Feedback & Reports

Apologies for late returns. We went on a hope over expectation trip, partly just to see a new beat. Very cold day and rod rings froze up. Walked past most of lower beat as water high and slow but had some sport from top half where quicker water began. Two Grayling on single Czech nymph rig with extra soft lead on leader fished deep and two on Sparkle Nymphs as point fly on team of two also very deep.

Lovely beat and access not as bad as I'd been warned. It was a very tricky day weather wise and couldn't help but think how good it would be on a summer evening, especially the lower end where I am sure ther must be some big trout judging by the perfect lies.

While here I'll give you a very late (sorry) catch return. In December, can't remember exact date, I fished the Dore with vouchers. Truly brilliant way to spend a couple of hours and full of fish. Caught four Grayling on slim red tag nymphs, the biggest was 14 inches and three out of season trout (all returned) including two from one small run, one being 12 inches and the other at least 15 inches. This beat is a real treat with surprisingly big fish but I would advise a short rod, stealth and patience as it took me several changes of fly and the bottom third of the beat to get my first fish which then came thick and fast, many takes being missed.
Best Wishes.

WUF Notes : 2 rods fishing

Happy New Year to everybody!

Holiday grayling results as follows:

27th December Abernant and Plas Gwyn
Between 3 rods, 10 small/medium grayling, most from the upper part of Stone Catch, trotting and nymphs.

28th December Pwll y Faedda
33 grayling, mostly small/medium but included 3 or 4 fish of 15 to 16", from the Boat Pool, trotting and traditional grayling wets when they came up from the bottom around midday.

29th December Gofynne: 1 grayling. I wish some-one would advise me how to fish this Irfon beat in mid-winter! I try it most years and always seem to be able to see every stone on the bottom, but no fish. When I had just about given up, just like last time, a single grayling took pity on me and accepted a tiny Grayling Steel Blue weighted down with a sacrificial bug. In the same place as last time, top of the beat. Maybe it was even the same fish as before? A proper Irfon grayling though: 16", so I count the day as a good one.

30th December Llyn Em:
21 grayling and 2 out of season trout, on high-sticked Tungsten Hare's Ear fished along the gravel near the bottom of the beat. This was a lovely shoal of grayling, nearly all between 14 and 16 inches and several larger. One of the trout was a good one too. Depressing, though, to see the number of saw-bill scars, both old and new, carried by these older fish.

31st December The Rocks:
Blank. I just couldn't find fish and seemed to spend most of the day de-icing rod rings and trying to avoid falling into those deep pools.

2nd January Glanwye:
Blank. Again desperately cold with tackle freezing up all morning and couldn't find grayling in any of the usual places. The Wye was actually starting to ice up with rafts of what the Scots call grue coming down the main flow and all the slack water iced over.

Evidence of salmon spawning activity including dead kelts on almost all of these beats.

Friends from Total Flyfisher, tell me they are out again today on the Cammarch Hotel water, so we will hear how they do - brave fellows.

I'm now tucked up in the warm tying flies with a bottle of single malt at my elbow.

Catch : 8 Chub to 3lb 14oz

Looking for pike but too cold and clear. Fished for 3 hours till dusk without a touch. The beat looked magnificent and the sunset was fabulous

This is the second time we have visited this lovely beat without seeing a cloud.Very cold bright and clear. Looking forward to trying this beat in good conditions. Very nice piece of river.

A good days fishing on a very beautiful beat,although it was bitterly cold. The Monnow was running clear & at a good level, had 3 grayling & lost a couple all caught short-line nymphing.

WUF Note : 1 rod

Three grayling and one brown trout, grayling to 13" brown trout to 14". Despite the warmer weather less activity than on my last visit in fog and frost.
Best regards

Comments : 63 grayling (biggest approaching 2lbs) and 4 chub (biggest about 4lbs) trotting. Very pleasant day.

WUF Notes : 3 rods fishing

Preston Court 20th Dec 2008 - 20/12/2008. Pike of 17.6, 16.4, 14.0 and 2 jacks. All caught on whole herring. Short burst of activity at dawn and it was all over by 8.30am. Searched out all of the pikey looking slacks but no more runs.

Lower Carrots & Luggs Mouth 2st Dec 2008. 6 small pike up to 12 lb. All caught on whole herring in slacks below croys on right hand bank. All runs came early on and action was over by 9am. Saw about a dozen salmon leap out.

A decent days Grayling fishing with river level 1'7" on gauge and running clear. Fish mainly caught between hut and first bend and in a pool half way up the open stretch, a few big fish also lost. All fish were taken on tungsten head shrimp & red-tag type patterns fished short line style.However some very good looking runs seemed empty of fish.

WUF Comments : 14 grayling caught