Feedback & Reports

River higher than at same time previous years and also a bit coloured. Caught all fish on dry fly. Few flies about and no rises.

8 Trout

One of the best days I've had in a long while. A really lovely beat, interesting to fish and easy wading. Started around 10am working upstream. The only trout I saw were those that skittered away from my clumsy approach and a couple lying under overhanging branches and knots of vegetation. Spent two hours trying to sneak up and flick little casts at them with nothing to show except a collection of twigs. Around midday the trout very suddenly started feeding on the surface. A gentle hatch carried on all afternoon and evening - it was still just about going when I left at 6pm. Unsure of the entomology, I initially assumed LDO but when I got hold of a couple they were paler, more brown in colour with yellow legs.
Trout were rising consistently which made for exciting fishing but I was unable to effectively match what was hatching. I went through most of my box, taking a total of 5 and losing 4 more on a mixture of CDC Dark Olives, Cillabaetis Comparaduns, Royal Coachmen and Red Quill Duns. Largest was around 10 inches with the rest between 6 and 8. All returned.
A very exciting day I shall remember for a long time. The only thing that stopped me going on until dusk was the steady rain and cold that eventually left me unable to tie knots without dropping the contents of my fly box all over the floor. I'm sure somebody more competent than I with exactly the right colours in his box would have landed dozens more over the course of the day.

5 Trout

If someone was to ask me to imagine the perfect trout stream the Lugg at Lyepole would be it... The water hurries through series of rifles, runs and deep inviting pools through which you cant decide whether it better to cast a fly or jump in.
Practically speaking there was an ok rise from 1pm onwards of olives. I caught fish on quill nymphs with a black tungsten head, fished as the french do. Caught a cracking trout of about a 1.5 lb and a whopping oos Grayling nudging 2 lb. Only regret was not taking a fish on the dry. Thanks WUF

3 Trout, 4 Grayling

A day that begins with a long hold-up on the M42 is probably not going to be the best: this wasn't. When I finally arrived the river was at a reasonable height but carrying a deal more colour than I was expecting. When I saw the state of some of the surrounding fields I realised why - there is still a good deal of surface water left to drain and this is bringing enough muck to make the water pretty cloudy. Despite the day warming a little in the early afternoon and the small hatch that resulted, I neither saw nor contacted any fish. The winter floods have taken their toll and the river seems to have shifted here and there since last season. There is also a large tree right across it a little way upstream of the bridge. But cold weather and uncooperative fish apart, it was great to be back out again and I look forward with hope of more productive trips soon. It's still a cracking place to be.

Hoped water levels were at a fishable level. sadly they were not. Having never fished this beat before it was impossible to see where fish would hold. Water was running too hard for wading and bank fishing was a waste of time. Nil return but nice looking beat.

13 x grayling 10-12 inches, 2 x out of season trout 8-10 inches, short nymphing. The water was a bit high following rain 36 hours before but Lyepole was looking absolutely glorious in sunshine and a hard white frost. Be warned - the low Winter sun may illuminate the woods on the tops of the hills but the valley itself is a frost trap and the ice remains until mid afternoon. Cold it was and the bigger grayling stayed away but it was still a great day out. I caught a fox trying to stalk hen pheasants by the farm when driving down first thing in the morning, and there was a ghostly barn owl floating between the trees over the bridge when I left.

Nil return.

Very little fly (a bit disappointing for mid September really, though it was rather cool and pretty windy at times - a few PWs, Sedges and Spinners in the early to mid-afternoon). Hardly a rise and the couple which rose to my duo dropper, I missed! Did have twenty fish though. Ten grayling, mainly of 8-10", with a couple bigger, and two 14" 1.25 pounders plus ten trout, none bigger than 10". All fish taken on tung-head nymphs, either fished duo or Czech nymphing the dubs and deeper runs. A skinny pink nymph fished duo was well appreciated by the trout and flashback PTNs and a couple of HE patterns caught the rest.
Whilst the guidelines for the beat do say that the riparian owner may have a guest fishing, I was very disappointed, as I waded up past the cottage, to be told that someone was fishing the beat upstream. No mention of this had been made when we met at 9am when she knew that I had paid for and would be fishing the beat. Maybe accounts for fewer fish being caught in the upstream section? If I had known that I would be sharing the beat with someone else I would have fished elsewhere. Whatever, I think it would be very helpful when the riparian owner is in residence and wants a guest to fish, if she informs WUF of this in advance so that paying clients can pick a day when they can either guarantee having the beat to themselves or share with a collaborating angler. Perhaps WUF can pursue this suggestion further?
P.S. Parts of the beat, including some major pools, now need pole saw treatment from the winter maintenence crew. Did some gardening en route for access as well, so some attention needed here too. Needs putting onto the "to do" list.

WUF note - The current arrangement with the riparian owner is outlined in the notes. It is not always possible for the owner to inform us of guests fishing at short notice hence the flexibility of the arrangement.

The river was full and carrying a little colour. Nothing showing in the afternoon. Fishing nymphs I had several tugs before bringing one small trout to hand. In the evening the odd fish could be seen feeding in the slack sections. Two trout to a black suspender, the best being about 12”. A tree has fallen across the river about 50 meters downstream of the weir.

One very small trout caught early in the day on a small gold nymph. Beautiful river that I would like to fish again, although I saw very few fish and there was no rise. As my first time on the water I probably did everything wrong and fished wet and dry alternatively, big and small. Best take was to a size 12 Alexandra but failed to hook. Couldn't lure anything subsequently either but I imagine fish are there as the river looks perfect. Weather was occasionally very bright and river clear.
On the down side, whilst a very pretty stretch, wading is mandatory and a wading stick essential. It is very difficult to get in and out of the river except for a couple of obvious places, so you might take a grappling hook! The result is that you have to be prepared for some quite long wades and I waded from the weir at the top of the beat for about quarter of a mile before I could scramble out. This can be a bit unsettling. Banks are steep and covered in balsam and bramble and sometimes hidden barbed wire. Wading is perhaps not as easy as the blurb suggests and there are some deep holes. Casting also often challenging due to overhanging branches. All this I will know for next time.
Summary: this is really quite wild fishing and little about it is manicured. The angler is therefore faced with a series of challenges, most of which add something to the experience, but I would suggest that the Authority creates or marks better exits and entrances, possibly with ladders. It is not a stretch to "begin" on without these additions, unless the angler is prepared to fish just a few obvious glides. I guess there are fish there and would like to come again! £20 for a day ticket? OK for the scenery, the beautiful river and overall experience, overpriced for the state of the banks and apparent lack of fish!!