Feedback & Reports

This Lugg beat's (Lyepole) a gem, isn't it? What a beautiful valley and it was still in sunshine yesterday. The odd Large Dark Olive during the day, but no reaction to them, so I was heavy nymphing on the bottom all through. Results were 8 grayling: including three of 15" and one of 16". Plus three out of season trout: two wild browns and a surprise rainbow of a bit over a pound. I wonder what he was doing there?

I was out on the Abergavenny Town Water this morning to celebrate the new trout season and the LDOs actually stirred up the trout to start feeding on a pool tail; I got 5 on spiders before rising wind and rain drove me off. I note there's a major bank collapse half way down the beat which is contaminating the Usk with mud for a long way downstream - quite a big chunk of Monmouthshire heading for the estuary.

Amazing scenery and some bright periods made for fantastic weekend. Approx 15 grayling first day on bugs, about 20 on Sunday trotting. Occasional fish rising in early pm both days. 100% recommend the Trericket Mill B&B/Bunkhouse accross the road - we went for the bunkhouse which is fantastic for a comfy budget break ?12 per night!http://www.trericket.co.uk/index.html Also Erwood Inn just up the road - warm welcome, good value food and tasty ale!

Made the booking by phoning the office, (I have always booked on-line previously). A friend (Brian) and I were looking for a day?s coarse fishing on the Wye. Simon took the call and was first class. Having stated Barbel as our target species, (more in hope than expectation), various preferred beats were found to be unavailable. However, Simon?s detailed knowledge of each beat and his helpful comments made for excellent advice, (and this from someone who ?doesn?t normally answer the phone? !).
And so, on Sunday 28th, Brian and I fished at Sheephouse. Barbel were by no means guaranteed, but we were happy to catch anything, contented with a day in wonderful, unspoilt surroundings.

Brian caught the first fish of the day, a perfectly conditioned Grayling. Little did we know that this was merely the appetiser for a very special ?main course?.
By the end of the day, Brian (who had never caught a Barbel) had caught three magnificent specimens. They weighed 8lb 6oz, 8lb 10oz and a superb fish of 11lb 10oz, caught with the last cast of the day !!!!

I did manage a 4lb 4oz Chub, also with the last cast of the day, but was happy to see this fish totally eclipsed by Brian?s achievements. All fish were fin-perfect (and all were caught on legered maggot). Special, unforgettable fish making a special, unforgettable day.

Sincere thanks to everyone involved at WUF (particularly on Brain's behalf!). From the phone call making the booking, to the last cast of the day, the WUF once again provided a truly FIRST-CLASS service.

(Thanks also for my new 'Passport' booklet received recently - hours of enjoyable reading ahead).

Best Regards
Carl Hier

2 x Grayling caught dead drifting goldhead nymphs, one of 6" and one beauty of 20". River slightly coloured, no rising fish seen.

Excellent beat, easy to find but well away from everywhere!! Good parking and easy access to River, lots of work has been done on the banks/trees,etc making it a pleasure to fish.

2 x Grayling caught dead drifting goldhead nymphs, one of 6" and one beauty of 20". River slightly coloured, no rising fish seen. Excellent beat, easy to find but well away from everywhere!! Good parking and easy access to River, lots of work has been done on the banks/trees,etc making it a pleasure to fish.

Glanwye. 2 grayling (1 was 2lb), 1 brown trout about 1lb.
Cefnllysgwynne. 4 chub up 3lb, 3 grayling up to 2lb.
Plas Gwyn. 2 chub biggest was 4lb, 1 grayling 2lb.
Abernant. 1 chub about 2lb,1 grayling 2lb 4ozs.

Both rivers were a bit low and clear,with some bright sunny weather fishing was hard. We did not catch as many as this time last year but the quality was better.

The Everlook Guesthouse in North Road, Builth Wells was excellent, the best we have stayed at. Cannot recommend them highly enough.

What a beautiful spring day although the NW wind had a bit of an edge on it. Bird life in abundance - Woodpecker, Raven, Buzzard, Long tailed tits everywhere, Fieldfare, the list goes on and they were singing their little hearts out! This was our first visit and boy is it a gorgeous spot - so peaceful. Carpets of snowdrops on the banks.
The river looked great and around midday there was a smattering of Olives putting in an appearance but.... not a rise seen and boy was it tough. Every pool looked so perfect and despite some serious fishing I managed 5 Grayling and D. got 4. All were around the 10" mark and fell to shrimp patterns with plenty of weight in them.
There are some seriously deep holes on that stretch and I do not think we could get down quick enough in the flow in those, but generally, I believe that they were not hungry apparantly!

One or two more covers over the barbed wire in the lower area would really help - check out my torn chesties!

All in all a really enjoyable day in a great location - will return when the season progresses - that is a promise.

Best wishes

I had a trip Sunday to Abbeydore with vouchers. A very pleasant time in the golden valley with a walk round the abbey and a pint of cider to finish it off. One grayling of about 7 inches, which proves they live there I suppose.
I'll come back when they are rising a bit.

Lugg at Mortimer's Cross, Monday: What an interesting beat and what a lot of water to learn! I spent most of the morning walking down to the bottom end, from the chalk stream-like manicured section at the top to the wild and woolly bits at the bottom. Then, beguiled by the warm weather, sunshine, snow drops, rooks nesting and LDO's hatching, I made the mistake of trying fishing near the surface when I should still have been heavy nymphing. When I finally figured the fish were staying down I changed to lobbing tungsen as usual and got just three grayling - 8", 9" and, very memorably at twilight, a 17" male fish from the bridge pool below the mill which took me splashing over 100 yards down the main run before I could get below it to use the net. I can't think when a grayling caused me so much trouble.

I would like to come back when they are rising a bit there, but I suppose we only have this one for the winter?

Best wishes.

A good day on a very clear River Lugg at Lyepole, the fishing was tougher than usual but a good stamp of fish to 2lb. All fish caught on tungsten bugs/nymphs with short line.

WUF comments: GW 9 Grayling, CW 9 Grayling & 1 Trout

A perfect day for fishing and a cracking looking water.We fished hard and covered all of the 1.7 miles of river but could not find the fish (well only a few) better luck next time?

Rod 1. 1 Brown trout.

Rod 2. 1 Brown Trout, 1 Grayling.

Rod 3. 1 Grayling