming spot with fire remains bottles, clothing! Was also impossible to thrash a path through to enable any serious casting. Moved on upstream where I had a 8" wbt on small tan fly on a slow stretch before lower wooden area which was inpenetrable.
Switched to klinkhammer and size 18ptn and concentrated on the stretches in the meadow section where I could find decent low. Ended up with a 10" grayling from a very shallow section, 3 more wbt between 6" and 8" and too many fingerling grayling and parr to count. Did try tungsten nymph through some of the deeper sections - but no interest.
Headed up to the top section but did not have the will to try and hack through in the woods above the weir.
A very enjoyable few hours and anyone used to wild stream fishing will not find this beat as difficult as a some reports suggest.
Would also like to thank whoever was responsible for all the new bank side fencing. Very easy to negotiate and not an obstruction at all (I am the wrong/right side of 60).

4 Trout, 1 Grayling, 25 Other

Fished Duo from 2 till 4.30 up to the road bridge.
Around a dozen Trout from 6 to 8 inches all but one on the nymph. A nice surprise to finish was a Grayling of around 10 inches. As suggested in the beat details the river is holding a good flow for the time of year. Disappointed to see an irrigation pump taking water for the Potato field at the bottom end of the beat.

12 Trout, 1 Grayling

Middle to lower section no fish spotted. possibly Cormorant and herons, sighted both in pasture near parking location.

3 Trout

4 hours in the morning on Craig Llyn, fishing pocket water with 3 weight brook rods and drys all taken on usual sedges and emergers
Afternoon at Dolgau with many thanks to Richard for fishing his beat. Large hatch of flying red ants carpeted the river with fish rising everywhere in splashy takes. Spent a frustrating hour trying to match the hatch. Yellow Greenwell spider in tan and tupsley indispensable were the only flies that worked. Tried all other patterns with no success. Should have had a lot of fish but still looking for the pattern to match that hatch.

11 Trout, 9 Grayling

Eight fish caught and released, all of them on dry fly in the afternoon during a green flying ant hatch. River in excellent conditions for dry fly fishing.

8 Trout

An enlightening trip, had more time than previous outings, and so was able to explore the river a little more. No fish caught but lost one and missed a few others due to inexperience and poor knot tying.

Thought it was about time I gave the Whittern beat a recce. Always seem to end up at the rather lovely Titley or Mowley wood beats! Rather lovely here too and the peace and quiet is the same as the other beats, feels like you could be hundreds of miles away from civilisation and I do enjoy that!
Of course the river was down to its bones and the fish (of which there seem to be a good number) were super spooky and its times like this in clear water conditions you get reminded how good a trout's eyesight is! A few very nice sized fish where spotted...briefly.
Winkled out a few handsome Arrow beauties to a dry cdc elk hair fished to likely looking spots, the markings and colours on the Arrow fish is always really beautiful.
It is quite a wooded beat, particularly up at Lyonshall wood section, and a good beat overall for a warm sunny day I reckon and worth a bit of bushwacking to find some super pools and runs.
There is a fair bit of large (some very large!) woody debris in the river but just adds to its character and easy enough to get around if needs be.
Now I have 3 Arrow beats to try and decide from in future! Life's hard at times ....

5 Trout

Cracking beat with good access through fields. Loads of places to explore and different swims all the way along. Fished all day roughly catching every half hour or so. An absolute must and a credit to whoever owns this beat. Thanks for a great days fishing I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4 Barbel, 8 Chub

Beautiful beat, very low and clear however. Perhaps could do with a touch of rain! Saying that it was an interesting session. I caught 8 chub and one small Barbel on last swim on left bank at the end of the Rapids. And then 2 more Chub from the first swim next to the bridge. My dad had one chub from a middle swim and hooked into what was a nice Barbel! But lost it...fish activity really picked up here at the usual 5pm onwards, being so shallow the Barbel were waiting until less light was present. Would come back here again for sure!

1 Barbel, 11 Chub