Feedback & Reports

Fished left bank only. River still a little high and coloured. However I fished the fly as I much prefer it to spinning. No luck so switched to Flying c and after a few casts just below top steps of the Vanstone a salmon took but only stayed on about one minute!
Am putting in a plea for better access to the top pools on the beat as I would dearly like to follow in Pashley's footsteps!

WUF note - Bank clearance and access work is due to carried out on this beat.

8 wbt. Lots of water in the river and very muddy. Clearing later during the day, should be o/k tomorrow.
Good info from WUF on directions and location, etc. Thanks.

Arrived at 2-30pm for the afternoon evening rise, access to the bottom of the beat through the wood was a little bit of a jungle and managed to fall over a fence wire in the grass, head first into stinging nettles, bare arms. I thought they didn't sting this month Ha Ha. Dock leaves to the rescue. What a fantastic job the clearance work has done very easy now to get a cast away. 3 fish to hand back to the bridge, the same amount coming off at the net. Stopped for tea then back to this wonderful beat. 9 more trout to hand all fish around the same size 12/13" mark possible stock. The fish fell to home ties of gold head Nymphs on point and Mayfly patterns on dropper fish were caught on both. Mayfly were flying from 5/9pm, erie really in August. Lots of sedge also, covered 5 rises and all five came to the net. Tactics and casting must be spot on thanks again to Kim Tribe and Frank Williams for without their invaluable tuition times like these would be hard to come by.

Diappointing. River low and clear very little sign of activity although did see one fairly large trout hiding under overhanging vegetation. Blanked.

Very quiet day for Courtfield. After blanking at Meadow in the morning we tried the swim by the pub-taking a tiny chub. Went back to the Meadow swim and took 3 barbel 5lbs 7lbs & 8lbs late afternoon. Very bright sunny day did not help. Canoeists a pain as usual.

Caught 1 brown 10" on a black nymph.

Suggestion: Frames to cross the barb wire fences would help anglers and keep the farmers fences intact.

Great day out.

6 fish between the two rods. All taken on the flats. Beautiful conditions with lots of water and only a little colour. Most fish below a pound but one cracking fish of just under 2 pounds from middle flats. Great day on a stunning beat.

Weather fine. River about 10" above summer level. Caught 1 wbt 10", 2 grayling one of which was well over 2lb. Few fish rising. Good day.

One small brown trout - 8oz which was returned and, amazingly, a rainbow trout. This was 2lb 8oz and we kept it as it was damaged, possibly by an otter.
I was not under the impression that stock fish were put in the river, other than Glanusk. Saw several cormorants too. Will report it on cormorant watch.
Saw no salmon at all.
WUF Note: Rainbow trout show up occasionally in both rivers, usually there as a result of stocked pond overflowing. We request that any rainbows caught are removed.

Nil return. An overcast and promising looking day but the river was rising and had some colour when we arrived. We fished thoroughly over the water. I hooked a grilse in Lower Flats for 20-30 seconds on a Goat's Toe and my friend had a fish on for 2 minutes in Upper Flats which fell to a Cascade. Neither fish brought to net.

Observations;
There was a terrific holding place between Lower Flats and Lower Pool which has now disappeared sadly. There were cows and heifers in all the fields and some not so pleased to see us. The fence in Upper Bridge Pool has been fixed; which is good for cattle control and bad for the crotch area of one's waders. Thanks to the Wye & Usk Foundation for a wonderful service that makes the river so easily accessible to fishermen.