Feedback & Reports

Thunderstorms prevented me from more than a token cast on this wonderful beat.

From Kerne Bridge to Marl Bed approx. 600 yards I saw only 2 swims that were anything like fishable, the rest is completely overgrown with no way of accessing the river. We eventually arrived at the area I guess is the marl bed..a big area of gravel which saved our day. As we made our way down to the river we noticed 2 big blacks of rubbish and cans strewn all over the area and what looked like where a fire had been. Had a tidy up as best we could but observed the tins of food etc had foreign writing on them so guessed the fishery had been visited by East Europeans? Other than this area to fish, I walked upstream another 2-300 yards and found only 1 other swim at a salmon croy where a ladder would be useful to get down safely to said swim. As suggested in my other report at Sugwas, some sort of work party would be beneficial as there are so much river that could be explored and enjoyed instead of just a limited number of spots. With regards to the fishing, my wife had her best day fishing the Wye for the last couple of years, 5 barbel up to 8lb. We also managed 5 other barbel and 5 chub on pellet boilies and cheese. A lovely stretch of water and surroundings with the friendliest swans I have ever seen, not bothered by us anglers at all. Definitely a place to revisit, hope my observations make a difference for others.

10 Barbel, 5 Chub

River was at 1'6" on gauge when I arrived at 10:30am and it was running clear. Had about 20 minutes fishing before the heavy showers arrived and decided to sit in the car until they cleared, which they did but by then the river was running chocolate brown so that was that for the day.

3 x 8 inches.

3 Trout

1 Barbel

Low water, spooky fish, a vicious downstream wind and a pair of otters chasing each other up and down the river all sound like excuses for not catching much today – but they probably all played a part!
Word to the wise: the island and concrete croy shown in the picture of the beat are at the bottom end of the beat, right at the tail of a very long, deep, impassable pool. Bushwhacking through thick willows and Himalayan balsam may be necessary!

3 Trout

An early session (6am-11am), river a bit higher than my last visit a couple of weeks a ago. Caught a barbel first cast, almost on the drop, then several more at regular intervals throughout the morning.

4 Barbel

Dry fly and New Zealand nymphing for brown trout. Water very low and clear. Cold North West wind.

18 x trout 6-15 inches, 2 x grayling 10-14 inches, North Country spiders. A day of sunshine and showers with a downstream wind strong enough to move the chairs along the verandah of the fishing hut. That's our strongest gale definition here. The river was at 14 inches, which is a reasonable trout fishing height, somewhat coloured and rising slightly. Dry fly didn't work well but fish happy to take siders, mainly Little Dark Watchet and Hare's Lug and Plover.

18 Trout, 2 Grayling

No fish caught but did not stay late. Fished for the afternoon only. River quite low. Used both wet Tenkara style fly and dry sedge. I did manage to rise a single small fish. No fish were seen to be rising.