Feedback & Reports

The stars were aligned perfectly for this day on the Wye: great drive up; lovely B&B (Old Vicarage) with a great breakfast; weather perfect (light cloud; slight wind); river falling after a spate. Twenty-one brown trout, mostly 10" and above; and one 18" and possibly bigger (it ran across the river stripping line from the reel at an amazing pace: it thought it was a salmon). Eleven grayling, mostly c. 16" and two of 18". In total, 32 lovely fish, all carefully returned. All taken on a traditional Adams (dry); size 14. After difficult days on the Wye in previous years, this has reminded me just how productive the upper Wye can be (or has the fishing improved?). My favourite river.

Not a very successful day! 1 10" trout and 2 dace the sole interest to 3 rods despite Simon's exhortations to try for a salmon in Butlers. SG did connect with something bigger on a killer bug but overall very little interest in our usually successful dry flies.

Another good day and the weather was kind to us as well. 15 Barbel and 2 chub caught, best fish just under 10lb and what a specimen.

This weeks fishing totalled over 80 fish for 3 rods, one of our best weeks fishing on the Wye. Thanks to all at WUF

The weather forecast and river levels didn't look good, but as it was the last chance for me to fish this season I took the gamble and drove down overnight from London. I looked at the Arrow but it was too slow and coloured for me and I got a frosty reception at Gleen farm so decided to head to the more familiar Usk tribs. Not fished the Honddu before but it is much more my sort of stream, relatively fast flowing, easy wading in lovely surroundings. Could do with some clearing and coppicing here and there but I like the challenge and I managed to keep the same tippet and fly the whole day. A size 16 barbless para adams took six very healthy looking brown trout, all between 8 - 10" and returned unharmed. Missed or lost plenty more. A great days fishing on a lovely beat I will return to in Spring. Many thanks to the WUF for your great work. Sorry I forgot to post the return voucher.

This is a lovely stretch of river, best suited to one rod. You need chest waders even in the low water conditions that we experienced. Do not be mislead by the "wellington" symbol in the passport.

There was a decent flow below the confluence with Back Brook. In fact most of the flow seemed to result from the brook, as the Hindwell above the brook and adjacent to Coombe farm was not much more than a series of static, muddy puddles on the day of our visit. The lower section of the beat has pools and riffles, and above the road bridge there are some very deep holes. Some pools need attention, as they are completely clogged with dead branches that have washed downstream.

We had to suspend fishing for about two hours at midday to allow the water to clear as the river suddenly took on the colour of a coffee milkshake. This may have been due to livestock being driven across the stream or soil/manure being dumped in the river. Evidence of both activities was observed at various places upstream of the road bridge.

All said and done, 2 rods enjoyed a couple of very pleasant hours, fishing alternately and catching 4 trout and 7 grayling on various goldheads to suit flow and depth. Unfortunately nothing larger than 25cm.

A mink was sighted in the vicinity of the stables upstream of the road bridge. This animal was as bold as brass, allowing us to approach to within 2 metres before disappearing into a tangle of riverside tree roots.

5 BT, 1 x Grayling, 1 x Dace, numerous small chub.

Tricky day with bright sunshine and clearing water. Me and a friend fished in the lower field catching 5 Barbel between us and a nice chub just under 5lb.

2 rods (8 vouchers) fishing alternately - 4 trout 6" to 8". 7 x Grayling (8" to 10").

2 small trout - returned.

Spent a few pleasant hours here late morning/early afternoon. River quite low but a bit fresher after the recent rains. Lots of fluttering stoneflies, large and small. Not much rising apart from a couple of fish. Had four trout, two of 10" and two of 8" on GRHE nymph and emergers. First time back here for a while and the beat could now do with a strategic trim; it must be some years since much has been done. Some recently fallen, much more substantial timber would also be worth moving. Such improvements would not detract from the quality of the environment nor fish cover, nor the challenge that these streams offer, but would certainly give better value for money.