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GWILBOY'S FLYFISHING BLOG

FISHING WALES

NEWS AND VIEWS ON FLYFISHING 'WHAT ! WHERE ! WHEN ! HOW !

Update 18th June 2013

Out into the small hours this morning after the 'silver bullets' was not to be dissapointed, please follow the link below

Seatrout 17th June

Update 17th June 2013

Been busy tying flies last few days, but there is some activity locally with the Salmon. Philip Jones lost one on the junction beat yesterday and Matt Brookbank had one today, well done boys keep at them, for the pic, please follow the Welsh Dee link below.

Welsh Dee

Update 9th June 2013

Great couple of days spent on the Corwen Angling Club, Berwyn Arms beat on the Welsh Dee with Chris Aldred and Louis Noble, delivering the ' Masterclass' course. Nine very dedicated and able fishers had a great time with 'Mr Lewis' keeping a watchful eye on everyone, ensuring a fluidly run event., Well done everyone.

Update 7th June 2013

Roger managed to land three of five hooked today for the report please follow the link below

Roger Johnson

Update 6th June 2013

Roger had 5 Brownies and 2 Rainbows today at Vyrnwy, update Friday evening.

Update 5th June 2013

Roger Johnson on a short break holiday with me in North Wales was successful today in the Upper Dee with 4 Brownies, 2 Grayling and a Rainbow trout. Tomorrow is Lake Vyrnwy and Friday another go at the Upper Dee. Harsh conditions today with a very stiff upstream wind making presentation very difficult. Will prepare a report on Friday evening with some pics.

Update 19th May 2013

Chirk Fishery Training day today, please follow the link below:

1952013


Update 11th May 2013

Congratulations are in order to Trevor Heyliger and Steve Daley who today acheived some serious qualifications, Trevor GAIC Single handed, Steve GAIC Double handed.

Update 11th May 2013

Well, Andy and Henry came yesterday for some guidance with their double handed rods which they want to use in putrsuit of the silver bullets, so a 4 hour stint was arranged at Chirk Fishery. By the end of the four hours they understood the rudiments of several of the casts required to make the approach easier. Today the 11th we ended up on the Upper Reaches Alwen Junction Beat and set about what we had covered on the 10th, they were very good in a strong downstream wind, but the bullets remained elusive. Not to miss out we tackled the Nymph infront of a dry New Zeland method and both anglers succeded in mastering the techniques required and ended up with some out of season Grayling and some Brown Trout, well done to both, it was an extreemly hard fishing day with varying weather conditions, some pics for you.





UpdateMay 6th 2013

That dreaded strong wind retreated slightly today which allowed the returning Grannom to fly upstream in droves to lay their eggs and ensure the future of this wonderful Sedge. The sun shone and there was a warm feel to the air and the fish responded. 1 hour this afternoon still in my shoes I tackled a couple of pools and managed three Brownies and one out of season Grayling.
Whilst moving over a gravel bank I noticed the remains of a 'kill', a large female grayling with her eggs and scales scattered all over the bank, possibly an Otter, anyway, thousands of eggs gone to waste!!

The first Brown today



The 'Kill'


The last Brown today, notice the scarred side, possibly a Goosader or Cormorant mark.


Update 4th May 2013

Upper Welsh Dee today , difficult in the wind but I did get a result, follow the link below.

Welsh Dee 4th May

Update 3rd May 2013 and 23rd May 2013

Trips to the River Annan 2013, please follow the link below for the reports and some pictures

RIVER ANNAN 2013

Update 21st April 2013

Casting and fishing tuition day at Chirk Fishery today, please follow the dated link below.

21st April 2013

Update 19th April 2013

The time for talking 'C R A P' about the damage these birds do is well past its sell by date. Time for a call to arms is necessary.



Update 8th April 2013

The training day at Chirk Fishery yesterday enhanced several of the punters with their casting and fishing skills.Photographed here is John Young with his first fly caught trout, well done to all.



John McEwan into one of his 5 for the day.



THE NEXT TRAINING DAY IS ON THE 21ST APRIL 2013

Update 3rd April 2013

Its looking better and more promising every day, maybe later on today I will venture out on the Upper Welsh Dee.

Update 31stMarch 2013

With the snow still on the ground here, shall I or shant I, well the sun is out ?? Mmmm ....decisions ....decisions.

Happy Easter

Update 18th March 2013

Still very cold with the promise of more snow before the end of the week. The Brownies in the Upper Welsh Dee have not started to play yet, saw a couple of Olives this afternoon, not long now.

Update 10th March 2013

In and among snow flurries and a bitterly cold wind two anglers braved the elements, please follow the link below for some pics.

10 3 2013

Update 5th March 2013

Barometer drop of approx 2" overnight could expect some fresh water for the weekend. Report of first Salmon entering for 2013 through the trap at Chester today 9lb.....Expecting you and your cousins in the Upper Dee soon !!!

Update 4th March 2013

A nicer afternoon today, much warmer, but the Trout in the upper Dee remained elusive, had two small Grayling on a 'Rat' infront of a Dry.



Update 28th February 2013

Upper reaches of the Welsh Dee today with Steve Daley and Trevor Heyliger searching for the
'Lady' with Bugs and the leader to hand method. It was quite bright and the river was very low and clear making it difficult in the approach. However we did find some and ended up with 14 between us, a great day out with a ..... shall I risk it.... a touch of 'spring' in the air. For some pictures of the event please follow the dated link below.

28 2 2013


Update24th February 2013

The first of the ' Hardy Flyfishing School' Tuition days happened today at Chirk Fishery, it was a kind of 'Snowbow' day, with the participants enhancing their casting styles and enjoying some wonderful fishing with nymph and dries despite the weather, for some pics follow the link below.

CHIRK FISHERY

Update 17th February 2013

This 4 years old....young man, Mr Daley JNR braved the elements today at Chirk Fishery with his two brothers, ably coached by their father Steve Daley of the 'Hardy Flyfishing School'. He landed 7 trout to his own rod!!, maybe the fact that his size 3 Hunter Wellies were on the wrong feet had something to do with it. The Daley team accounted for a total of 24 fish, an excellent result given the conditions, well done!!



Update 24th January 2013

Just added a Step by Step for ' The GH Coch-y-Bonddu Beetle ' pattern.

Fly Dressing

Update 22nd January 2013

A copule of hours today, freezing conditions but fruitful, check out the
Winter Grayling


Update 2nd January 2013

After some 'Casting' and knocking the Christmas cobwebs off, Iwan Lewis, Trevor Heyliger, Steve Daley and the youngest member of the 'Hardy Flyfishing School', Celyn Wyn Lewis sampled early 'Dry Fly' fshing at Chirk Fishery today, please check the Chirk page for the result.
CHIRK FISHERY

Update 31st December 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2013 AND VERY MANY OF THEM TO ALL MY CLIENTS / FRIENDS BOTH FISHING AND SHOOTING

Update 27th December 2012

DATES FOR UPCOMING COURSES NOW ON THE WEBSITE

Update 25th October 2012

As the temperature drops off with the onset of the official winter period this coming weekend, three of us decided on a s short outing in the Upper Welsh Dee today. Arriving on the beat at 10am we decided on Dries and Nymphs using various presentation methods. By 2 pm the temperature had plumeted and a cold easterly wind was blowing upstream, typical of this time of year. However, we managed between us 46 Grayling and 1 out of season Brown Trout, 34 of the fish succumbed to the dry 'Cul-de-Canon'. Here is a picture of the best Grayling.





Update 22nd October 2012

THE HOLLAND GROUP

This past weekend with the river dropping and clearing . The first signs of a great autumn day is when the mist lifts and shows a clear sky and the warmth of the October sun shines through. A puff of light wind now and again sends some leaves onto the river surface, and within their dried up and rolled over structure hide an array of tiny spiders and insects, which crawl out onto the water surface. Mr and Mrs Grayling know this and are looking up for this welcome meal before their sinking with the cooling water into the depths of the pools for the winter months.

Ismo had arranged for his friend Reinier to come with his two friends to the Upper Welsh Dee to sample some of its magic, and they hit it right. Over three days they caught and returned well over a hundred Grayling to dry fly tactics, wonderful fishing by any standards.... I think they will be back !!, Here are some pics



















http://www.ymweldageryri.info/Content/Res


4th September 2012

All the way from USA to fish for Grayling.... "I've never seen one before".... "Well you will today".... 23 between them for Michael and Joe, well done them, great fishing.









30th August 2012

Spent the afternoon today in the company of 'Nigel Nelson' Political Editor of 'The People' newspaper, and his family at Eisteddfa Fishery, near Criccieth, 'Fly Fishing' for the first time during their stay in North Wales. They did catch on quickly to the rudiments of casting with a fly rod and went on to fool a few trout, success all around on a ' 'Mayfly Emerger' pattern, well done to you all.









21st August 2012

Noteworthy acheivement here for Matt Brookbank on the Junction beat in the Upper Dee, five Salmon since the 23rd July, he only fishes one day a week, well done Matt, all on fly a Cascade pattern 80 % returned.











20th August 2012

NORTH WALES COUNTRY FAIR

Spent two days in North Wales Country Fair at Bala, 18th and 19th August with other members of the 'Hardy Flyfishing School', ran a casting tuition taster at the show and over the two days they assisted nearly 100 participants in the Roll and Overhead casting techniques on the casting pool. A number of ' Casters' over the two days won a 'Greys' Cap for casting into all the rings on the pool, whilst I tied flies nearby and also demonstrated in the main ring using the new HARDY SINTRIX rods a 9' 5# a 9' 6" 8# and the magical 15'1" 10# double hander.
Iwan Lewis another member of the team was also present , but wearing two hats the 'Hardy Flyfishing School' and 'Corwen Angling' as their Chairman. There is a Pictutre of him putting his young son 'Celyn Wyn' through his paces on the casting pool. Please follow the links below.


10th August 2012

Ian and Trevor came for a 4 hour session of the River Dee today and were successful both with dry fly and the ' RAT' !!





12th July 2012

Hutcheon Construction and Weir & Co Corporate Day at Chirk Fishery today. The seven participants accounted for 20 Trout on Dry Fly. Considering that six of them were inexperienced fly anglers they did very well indeed. Well done to all of them.


So after supper decided on an outing after the silver bullets, river still a bit high, but the first hour proved fruitful with two nice fish and a few more tweaks and bumps !, here is the best one, not a great pic , it was off the mobile phone, guess what's for tea tonight then.



19TH JUNE 2012

With the River Dee having been in flood since Friday, I decided to visit some of the upper reaches tributaries yesterday as they dropped and cleared, I was pleasantly surprised.









1ST JUNE 2012

Was out this afternoon and secured 9 Trout and 1 Grayling on an Olive Emerger pattern, great fishing with heavy cloud cover. Returned to the river after supper to see if there would be a late evening rise and there was to Olives returning to lay their eggs, also some Caenis present. This is the first one of 6 this evening.





24th May 2012 RIVER ANNAN

Just back after three days under a cloudless and unstinting sun with the temperatures in the mid twenties, on the River Annan. The fishing was hard in the harsh conditions, but, I did manage 6 beauties on a dry fly.
Here are a couple of them.





6th MAY 2012 RIVER DEE NORTH WALES

Was working on the beat today and put up three seats at the various pools inbetween securing two trailer loads of logs. A great spasmodic hatch of a multitude of insects brought the tout to the surface and I could not resist a cast. Had three very nice trout in a short session, here is one of them.



23RD 24TH 25TH APRIL RIVER ANNAN

The second trip to the River Annan this week showed a slight improvement in the fishing, whilst we still suffered that very cool northerly breeze which did not auger well for the hatches, we did find some sheltered area's to fish in. The group of 4 managed 23 Brown Trout and 3 out of season Grayling between them, mostly on a size 14 Emerger pattern and the 'Rat' nymph. Whilst walking the Applegarth beat, we did spot some magnificent Brown Trout. The best trout this week fell to Philip Jones on a 'Rat' and the best Grayling to Eric Woodward, more pictures can be viewed in the Gallery page, from the link below. Yet again Lorraine at the Crown Hotel in Lochmaben did us very proud with a very warm welcome.





11TH 12 TH 13 TH APRIL RIVER ANNAN

Four of us ventured over the border into Scotland to sample some early season Brown Trout fishing on the River Annan this week. Mixed weather greeted us with hail showers, heavy rain, bright sunshine, thunder claps now and again and a cool northerly breeze at times, not really conducive to great fishing conditions, but, nonetheless we managed between us 17 Brown Trout and 1 out of season Grayling. There were some Olives hatching, March Browns, Stoneflies, resulting in a short lived spasmodic rise of fish to them. Trevor had the biggest fish a cracking Brown Trout, Chiara caught a Trout and a ‘Salmon’….. although…. just about 7” long, Peter had some very nice Brown Trout. I was blessed also with a few Brown Trout and a very nice Grayling. We stayed with Lorraine at the Crown Hotel in Lochmaben, she made us very welcome and looked after us well. A great time had by all. I look forward to 2013.

For more Pictures



WELSH FISHING GUIDE