Feedback & Reports

Just a note to say that I caught 3 brown trout (each around 1lb).
Challenging but enjoyable fishing in low flow conditions. Also saw 3 mink!

Fished 3rd and 4th September two rods, first day caught 8 Chub to 4lb 13oz most 2-3lb, 1 small Barbel approx 1lb 8oz, 2 Gudgeon.
2nd day 7 Chub 2-3lb.
Fished bread and luncheon meat over hemp and crumb, water was clear and low which allowed access to bottom of bank in a few swims, waders would be needed to fish all swims and if water is higher.
Nice stretch of river very enjoyable.

Blank. However, you should blame the angler for this, not the venue. There are some trout in the restored river Lwyd, and in fact I rose three at the bottom end and managed to become disconnected from each and every one of them - fish of 8-10 inches, I would guess. There does seem to be a reasonable amount of fly life, a few needle flies and pale wateries on the day, and plenty of caddis and shrimp among the stones - although not quite as many as in the Taf at Merthyr Tydfil, which has a remarkable abundance. It's post-industrial urban fishing, I suppose, and the bed of the stream is full of curiosities such as bits of furnace clinker and old tram-line rails, but for most of the beat the banks are part of a very pleasant and green rural park or playing fields. A nice experience, all in all.

Caught 3 chub, one of which pushing 6lbs caught on pellets in conjunction with pellet/grounbait feeder. Lots of weed coming down the river making fishing difficult and disappointed the barbel did not make an appearance anywhere on the stretch. Great service from Wye & Usk Foundation though. Will plan to return to the wye next year in early season and after more research.

23 barbel to 8lb 8oz, plus a few chub to over 4lb.

Finally found where the barbel have been hiding on the upper part of the stretch - in the Maddox. Watched them feed and even caught a couple before the sun went behind the hillside. We then moved down to a baited area in the Rope pool and caught steadily until dusk - tally was 14/15 barbel to around 8.5 lbs. Great fishing on a lovely beat.

Struggled today on what is normally a very good beat. Fished various swims throughout the day, but only managed 1 Barbel and a few Chub between 3 rods.

Despite the bright conditions and low water (still), there were plenty of fish rising, especially later in the day and obviously where shade was greatest. Managed a nice 16" brown plus a further 10 brown taken on a paraloop black gnat pattern size 16. Interesting to still see both Yellow May Duns and Mayfly coming off although in small numbers. Also looked as if there might have been the odd Pale Watery emerging as well. As the water was so low and clear it has helped me to improve stalking skills. A very enjoyable three days fishing despite the conditions.

Three grayling and two brownies, all on pheasant tail nymph. River still very low, numerous grayling seen plus number of large brownies. Still a very enjoyable day, could have left the waders at home and used wellies.

Will now look forward to winter grayling fishing on what to me is the best trout/grayling beat I have fished.

8 x grayling 9-14 inches (mostly 13-14 inches), 5 x trout 6-10 inches, on various dry patterns. A slow day, a lot of which I spent snoozing on the bank. We have had some autumnal days lately, but this wasn't one of them, and it was a case of bright sun and very hot, low water etc. So the grayling, far from their usual happy-go-lucky relaxed rising right next to where you are standing sort of attitude, were actually quite spooky and it was necessary to rest the shoals regularly to get them rising again.

Otherwise, a whole group of canoes came through, school girls with a teacher, aparently unaware of the agreement. This is the third group I have seen come through this beat in the last month, all claiming to be most surprised when told that the whole river is not open to them at all times. From (polite) conversation, I'm pretty sure that in fact they all knew about the agreement, but simply chose to ignore it. I do hope we aren't going to end up with a situation on the upper river like that on the lower. Nobody would mind a few quiet canoers slipping past, but the problem is that while anglers usually pursue their pastime fairly quietly, canoers in numbers almost never seem to be able to. Is there any point in renewing agreements with people who seem to have no intention of keeping them?