Feedback & Reports

Weather overcast, river low and gin clear. A trickle of mixed flies including a few Mays. I have really mixed feelings about this beat. The landscape is beautiful and truly remote. It has a decent head of wbt and a nice variety of riffles, glides and meanders.
However, there seems to be a tree or obstruction at every turn making castable fishing quite limited. Also many of the fishy looking heads and tails of pools were off limits due to debris. Maybe I am being picky due to the high quality fishing offered by the Passport, but not for me this one. Oh, and did manage 3 wbt to a size 16 Adams.

3 Trout

First time fishing this beat, dry with sunny periods. First half has quite a few nice pools where fish were visibly rising but not taking, eventually caught 3 small wbt in 2 minutes changing to a griffiths gnat which they hit like a train. The latter half has a very long section of fast riffle with little variety, I should have changed to nymphing but thought there would be another pool of rising fish just around the next corner - but no.
Saw a mink on the right (south) bank early on, got a shock towards the end in a deeper riffle when what looked like an octopus broke surface & rolled past me in the fast water turning over end on end - realised after it seemed to be a 2-3lb fish wrestling with a large lamprey - went past in a flash.

3 Trout

Wow a great day, but again not much rising so the nymph again dominated; duo dry with #20 nymph suspended beneath. An evening rise started at 8pm but sadly we had to leave. Some big fish about. Best today for us was 2.5lb but lost one well over 3lb, it turned twice to dries but did not take properly. Sadly some evidence of diseased fish. Someone needs to get the traps out, there is a plethora of mink on the upper end of the beat.

28 Trout

4 Trout

1 trout caught between the four of us, the method used was worm.

1 Trout

Size of all fish were very small. Mostly trout and Salmon parr. Method used was nymphing.

1 Trout, 3 Grayling, 7 Other

Heavy canoe traffic and a raft race restricted fishing somewhat in the morning session but most river users were polite which is good to report. Fly produced a large chub (around 4lbs) and a suprised shad (around 2lb). The FC saw more action with an even bigger chub, 2 perch (first time I've caught them on the Wye) and a salmon which was lost due to a jammed reel after playing for 10 minutes and estimated at around 20lb). Evening session spoilt by dog walkers who joined me in the pool I was fishing to throw stones for their 3 dogs to swim after. Apparently 'the river is for everyone' and the public footpath grants unrestricted access. Several fish seen throughout the day. Beat badly overgrown but gorgeous. Tight lines to the Barbel boys over the next few weeks.

2 Chub, 3 Other

Decent mayfly hatch in the afternoon. All fish on para Adams #16.

3 Trout

Overcast and chilly morning then bright sunshine, not much wind. 4 trout to a meps spinner, 1 trout to ledgered worm.
8 + perch from a few ounces to round about a pound all on the worm. All fish caught no more than 2 to 3 rod lengths out.

5 Trout, 8 Other

This was a workshop day with the Welsh International Rivers Team and proved to be a very successful event. We were trying out new techniques and tactics. Next one will be on the 2nd August 2015. Anyone that is interested please contact john_symonds@btconnect.com. The day costs £50 per participant.

30 Trout