The salmon stakes are raised on River Wye

Apr 24 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

ALTHOUGH the River Wye has been well above normal level salmon anglers who ventured out have caught a few fish.

A 22lb fish caught at Wyesham raised the total for this beat so far this season to five, while up river at Holme Lacey, four salmon have been landed and returned.

Trout anglers are enjoying good sport on the River Usk.

Brian Oliver fished the Abergavenny Town Water and caught 21 brown trout with an average weight of 1lb on spider pattern flies fished just under the surface.

The River Honddu tributary near Brecon is also fishing well with one angler catching a dozen 12-14 inch brownies on a pheasant tail nymph.

Members of Cardiff Reservoirs Fly Fishing Club had a frustrating morning at Wentwood Reservoir during the John Parsons Cup competition.

Trout were rising all over the reservoir, but they were taking tiny flies and it was almost impossible to persuade them to go for any artificial offering.

Ron Southwood finally overcame the problem by fishing a booby nymph well down in the water on the deep far bank and catching a winning rainbow trio scaling 6lb 1oz.

Robert Ford was runner up with a brace of rainbows weighing 4lb 8oz.

The hard luck story came from third placed Dave Pockett.

With just 30 minutes fishing time left he found a tiny size 18 fly that the cagey trout would take.

Two fish safely netted gave him 3lb 8oz but another fish slipped the tiny hook while a fourth snapped the fine cast and made its getaway.

Ron Southwood also won the club’s Phoenix Cup competition at Woolaston Fishery.

He netted five rainbows and was followed by Bob Ford and Alan Rees who both caught four trout.

The next club competition is for the Jack Jones Cup at Llandegfedd Reservoir on Sunday, May 25. 

The Cowbridge and District Anglers annual competition takes place at Cwm Hedd Lakes on Monday.

Fishing starts at 4pm. There is a barbecue at 7pm and the final whistle is at 9pm.