Feedback & Reports

Something over 40 grayling to 17 inches, half a dozen out of season trout. The majority of grayling at 14 inches, not quite senior class. This was the first really cold morning, misty and 3 degrees first thing, but later it became a most beautiful warm and sunny day. LD and I stayed true to the dry fly, but RE, despite all our teasing, fished Czech nymph style throughout and wiped our eye by catching more than half the fish. I supposed it serves us right for fishing with a man who has been capped for Wales. We caught up just a little in the afternoon as rises began and the traditional dry flies began to work their magic. LD remarked that he could actually see the colours on the fins of grayling as they came up for the fly - there must be something special about the autumn light on the Irfon. The end of a wonderful day was only slightly marred for my friends by hearing about what had happened to Wales in the Rugby. Finally in darkness to Builth for a drink, where people dressed in the red shirt were staring gloomily into their pints and not talking much.

More on waders (see Tuesday 11th October): My apologies, because I caused much confusion when writing about long-lived 4mm neprene waders by Vision. The correct name of these is Vision Sub-Zero, not Vision Extreme - sorry again. Also, it's worth mentioning that even if your breathables are leak-free, you are going to feel pretty clammy and uncomfortable if you spend a few hours in them wearing ordinary cotton trousers, especially jeans. The purpose-made fleece wading trousers are really a must, and I can recemmend the EWS ones by Hardy (which are not as expensive as most things by Hardy). Likewise, when it really gets cold, the specially designed thermal underwear (again, I can recommend Hardy EWS) makes a tremendous difference. Even if you are equipped with all of this and are mad enough to spend a day standing in the Wye in the middle of the winter, chattering teeth and not being able to string a sentence together is a pretty sure sign that it is time to get out! Finally Seth from the WUF advises that for a while he has been using Bison waders at 75 pounds each and gets at least a season's work out of them, which sounds like a pretty good deal.

A red cock salmon took a small buoyant fly on a heavy shooting head as the cold mist cleared off the neck of the spring pool. My first salmon for a long time.

Second day after fishing Courtfield yesterday, set up with no action, then along came Don the owner made a suggesting of where to fish so Phil and moved. Pellet over pellet again, it was very slow for me - one barbel of 7lb. Phil though did it again, 3 barbel 3.0,5.0 and a 6.14 plus a 3lb chub. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will definitely return.

5 barbel and a chub between 2 rods all from the Old Wharf pool all on boilie. Fishing was tricky and the sucessful method was very long hooklengths and small baits.

The Old Wharf pool is the only real swim on this stretch, you can wade to the far bank in places and there are 2 other cribs, but the water is shallow and very fast. Perhaps in the height of summer this beat would produce better but I think the limited swim choice would mean that i would not return to this beat unless I had it all to myself. Met the owner who was helpful and full of useful information. Access is very good, bring a rod pod to help fish the cribs.

A glorious bright autumn day but little to show for it - 2 grayling and 1 trout, all around 10". Fish rose steadily throughout the day but my limited entomology meant I could not identify what they were taking. Nevertheless, I managed to move several fish to dry flies which proved difficult to hook. Visited by an otter just as I was leaving.

2 grilse, both 7lb, returned. Size 10 fly on 9’ leader, floating shooting head, 15’ rod. Thanks, I’ll be back.

Superb day on the water. Mild and sunny autumn day with leaves drifting down onto the water and carpeting the granite bedrock in places - very special time of year to be on the water... 25 Grayling between the two of us. Largest fish 2lb 2oz and two small out of season trout. Funny how the trout just switch off and concentrate on other things at this time of year. I reckon fishing the same beat a month ago would have resulted in lots of trout. Most grayling taken on size 20/22 cdc f fly and size 14 olive emerger. Also some on size 20 copper head tungsten PTN/Hares ear combo fly - my all round favourite nymph for WUF waters. Thanks again WUF for a great day and Sterling advice Seth!

Fished the NE bank. Good rise from 9.15 until 10.45 with overcast skies and a little drizzle but cleared all morning to give a bright, warm day. Very little or no breeze until aroun lunch time. Two 1.5 lb rainbows in the morning tken on a Montana, then a further two after lunch on meps comet spinner. A good days sport in a superb location.

Another smashing day on the Wye weather not great - clear blue sky & chilly downstream gusty breeze made trotting hard work but no problem on the feeder, had 11 barbel - 6 beautiful (2 lb / 3 lb) fish plus 5 better fish to 8ish lbs plus 1 chub many thanks WUF.

Water very low and clear with slow flow, caught a few fingerling grayling and wbt/salmon par but never saw anything of any size. We need rain to liven things up.