Feedback & Reports

This was our first visit to the Ashford House beat. Parking was excellent and access from the parking to the river was well defined. Finding a spot to gain access from the high bank sections was however not so easy with unmaintained tree and vegetation growth as well as the steep banks preventing access to the river level. However there are a few access points higher up the beat and once in allowed good wading. Fish were rising from the 5pm start and increased through the evening with a good olive hatch together with the occasional sedge. They were very picky though which resulted in frustrated searches through the fly box to find a successful pattern. With limited time availability we failed to make contact with a rising fish. However thanks to a size 14 olive nymph the evening was rescued by a well conditioned 19 inch brown trout that was carefully returned safe and well.

1 Trout

only had an hour mid-am before I had to leave, a gusty cold wind so just walked the beat

Enjoyed a couple of hours fishing in the evening, working up the river from the bridge. No interest in nymphs or wets, so tried the dry fly above the riffles at the top. Plenty of takes but nothing landed...broken off by 1 trout, most were taking very tentatively and difficult to hook. Very good dry water at the top with plenty of fish about. You do need to wade but its an interesting little beat. Many thanks to owner Barry for being so hospitable and sharing his knowledge of the beat with me.

Seven trout - five on dries, two on nymphs, mostly average size but one better one of 16". Lots of fly life and plenty rising today, but - there's nearly always a but isn't there?! - most of the mayflies were tiny Caenis. Huge clouds of them at times, but also a smattering of other mayflies which were mostly pale wateries, olive uprights and other small olives. Also some yellow sally stoneflies. The fish were highly selective as a result, the fly had to be just right or they would not bite - but that made it interesting and great fun. All but one of the risers came on various small mayfly patterns in size 18 or smaller, and many of the Caenis feeders weren't interested. Some spinners came out later too - the other one took a rusty spinner. Thanks for another lovely day out!

P.S. the Japanese knotweed and Himalyan balsam is spreading really badly now - there was even some Japanese knotweed growing midstream on debris above the waterline, rather worrying for downstream spread.

7 Trout

Second of three days fishing the passport waters and a disappointing one. Arrived about 12 and fished until 6. It was cloudy and about 11°c when I arrived, but warmed up and turned into the best afternoon of the week. I couldn't find the fish, I tried dries, spiders, nymphs and weighted nymphs, but in the entire time I was there, only saw about 5 or 6 rises. The river didn't look healthy to be honest. There was a sparse hatch a
of flies during the afternoon, and I did see a single mayfly. Swallows and Martins searched the river most of the afternoon, so you would assume there should be fish, but I had not a single pull or rise or any interest shown.

Weather conditions and river flow perfect. Lots of insect life but few fish rising. Hence mostly nymphing techniques used though some success with dries late afternoon. A beautiful and very accessible beat. Many thanks again to Fishing Passport making such beats available to visitors.

6 Trout

A great day's fishing at Abercynrig. Despite a cool downstream breeze and fishing upstream dry fly, I managed 24 fish, the best about 2lb but an average of about 3/4lb each. Fish rose steadily through the day on and off and I had 14 by 6pm but the place came alive in the evening with good hatches of fly and larger fish moving to them in the deeper water. All fish were returned safely.

24 Trout

Absolute nightmare of a beat. Long yomp to the start which is fine but the amount of. Barbed wire makes it impossible to get in and out of the river unless your into a new pair of waders. Very disappointed given it’s on such a beautiful place.

Ps only saw 4 fish top all day

6 Trout

River very clear , medium height. Temperature - max 17 degrees C, with cooling wind from the north. Occassionally gusty.
Fished 11am - 3.30pm. A few sporadic rises but nothing significant. Two WBT (2x10oz) caught and returned - GRHE.
Lovely beat.

One superb condition Salmon (8-10lb) seen in Salmon Pool around 3pm.

Very helpful service from Passport office when I was unable to find padlock code on the instructions. (It's on the map, not on the written directions - silly me!)

2 Trout