Feedback & Reports

The weather was not too bad and as B had a fish on the fly of 12lb on Friday 19th we were in good spirits. As I am a relative beginner with the salmon rod you will probably have a laugh now. B S was with me to help and guide me down through the pool under the bridge with three long boards, we fished the top of the run and down on to the first board, half way down that board B said "ok pal you're fine now, no problems" and went to tack up himself with the spinning rod.
I reached the end of the board and a fish took! Now the fun part, I was told do not strike like a trout just let the fish take it and raise your rod, I did this with B shouting "Give it some wellie! Hit it!" by this time my rod was at twelve o'clock and I had no where to go, as you can guess off it came.
With a rollicking in my ear I started again, finished the second board on to the third when wham my rod went over, well I hit this one but it felt totally different to the first fish. I landed it and it was a shad. I do know what it feels like to have a salmon on the fly having played a fish B hooked and playing fish on the spinning rod.
So one salmon lost, one shad caught and confirmation of B catching one on Friday for all the doubters out there.

1 Other

A lovely day was had, with changeable weather and good hatches of flies including yellow may dun and white mayfly. The hatch lasted a good 2-3 hours during which there was a purple patch for the hapless fisherman - me! In fact I lost count of how many fish I hooked... several got off, a few of the smaller fish - parrs - I let off in the river without bringing to the net. There were a few larger fish, trout and grayling up to 1lb and several smolts too.
Strangely though, even though the mayfly continued hatching, the fish seemed to all but stop rising around 16:00 and I didn't get any interest at all. No sign of salmon.

10 Trout, 5 Grayling, 10 Other

Very beautiful beat, nice fishing hut (especially in the rain), no fish.

1 Trout

River below summer levels which perhaps opened up more water to access?
A pedantic approach to "dry fly only'' to rising fish left one rod blank, the majority fell for an olive shell back nymph fished NZ style through the faster water. Slab rock very slippery, water crystal clear. The young boy in the group sends his thanks for the fly vest "on offer to a good home'' in the fishing hut. Great day on a cracking beat.

15 Trout, 12 Grayling

Overcast and no wind to speak of, river clear and low, again, but a good few fish showing. Fish came from the Heirag, Herons and Bridge pool gutter. The type flies used didn't appear to matter, nor their size - everything from a Grannoms #14 to size 10 Connemara Black. One very big fish, either a huge brownie or a small grille lost at the tail of the Bridge Pool Gutter - estimations of 3 to 6 lb. Some would say "character building"!!! Shortly after 5, the heavens opened and it was like a tropical storm - and we called it a day, a very good day.

15 Trout, 1 Grayling

Hottest day of the week and we catch the most and the biggest of the week. First came in the morning to a gold shrimp at the cottage pool, then nothing till after lunch. 2 from the Heirag to a tungsten bead hares ear and the remainder from the Herons run. Biggest just over the pound. By far the best beat in low water

9 Trout

Hot day and low water. Fish taken in the main on wet flies with a GRHE . One additional smolt, with a further 6 missed. Entertaining but few large fish seen. My thanks to Jon Morris for an excellent day's tuition/guidance.

4 Trout, 3 Grayling

We are so lucky to have all this fishing available.
Quite cold wind most of the day which constantly switched from upstream to down. Plently of fly life including some big stone flies - but not many fish rising.
Fished all day with small barbless HE emergers - had 7 trout, 2 at about 6" and the remaining 5 between 10" and 14" and 1 grayling at 14".
Must have lost double the amount I landed. Whether it was the very low water I do not know - but I have never had so many fish leave the water once hooked - a quick shake and with barbless hooks they were off. Also broken by two larger fish that I never saw.
First time I have ever seen the bottom of Heraig pool - no salmon - but some good sized trout and chub. Largest trout of the day was one tempted up from the depths.
I think this is the lowest I have fished the Wye. Felt like I could have crossed the flats below the suspension bridge in wellies..

7 Trout, 1 Grayling

Good weather conditions
River too low, probably at least one foot too low
No fish showed at any time.
Fished above and below the hut and below the suspension bridge to no avail
Tried for a trout as well...in desperation!