Feedback & Reports

The first time I have fished Mortimers Cross and, with 1.7 miles of bank, plenty to go at. Some oh so enticing pools in the top two meadows - which I studiously ignored as I made my way down to the bottom of the beat on a lovely autumnal morning. Plenty of action as I moved back up river with around a dozen Grayling and 3 unseasonal Trout. Nothing of any great size with the best Grayling probably just about going 1lb. All on the same gold headed PTN.

Other than some small fish - and I mean small - which were taking drys, by the time I got back up to the top two meadows, as far as I could tell, the oh so enticing enticing pools were devoid of fish. Mind you, it was very bright by then with the bottom visible even in 6 feet of water - it might have been a different story if I had fished them in the morning (when there was a bit of cloud cover). A couple of nice Trout from the pool below the bridge before an early finish to beat the Worcester traffic.

1 Chub 3lb 6 oz on Halibut paste & 5 Barbel to 9 lb all on Halibut pellets. (2 rods)

11 x grayling 10-14 inches, 3 x out of season trout 8 inches, 14 inches and 15 inches, all on the bottom with nymphs. Honestly unsure whether the two large trout were MF's stock fish left ftom the summer or not - I presume they stock? Wrong colour for the Lugg, having an interesting greenish patina, but pristine condition and fin-perfect.

Fished from 9 until 5.30 accompanied for much of the day with a cold downstream wind. Had five out-of-season browns with the best about 1.5 lb and 17 grayling - one 16" fish which weighed in at just under 1.75 lb, a chubby specimen indeed, five 14" fish all around the 1.25lb mark, a couple of 13" fish, two 12" fish and the rest around 10"(nothing smaller which may be a concern). All fish in good nick. There were some fish rising on and off throughout the day with a few lulls, very little fly about apart from a few PWs and small olives, but the fish in the margins under the trees seemed to get active when the stronger gusts of wind wrested leaves from the trees, the fish presumably finding bugs at the same time. Water 12 deg C so getting colder and many more leaves caught than fish, so autumn is certainly here! Fish still in "heads up" mode and all fish taken on emergers.

River was very low clear and slow. 3 barbel caught to 8lb one good fish lost. All caught on paste bait. Enjoyable day but the river needs a good drop of water.

Many thanks once again to the Foundation for a top venue and excellent directions.

Despite the low, clear conditions, the river was on top form with 25 plus fish caught (2 Rods). Grayling outnumbering Trout roughly 3 to 1. Some good fish; Grayling to 1.5lbs (with plenty of 1lb plus fish) and Trout to 1lb.

Most of the fish coming to beaded nymphs in the deeper runs but there were a few fish rising in the afternoon. Could not work out what they were taking but eventually succeeded in landing a couple by putting on the smallest fly in the box - a Size 18 Adams. Tres bonne.

River was terribly low and slow, most areas were wade-able, haven't seen it that low for many moons!

Fished Crib 4 and Monument. We had 30 barbel between us, mostly from Monument on maggots and pellets, fed from about 1pm to 6.30pm.

A wonderful day in beautiful surroundings yet again!

Arived at the beat at 10.30am, fished nymphs to start with and lost a few but pretty quiet. Changed to dry fly at 1.00pm with sedges and olives on the water. Had a great afternoon with a brown klinkhammer. Caught 8 grayling all on the klink, fish ranged between 1/2lb to 2 1/2 lb,(and what a fish it was, made my day). A great days fishing, made easier with the helpfull advice from the Wye and Usk Foundation office.

River low but a number of holding fish in the Vanstone Pool. Hard work to entice to the fly though.

1 small brown trout approx 6 inches.