Jan 30 2010
River Wye
Thanks to a mixture of rain and snow over the last month, and also my right foot deciding it was going to try and tear all of its ligaments last month, fishing has been a strange and distant memory. On every occasion since Christmas where I’ve felt a fishing trip may be possible, the heavens have remind me just who’s boss, or I’ll attempt to put too much weight on my foot and end up on the floor, wincing in pain like a little sissy girl. Needless to say, January 2010 has been hopeless.
I was determined to fish over this past weekend, and I didn’t care if I had to endure more rain than Noah, it was happening. So screw you foot, and screw you bad weather!
The mighty Bill had arranged a small shindig on the upper river Wye, and at one of my favourite spots on the river. The river Wye at this upland location sees it’s freestone waters tumble between truly huge boulders, over slab stone, and below gigantic sheer cliff faces. This is the upper Wye, and the environment here offers the angler quite a harsh terrain, but it’s worth the hard work. Images of a hobbling, limping old man came to mind the night before as I began to contemplate navigating the harsher-than-normal banks/riverbed with a still-bruised foot.
On opening the door on Saturday morning, however, I was presented with a Christmas postcard scene, white, snowy, and very cold. Great. The previous night’s ‘sneaky’ snowfall and frost meant that a lot of the roads had closed, and as such, Bill, Mostyn, and the English visitors Bill had arranged to meet up with were all unable to make it. Word from the Merthyr Contingent sounded like they were going to wait and head up when it got a little warmer…looked like I was just going to brave it alone for a while.
After purchasing a ticket, I headed a little further north and to the usual parking spot (which was covered in snow on this occasion) and walked to the river to see what the conditions were like before tackling up. As any other visitor to this section of river will tell you, it’s a beautiful and hidden gem.
An hour later and I’d been fishing hard, and without any fish, but it was more a case of finding a shoal than it being a day of catching grayling after grayling. Conditions were perfect, and an image of what a winters day fishing for grayling should be; blue skies, snow covered banks, leaves crunching underfoot, icey cold waters, and annoyingly, frozen rod rings.
Nymphing was the method of the day, but due to the (generally) low and very clear water conditions, fishing at distance was required, and specifically, in the high sticking format.
At around 11:00am I was greeted by the fantastic sight of nearly 20 canoes paddling downstream. Even though the Wye & Usk Foundation’s sign just upstream at the first launch spot clearly stated “You may not canoe at any time when the water level at Rhadyr is below the red line”…yes, you’ve guessed it, the water was levels were below said line, approximately 1′ below the red line in fact. Sure, during the Welsh Assembly’s ‘Inquiry into access to inland waters’ Evidence Sessions there has been so-called ‘scientific evidence’ submitted that ‘factually’ stated that fish are not disturbed by canoes; strange then, from my years on the water, how an angler/walker/CANOEIST can screw the fishing in a huge section of river. My rant’s over now, but they shouldn’t have been there.
Anyway, back to the fishing.
Eventually, I did hit into a fish, albeit a trout (a rather beautiful 16″s of out-of-season trout), but a trout nonetheless; and not a grayling.
Moving consistently up stream, I eventually bumped into Phil and Mark who had, true to their word, made it to the Wye as the conditions had warmed up, and the roads had re-opened. We fished and chatted together for the next hour and a bit, until deciding to pack it in for the day.
Back at the car, and after having shared a coffee with Phil and Mark, I realised how much I’d missed the fishing during January…and how many flies I’d tied during my forced abstinence. The one fish I’d caught during the day, and the sites seen, however, more than made up for it (well, nearly). But there will be more fishing to come…eventually. We just have to hope that the snow-which-has-now-turned-rain clears soon.
See you all soon.
A few more images from the day…
21 responses so far
Nice one Gareth.
I knew the scenery would be spectacular .
The weather beat me again
Bill
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Beautiful photography on your site. I’ve been enjoying browsing through your tying and outings. Thank you for posting.
Ben
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That’s a nice fish, even for an almost back in season Wye brown trout! and the photos say it all; absolutely beautiful scenery! You deserved the reward of catching a Wye brown, especially after braving the winter weather and the drive through the snow to get there! Sorry I wimped out of joining you, although, if it was as cold as all that! It most certainly would have been too cold for me! But I must admit, after seeing the photos of that wonderful scenery, I wish I’d bit the bullet and joined you! Never mind; there will be other days that will make up for missing today’s fishing, many more I hope.
Glad you got home safe and sound!
See you soon G,
Mostyn
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Nice fish Gareth I know you said it’s the upper Wye mate but is it the Irfon by any chance? a couple of us managed to squeeze in a day on the Irfon back in mid December and the grayling were quite difficult to find then as most of which were found in tightly packed shoals lying deep right in the heads of the pools. It was slow at first until it warmed up a bit in the afternoon and then the place went nuts!
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Bill, it was a hard day, although you’re right, the scenery was as fantastic as usual up there, and made up for it easily. Just to let you know, the trout was caught in the spot where Roy caught his PB grayling…I’m sure you’ll know the place
Oooh, and if you fancy the lower Taff soon, let me know…I’ll make sure you fish a nicer looking section of the river 
Ben, a huge thanks for the thumbs up! Always glad to hear that people are enjoying the site. I hope you keep popping back
Mostyn, no apologies needed. As I mentioned, it was hard…and cold! I’m planning a return trip before the trout season starts though, so if you fancy it, you’ll be more than welcome.
Bendino, it was a little further North than the Irfon mate, and on the main stem itself. the grayling were hard to find on this occasion too…I found none actually haha. Maybe next time, but there WILL be a next time!
G
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Gareth,
I was iced in all weekend, we have a micro climate where I live caused by a valley. It can be 3 degrees warmer a couple of miles away, suits me though
I’ve had a few trout where you had that one.
I’ll probably go up next weekend now.
Bill
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Looks like a lovely stretch none the less even if the grayling didn’t play ball. Do you have these days away often fellas? and can anyone tag along?
Rob
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Rob,
As long as you sign a declaration of secrecy about the locations
Bill
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Haha too true Bill
Rob, take a look at the Events & Socials area on the Forum (click here), as they do come up now and again
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Will do cheers Gareth. I’m on the Ewenny again tomorrow i’ll let you know how I get on.
Rob
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Shame,
I missed the canoes, I could have pushed them all over the waterfall
Gareth, let the ticket issuing club know about this if you can.
Bill
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Thanks for the reminder Bill, I wouldn’t thought to otherwise. I’ve just sent an email to a few people, so I’ll let you know what I get back.
G
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Glad to see you’ve finally got out on the River Gareth !! The upper Wye truly is beautiful there.
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Had a good session today, not on the Wye though
See CFF ramblings
Bill
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Failed to find it on CFF Bill! What Heading is it under? General fly fishing or ???
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Here you Mozza
– http://www.completefisher.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14625&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=
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Hi Mostyn,
Its under “Strolling with springwell” in the Fishing Diaries
Bill
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Well done Bill a good start to 2010. Enjoyed your post – cheers.
Rob
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Thanks Rob
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Gareth, I thought I’d infect your blog with some English. Hope to catch up with you and Rain Man later this year!
Smashing site by the way!!
Rich
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Nice to see you Rich
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