Glasbury to Luggsmouth

The fishery is approximately 1,000m (1,094 yds) of double bank fishing on the Wye giving anglers the peace of mind that nobody else has the right to fish this stretch from the other bank. The fishery historically was renowned as an early spring salmon fishery. Currently however salmon are more regularly caught later in the season with trout, chub, barbel, grayling, pike, perch and dace being caught either in the summer and or autumn or all year round. The fishery comprises the following pools:

Llanthomas Pool :

This pool is quite shallow and best fished in high water for the salmon. It is referred too in a letter published in the April 1956 edition of Field Sports magazine as

“…fly water on which some wonderful catches have been made – wonderful even by Wye standards. From this beat the late [] took many 40 pounders and more than a score of fish in a single day.”

Fish likely to be caught in this pool include chub, barbel and shoals of big grayling can be located here, even in flood conditions.

Salmon are known to move up river in the evenings to the shallower fly water above the Watling Pool

Watling to Llanthomas :

Pwll Dwrgi Pool : The stretch of river just below Watling pool is know as the Pulpit. The large area of deep water on the bend, known as the Larder, is a holding pool for the Middle and Upper Wye. In all conditions salmon show below the Pulpit and in the Larder itself. The pool is best fished from a boat and is suitable for spinning or for coarse fishing.

Watling Pool This pool offers some of the best fly fishing, particularly for trout and salmon.

The Larder:

This pool runs around the final bend of the beat.

Backstream: Hidden in a jungle is a ‘secret’ backstream!

One short rod and a centrepin advised here

Caemawr

Fishery 600yds left hand bank just downstream of  Bronydd village, formerly part of Cabalva Estate

Pools.

Mud Bank.

The upper most pool bordering Clyro brook. Generally a spinning pool with a very soft muddy river bed against our bank (hence the name). Worthy of effort in the spring and on high water. Not the most productive pool historically but fish have been caught here. Not worth the effort of wading and getting stuck in the mud – spray casting from the bank is recommended. This leads downstream to:

Yew Tree.

A very large and deep pool taking up the outside bend of the river. A holding pool where fish are known to lie close against the bank beneath the Yew Tree but can be seen anywhere in the pool. Too deep to wade it is presently suited to fishing through from the bank with spinning gear. If no salmon are showing those interested in pike  could add a trace to their spinning gear. The water beneath the bushes on our bank are known haunts for some big old girls. Heading downstream this leads to:

Green Bank.

The narrow strip of grassy bank gives the pool its name and makes it easily identified. Historically a superb catch accounting for a hefty proportion of salmon caught on this beat. The water picks up speed as it leaves Yew Tree and runs over gully’s and rocks into a fast glide. A good spinning pool but this is also where excellent fly water begins and continues almost uninterrupted to the lower limits of the beat. Access the pool (if wading) near the tiny stream below the Yew Tree (look out for a stake driven into the bank approx. 50yds upstream of the oak steps). Not easy wading but relatively straight forward if accompanied by a wading staff. Don’t wade out too far or you’ll get wet ! The entire pool is littered with rocks, nooks and crannies where salmon can lie. As the water gathers pace opposite the oak steps you enter:

Little Hut.

Wading through Green Bank you enter Little Hut whilst still in the water. Again a productive pool in times gone by and excellent fly water. Slightly shallower than the tail of Green Bank but with plenty of pace on most water heights. On high water you will need to wade around the small bay below the oak steps but for only a few yards before continuing fishing. When you reach the next small bay on our bank (which you will also need to wade around rather than through) you enter:

Commodores.

Another very productive part of the beat historically and where very large springer’s were caught when salmon were more numerous (one 40lb +). The pool is again very good fly water and can be a productive spinning pool. A river bed littered with rocks and a gulley down the centre makes it an obvious stretch for lies. The area approximately 20yds above the hut has produced fish during recent years. There are some very large rocks which create boils which should be fished over very thoroughly. As you reach the hut wading becomes difficult. It is best to leave the water here and walk up the track to the hut and down the bank to:

Adams Apple.

A deep rocky pool best suited to spinning but can be fly fished at the head (long casts from the bank below the hut) and the tail as you wade around the bend. The water here goes a bit ‘all over the place’ and there is backwater which gathers debris on our bank. Fish were caught in this pool in the good old days, some big ones. Fish are sometimes seen here but seem difficult to tempt. By wading through the shallows against our bank you follow the rocky outcrop around the corner into:

The Neck. 

The water gathers pace once more and narrows into a superb stretch of productive water. It’s fast (and can seem too fast) but fish do readily take fly and spinner bait here. When wading keep to within a few yards of our bank. Fish are known to lie down the centre of this stretch as well as close to the bushes on the far bank. Pay particular attention to the bush furthest downstream – the crease just beyond it is the place to aim for! The beat ends when you have reached the end of the bushes on our bank and can wade no further.

Approximately 3 miles of mostly double bank fishing on one of the classic beats of the middle Wye, located a few miles downstream of Hay. The fishery is split into 6 sections and offers good salmon fishing, especially in the spring, with plenty of water to accommodate the fly angler and those choosing to spin. Fly fishing for trout & grayling is also available and running predominantly over gravel, wading is much easier at Whitney than the bedrock sections of the Wye above Hay. This part of the river also holds good stocks of coarse fish, especially barbel, chub and pike.