Feedback & Reports

I fished this beat regularly before the pollution incident and this was the first time since then. River running clear with moderate flow. A frosty start led me to search the bottom with a pair of nymphs but to no avail, changing to duo led immediately to the large indicator fly being taken by two grayling in quick succession. I changed to a # 16 Greenwells Glory and another followed. Fish between 9 and 11 inches. Good to see that the river has recovered. Found 3 youngsters float fishing on my return to the car.

3 Grayling

Calm and relatively mild day, good flow but very clear river. Nymphing all afternoon, landed 3 grayling on a sparkle pink shrimp and 3 on a sparsely tied hares ear with orange bead, on the dropper. All 10/11" except for one magnificent fish on the hares ear - 18" as measured, from a deep pool. Thought I had snagged the bottom at first, then it moved, although I did not see it for a while! My biggest grayling, swam off strongly afterwards.
Went home very happy!

1 Trout, 6 Grayling

Couple of hours fishing. Grayling a little tricky to find.

4 Grayling

First time on beat. 3 hours between 12 and 3pm. Grey and damp autumn afternoon. Lovely stream although access to the water was tricky on some stretches for someone exploring it for the first time. one 9 inch grayling caught on ptn fished under a dry.

1 Grayling

River a good height with a touch of colour - dropped my wife off to her stained glass workshop, near Hay, then had lunch at the newly refurbished Swan Hotel. Fished pm for an hour or so - going tough for an old 'un. Bankside vegetation, fallen trees. 2 os wbt about 8" and one salmon parr on small barbless nymphs. Some rising just as I left late pm A lovely kingfisher just above the bridge. Will have to be a bit more choosey re. beats - some will either keep me fit or kill me - who dares wins!

2 Trout, 1 Other

A beautiful Autumn afternoon with sunshine and light wind.
Started out fishing French leader with 2 nymphs and caught 4 grayling.
Towards the top of the beat I came across a few fish rising so switched to a#16 parachute Adams and caught another 5.
All fish like peas in a pod around 10 inches.
Also a handful of tiddlers not counted.

9 Grayling

one fish well over a pound in very good condition. Difficult stretch to fish because of heavy growth of vegetation.

5 Trout

First time at Pontithel. Easy to locate and access. Arrived early pm on a cloudy, showery day. Water up in the catchment but the beat perfectly fishable.

Not much rising so had to tempt the fish up using a variety of dries - iron blue, f-fly, olive emerger. Nice varied beat with some deep pools, long glides and some riffley water too. On the whole easy to wade even with the canopy in all its September glory.

Managed 5 wbt and 2 grayling, all between 7" and 12" and all returned safely.

5 Trout, 2 Grayling

No rising fish but plenty of fly life, so straight on with a nymph, fished upstream from the bridge and had a few fingerlings. Fished with a 7 " 4# and it was a good choice. This stretch would be good for a tenkara session. Started bucketing down and the river turned a very dark colour. Still a good beat for wild fish.

3 Grayling

No rising fish,but plenty of surface fly life,so started with a dry fly without any success. Went for a nymph and had a busy afternoon. Conditions were perfect, slight wind giving a ripple on the water and no rain.
Had four trout netted,biggest one about 8 inch, lost about another five. This beat will not be for everyone but if you like small rivers this is a great find . Fished it with a 6 foot 3 weight rod.

4 Trout