Feedback & Reports

An absolutely lovely and very tough section to fish. I didn't see a lot of fish, despite some insect hatches, particularly midges and winkled out a few lovely and pretty brownies from secluded spots. All in all I enjoyed it and would likely revisit. Sadly, however, the beat information is dangerously out of date/ and / or inaccurate. I never found any beat markers, or "White posts" to follow down into the gorge to the beat start. I never found any start or end markers, despite actually managing to finish exactly at the Felindre Farm. I passed two foot bridges, which don't merit a mention on the map or description. This is a remote beat and strenuous to negotiate, having never been on this water previously it was somewhat nerve wracking to be unsure where the start was, where the end was, or indeed if I might ever get out of the gorge. I loved the place, but the beat information is dangerous. I am used to "winging it" in more risky situations than this, but all in all, the beat information and the markers do need to be updated for the enjoyment and safety of other anglers. In the end I had a pleasant day, caught a few fish and deciding that "discretion is the better part of valor", I walked back to Erwood along the road, rather than risk the gorge. As said, I thought a lovely, if physically challenging beat, but the map and beat information really do need to be updated.

3 Trout

Bright sunny day, water below 1’ of the Llanstephan gauge. 3 fish hooked - none to the net. A frustrating day.

A challenging beat that lives up to its description - lots of scrambling over and under fallen trees and up the brook. Was unable to locate any beat markers (white posts in the description) so went by a map estimate.

The weather forecast was sunny and hot. No problem, I’m far too cunning to let that stop me.; The Clettwr gorge will be lovely and shady and it’ll be nice and cool down there.
At this point in August the sun shines directly into The Clettwr gorge all afternoon and early evening. It reflects off the surface of the beautiful, clear stream and burns your retinas clean out. It’s too bright for the trout so they hide. But I did find the odd shaded pool, and I caught a few of the lovely fish that live there. I don’t keep records, but I think one of them may have been my best fish from this wonderful little river.

4 Trout

Survived the assault course. Mainly nymphing up to footbridge. Water at good height & clear. Not a fin seen, but dippers were busy & bluebells out.

First visit here. Despite a little overnight rain the stream seemed very low, and the fish remained extraordinarly well hidden all day. The stunning scenery in the gorge was a considerable compensation, and the route out at the top of the beat is
recomended, despite the distances invloved: on the way down the lane you come to appreciate just how far and how high you have stumbled up the river bed!

Very poor access

3 Trout

Hoped for a little more water from yesterday's rain. If there was any it wasn't much. Some fly and a couple of good fish seen in one of deeper pools. Only two rising fish spotted, one of which was put down by a crash-landing mallard and the other by an inept cast. Nevertheless a great escape from civilisation for a few hours.

Stunning and otherworldly gorge with pool after pool tempting upwards. This is a lovely, long and challenging beat - but no fish, at least there were none today apart from one who slashed at a klinkhammer a couple of times before disappearing back into his lair. Despite super stealthy tactics I saw no other fish apart from one rising below the waterfall at the top. Strangely devoid considering what I'd heard. Will return...

First time on the Clettwr in a number of years. Only one fish seen all day, in the larger pool with the high waterfall on the right bank half way up, but it wasn't taking.

I've never fished this beat this late in the summer before so hadn't seen the water so low - it certainly changed the nature of the beat. It is still gorgeous with some very tight, overgrown parts to navigate but, of course, less fishable water with some stretches only a few inches deep. I started at 0630 in an effort to beat the heat. The water was just under 14C, which I thought wasn't too bad considering the run of hot, dry weather. The larger pools I remembered from before were still there, just a little lower and harder to approach. The first three hours were hard work - no fish seen rising but I persevered on hands and knees approaching each pool and tiny run. It was apparent that this brook is still full of plenty of healthy fish - every pool had a handful sitting motionless on the bottom that flashed away when I got close - but I had to get really close. I got within 6ft of some decent looking fish in crystal clear water that zipped upstream only to gently slide back into the same position 3 or 4 mins later as I stood still changing flies. It was exciting to see, but they clearly weren't interested in feeding.
Around 0900 I saw the odd rise and then had a 7" trout on a PTN in one of those lovely deep, very narrow bedrock channels. A few more pulls and splashes near the dry fly kept me entertained until the waterfall below the mill which, as ever, produced the best fish of the day - 2 trout at 7" and 9" on a GRHE and PTN respectively.
I finished at 1120 having fished to just past the mill - walking out of the thick woods into the sunshine felt like opening an oven door!
Lovely day, as always. This is my absolute favourite beat and I must make the effort later in the season.

3 Trout