|
NEW FISHING BOOK
THE ANGLE OF THE CAST
'DO YOU NEED GRAYLING FISHING TUITION' /'FLY FISHING LESSONS' / 'YOUR WINTER GRAYLING DREAM' / 'ACCESS TO PRIVATE BEATS ON THE WELSH DEE FROM BALA TO CORWEN'
GRAYLING FISHING WALES
LONG TROTTING TUITION
CENTREPIN FISHING
FISHING TUITION
HARDY FLY FISHING SCHOOL
CONTACT
ghughes2@btinternet.com
gwilym.hardyflyfishingschool@yahoo.co.uk
Update 22nd March 2010
The Winter Grayling Season is over for another year and whilst floods have kept us off the river in the past it was the frost that kept us away this season, the coldest for 31 years. It did fish well for the days that we could evnture out. Mrs Grayling , the 'Lady' can now get about her business of spawning, whilst attention is directed to the spring wet fly fishing and the first main hatch the 'Grannom' and the Wild Brown Trout. For the Grayling roll on the 16th June 2010.
Update 4th March 2010
My four clients today enjoyed the warmest and nicest day of the year so far. Whilst the water temperature was almost at freezing, low and crystal clear making for difficult fishing conditions,the 'Ladies' played for a magic hour around lunchtime. For novices at the 'bugging' method, each of them fished exceptionally well and magaged 9 between them, all in pristine condition. A few pics for you.
I am 'reliably' informed that this was the above gentleman's first fish ever.... Mmmm ....., well done you, it was certainly the best looking fish today!!!!!
Update 31st January 2010
Snowing heavily today two inches in Corwen already!
Update 10th January 2010
The feeder streams are freezing over not much flow on them, the main river is dropping rapidly and the ice is creeping out into the pools from the banks.... the big freeze continues!
Update 5th January 2010
The frost is relentless, the car door is frozen shut, the lake infront of the house is frozen over (first time in 15 years) and on top of that we have had 2" of snow this morning and it's still coming thick and fast, oh well, big log fire then!
Update 3rd January 2010
Darren and Justin sampled Winter Grayling Fishing with heavyweight bugs on the Welsh Dee today in freezing conditions, the line froze in the rings on occasions. Where the sun shone on the pool, the 'Ladies' were waiting and both accounted for quality fish, for their first attempt they both did very well.
Gwilym
A big thanks for a great days fishing. Both had a fantastic time helped by some expert tuition and some nice Grayling. It was very nice to meet a character like yourself full of knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport. We look forward to seeing you again soon.I have a couple of friends who are interested in winter grayling fishing and will be in touch once the weather improves to organise a date. Also looking forward to some trout fishing in March and Salmon fishing when available. Still got much to learn. Great book by the way.
Cheers
Darren
Update 30th December 2009
Happy New Year to all clients and those who follow these pages!. I hope that 2010 will be a better year for all of you and I will endeavour to update these pages with what is happening on the Dee and on the Grayling front, every couple of days for you.
Update 6th December 2009
Will it ever stop raining! the river is up and down like a yo-yo at the moment, what I mean by that is that it is playing ata about 4' to 6' above normal summer level, will let you know if there is a chance.
Update 24th November 2009
River very high and flowing into fields in the upper reaches, too dangerous to approach, will report when it becomes anything like fishable, a time to tie some Peeping Caddis some 'Rats' and some Pink Grubs.
Update 5th November 2009
River almost to the top of the bank today and coloured, still raining heavy showers in the Upper Dee. Will be at the British Flyfair this weekend.
Update 27th October 2009
This is the nicest Autumn that I can remember for many a year, truly superb colours and plenty of Grayling on the fin.... yes all day long! superb. This young Lady hasn't fished for a year and yesterday, first day out was into double figures. Superb fishing. The Welsh Dee is 'magical'
Update 18th October 2009
Well here we are, the end of the Salmon season and into the 'Winter Grayling'. Two nights of sharp frosts in the upper dee and the leaves are starting to fall into the river, bringing with them 'insects' in the rolled / screwed up leaves....and... the Ladies know all about it and are showing those vermillion dorsals in the sunlight as they sip the mosels down.... exiting time! indeed!
Update 18th March 2009
There we are another 'Winter Grayling' season over and I must admit I enjoyed this one far more than for a few years, maybe so because I used trotting gear with flies and could fish area's that were innacessible if wading, I'm not sure, there were certainly some quality fish to be had. We shall now avoid them at all costs until the beginning of the summer so that they can get on with their spawning.
Update 11th March 2009
Only a couple of days left now and the Ladies are in very fine condition moving on to other matters
Brian Holloway and his friend Jeffrey had nine between them yesterday in a four hour session on a nymph infront of the dry. here are some pics for you.
Update 5th March 2009
River Dee coloured with heavy rain this week now clearingand is fishable again.
Update 26th February 2009
Took my best grayling of the winter season today a 51cm beauty again on the'Rat'now to the interesting part scan down the page to 21st October 2007 and the 3rd October 2007.... same fish still living in the same pool.
The river is not fishing great at the moment but the quality is very good Richard Hughes had 3 yesterday all about 45cm.
Update 19th February 2009
Philip Pledger Chairman of the Norfolk Branch of the Salmon and Trout Association travelled to North Wales to sample the Grayling Fishing, he was not dissapointed, this 50cm Grayling was his best of a few.
Update 13th February 2009
Snow melt during last night and today has put 6" of water into the Dee,I would have liked to have seen rain water and a flood to shift the salt that will be washed in after all the gritting, it can't be doing the aquatic insects any good and with less of them the sustainability of the fish is intereered with yet again. It will possibly be off colour for a few days now, will report on Monday next.
Update 13th February 2009
Snow melt during last night and today has put 6" of water into the Dee,I would have liked to have seen rain water and a flood to shift the salt that will be washed in after all the gritting, it can't be doing the aquatic insects any good and with less of them the sustainability of the fish is intereered with yet again. It will possibly be off colour for a few days now, will report on Monday next.
Update 16th January 2009
Well the thaw and the rain that fell before the ground thawed through deep enough ended up in the river which rose and coloured up sharply, left us with high water for a number of days. Just been to view the prospects and the River Dee is clearing nicely and dropping, lets hope that the rain promised for tonight does not materialise. Will venture out at the beginning of next week when the long range forecast promises some colder weather. Now then .... isn't this Lady truly beautiful!
Update 2nd January 2009
Freezing conditions and reluctant Grayling, had to resort to trotting today otherwise we would have remained blank for the day, Graham Farren ended up with five, here is the best one at 44 cm.
George Ashton who was fishing in the same area of the Upper Dee sent me this message ... On Friday there was 3 of us trotting worms, we where finding the fishing quite tough after about 3 hours of trotting we had only caught 3 grayling between us. Two of the grayling had come from one lovely looking run one each to the 2 lads I was fishing with. I tried trotting the run for about 15 minutes without a touch, although I was not getting any response to my bait, I had an idea that there where a number of fish there.
I took off my hook length and attached 15" of nylon then water knotted a short dropper and tied on the two 'Rats' you gave me. I had an immediate response hooking and landing a small grayling first trot down the run. The next 10 trots produced 7 grayling and I also lost one.
The 'Rat' is very effective when trotted under a float. Here it is!
Update 29th December 2008
Another day with freezing conditions and reluctant Grayling, tried a number of pools trotting with a worm but to no avail the float never slipped away once. As a last ditch attempt tied on a cast of three 'Bugs' under the float and true to form the Grayling started to play, ended up with four, nothing big, here is the best one. Would you believe that they would refuse a worm yet take a size 14 tunsten bead bug tied up with of mouse fur aptly called the 'Rat'.
Update 28th December 2008
Out for two hours today the sun was shining brightly and saw three fish take something from the surface, they were very reluctant to take the nymph today but I did manage two.
Update 26th December 2008
Was out today and netted a total of 22 fish, six of them wild brown trout that had spawned and were in fine condition without a blemish on them, they swam away very strongly. The best grayling went 46cm possibly about 2lb 4oz. There was a bitter upstream wind. After a heavy frost last night the river is dropping away nicely, cloud cover this evening and not so cold, I will be out on the 28th and will report.
Update 23rd December 2008
An hour spent on the river this morning resulted in 7 lovely grayling the best going 38cm. A lot of water coming through but clear.
Update 19th December 2008
Spent the day on an upper beat of the Welsh Dee in the company of George Ashton, North Western Area Secretary of the 'Grayling Society', whilst the weather was wild the rain stayed off and the Grayling were in fine form. George, practiced at the art of long trotting with the Centrepin and small red worm took 19 Grayling all in pristine condition and an out of season Brown Trout, his best fish were 40cm and 41cm. George's style / approach / expertise was evident throughout the session. Whilst i watched most of the time and put the net to good use, I did have a dabble myself with my birthday present off Mrs Hughes, I needed to prove to myself that it could be done and did manage 5 Grayling and an out of season Brown Trout. Trotting gear with a team of bugs underneath, well what a day!
GEORGE ASHTON WITH A FINE DEE GRAYLING 41CM
ONE FOR MY OWN EFFORT, NOTICE THE 'PINK BUG' ON THE LEAF NEAR THE GRAYLING
Update 12th December 2008
The 'Ladies' were for playing today, John McEwan on his first outing took five with a nymph infront of the dry. Well done John, you're a natural.
Update 3rd December 2008
Flood in the Alwen today rose the River Dee by 6" and coloured it up in the Corwen area. OK above the Alwen Junction. Grayling are now coming into pristine condition and am looking forward to some memorable outings before the Christmas break.
European Grayling Festival - 29th / 30th November.The Results
This friendly competition was fished by 18 teams of 3 ranging from Ireland in the West to Bulgaria in the East. The teams fished 3 sessions based at Llandderfel, Corwen and Carrog. With perfect conditions, despite the freezing weather, huge numbers of grayling were caught on many different flyfishing techniques from heavy bugs to dry flies. In all 305 grayling of over 20cm were measured and returned.
The winning team comprised England Internationals Martin Dixon and his sons Phil & Mike who caught 36 fish. In second place came England Youth, with an English/Czech team in Third Place.
Top Individual was Franta from the Czech Republic who caught 20 grayling in 2 fishing sessions. Phil Dixon was second individual with 17 fish. The junior prize was won by Jason Russell of N. Ireland. Despite only having fished twice for grayling, Jason caught 10 fish including 8 in one session.
Largest fish was 47cm by two anglers; John Buchanan of Scotland and Ian Jones of Wales.
2008 GRAYLING 'THE LADY OF THE STREAM'
UPDATE 30th November 2008
Spent the day on Wednesday on the wonderful river Monnow in the company of two friends, it was a nice reasonably warm day with the river running about 6" above normal summer flow. I chose to fish with two nymphs under a dry and set out to locate the Grayling in deeper holes / pockets and pools.
I found that if the point fly was allowed to settle for a minute or so on the gravel and in the vicinity of dead leaves lying in the pools at the edge of the current, with a lift of the rod tip lifting the dry fly about two inches off the surface and letting it down again induced the grayling to respond, the method accounted for a number of fish, nothing changes. Here is Dave Smith with one of them.
UPDATE 25th November 2008
River Dee dropping to a reasonable height today was out guiding retired Rugby League legend 'Harry Pinner' who succeeded with a 'Rat' infront of a dry.
UPDATE 5th November 2008
River Dee dropping to a reasonable height today and a number of Grayling observed taking Olives this afternoon.
UPDATE 26th October 2008
Well the river is flowing out into the fields in the upper reaches today after that storm yesterday
will be a few days before it is fishable.
UPDATE 18th October 2008
Chalotte and David travelled from London to sample some fishing on the Upper Dee, they were not disappointed with some nice Grayling taken on the 'Rat' infront of a Dry fly.
UPDATE 11th October 2008
Brett from New Zeland now an honorary 'Irishman' travelled accross the Irish Sea to sample the Grayling on the Welsh Dee. Not a great time due to the heavy water flows but he did manage 11 fish for his stay the best fish went 47 cm and estimated at around 3lb took a heavyweight bug. Here is his first Grayling off the Dee. Not that he needed a Guide I witnessed his first grayling.
UPDATE 1st October 2008
We are into the Autumn and the leaves have started to fall bringing with them all kinds of insects that have hidden in the shrivelled up leaves, these crawl out onto the water and 'The Ladies' know all about them, bonanza time is looming. All dry fly fishing until the colder weather sets in then it's Bugs Bugs and more Bugs!
UPDATE 15th March 2008
As another Grayling Season drew to a close Peter and Paul Sellers decided on a visit to the 'Dolgadfa Beat' in search of their first 'Grayling', they were not dissapointed. Whilst the fishing was difficult with a looming low pressure and a river that was quite high, the fish were not easy to come by, between them they managed six and all were in pristine condition.
UPDATE 15th February 2008
River has now dropped to a reasonable height and is fishing well.Two clients yesterday had some quality fish, again on the Pinky.
UPDATE 21st January 2008
River Dee is three fields wide today, there will be no grayling fishing for a week or so...that is if it stops raining. No guiding in the next few days then!
2007 GRAYLING
UPDATE 26th December 2007
Was out on Sunday 23rd with Neil Graham, whilst the line froze in the rings. Neil persisted with the Bugs and was rewarded with three fish all on the 'Pinky'
UPDATE 8th December 2007
River is three fields wide this evening, oh well, hey ho will tie flies then!
UPDATE 19th November 2007
Scott and Mike spent two days with me this weekend on the River Dee and managed 19 between them. The weather although cold at times was kind, and Olives hatched around lunchtime on the first day the Cul-de-Canon F Fly sorted them out. In contrast to last weekend some fish were found in the deeper runs on Bugs and Nymphs infront of the dry, the peeping casddis scoring here. The second day started well on the nymphs and as a cold wind developed the Olive hatch diminished. Although a few were taken on dries the old traditional method with spiders came into play and some nice fish were encountered. Scott ('Santa Clause',taking time out before the busy period ahead, heh heh!!)was chanting the football tune....ten /nine..ten /nine as we finished the second day, whilst Mike reminded him that it was a long walk back home....he was driving!, they seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the upper Dee.
This is what Scott had to say: Suffice to say Mike and I learnt more in two days than our total knowledge and experience gained to date.Gwilym is a great teacher, with infinite patience and the ability to instruct without appearing patronising, or for that matter, critical, but because of his method operandi you wanted to improve and achieve.Personally I woudn’t hesitate in contacting Gwilym in the future for advice and assistance, and look forward to catching up with him for more coaching next year.
UPDATE 12th November 2007
Andrew spent three days with me on the River Dee and managed 11, 9 and 8. The weather although cold at times was kind and Olives hatched around lunchtime. 90% of his fish came to a Cul-de-Canon dry on a 16 hook and all in 12" to 18" of water....no fish were found in the deeper runs as is usual for this time of the year. Some frost is needed to drive the fish into these wintering area's. The best fish went 41cm's. Here are a couple of pics.... one of which shows an acrobatic 'Lady'.
UPDATE 31st OCTOBER 2007
Mark was out with me today, first time to flyfish on a river, never caught a grayling before on a fly. Warm day for the time of year meant that they were in the main looking up and he managed 7 grayling and a nice wild brown trout on a 'Dry' and 'Nymph infront of a Dry', well done Mark!! here is what he had to say: "I would like to say a big thanks for the days fishing , a superb day incorporating all the relevant skills required to fish on the river and of course that excellent steak bap washed down with a mug of coffee, highly recommended....many thanks, Mark" Here is the best fish.
UPDATE 21st OCTOBER 2007
Elton caught 14 on a Dry and nymph infront of the dry yesterday, three of which were over 2lb, this is the best one. 'Now for the interesting part...this is the same fish as Joe Fulton caught some weeks earlier,(Compare to the photo below) look at the mouth and look at the scales leading onto the tail and compare, there also seems to be some irregular placing of the scales on the body'
UPDATE 4th OCTOBER 2007
Was out this afternoon for two hours in the intermitent breeze some leaves were falling and there was a trickle hatch of small olives, I took 27 grayling in two hours on the tail end of one pool a real diamond of a day.
UPDATE 3RD OCTOBER 2007
This young Lady took five grayling on a dry olive on Saturday, this was the best one.
UPDATE 21st September 2007
Here we go then, some leaves are starting to fall and it will get better as the autumn progresses, as the leaves curl up on the branches all kinds of insects crawl inside and small spiders go after them...when we get a frost and the main fall of leaves occurr, guess what happens...the insects crawl out onto the water...Mr and Mrs Grayling know about this and have a bonanza...so do I. Now is the time to book your outing.
UPDATE 14th March 2007
Well that's it until the 16th June, I hope they do a good job on the spawning between now and then, the small fish from last year are already hitting the 10cm mark with the two year old fish over 20 cm, shows the growth rate nicely in the Welsh Dee,,,,look forward to meeting them with the dries in the summer evenings.
UPDATE 26th February 2007
The river dropping after a small flood fished well today with two clients catching six between them, the best fish went 43.5cm and the smallest 33cm on the 'Pinky' again!!!
Note of thanks received for the tuition and guiding
Thank you for a truly memorable fishing trip. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and learnt some productive new techniques. You have certainly helped me work through some “issues” in my casting. Although I’m still a little low on consistency, I certainly now have a better understanding on where my faults lie and how best to address them, so thank you for that.
More importantly, though, I was hoping to interest my girlfriend in fly fishing and perhaps have her catch a fish or two on her own... Two Brownies and three beautiful Grayling later, Hannah is now officially the world’s keenest fisherwoman. We only managed to get halfway home before we had stopped at a Stillwater. She is already planning our next fishing trip, this time to France, but I am certain that it will not be long before we head back to the truly beautiful waters of the Dee Valley.
Thanks for that James, look forward to meeting you and Hannah again.
UPDATE 31ST JANUARY 2007
The river keeps dropping away and more fishing area's become accessible, today's two clients who had never fished for Grayling before, took four a piece on the 'Pinky', here are two of them.
By mid afternoon they were both fishing with confidence and I must add some skill, here is what they had to say:
Dear Gwilym
Thank you for a great day fishing on the Dee
The four grayling we each caught were far above our expectations,it was educational!
We will be back for some night time seatrout tuition later this year
Diolch yn fawr
Stephen and Haf
My first outing for 2007 was on the 27th January the river although high is just about fishable and is dropping away, I have posted some pictures under the heading 'Dee' for your perusal. I intend to fish again this week weather permitting and have a number of clients in que, so hopefully will be able to get the backlog hauling out the Dee Grayling in fine style.
EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE BEATS FOR WINTER GRAYLING
If you want to experience the best possible winter fishing in a wonderful environment then you will find it here on the River Dee in North Wales. There are two private beats which offer superb winter fishing that I have access to:
Dolgadfa on the Crogen Estae, near Bala, North Wales. The fishing is tied in with the 'Bed and Breakfast' at Dolgadfa which ensures that you or your small group will be the only ones present on the water.
Bert Mulhall decided to travel from Ireland to fish the River Dee and took up my advice and visited 'Dolgadfa'here he nets a fine Grayling in a gale force wind, taken on Bugs in high water on the 'Dolgadfa' beat on Saturday 28th October 2006.He had three Grayling and a nice brownie on Bugs in very high water, the fish were in great condition and were all returned. He again fished on the Sunday it was a different day altogether and an hour on the Monday, here is what he had to say...
Thanks for Saturday I really enjoyed the fishing and the bugging. Thanks also for the flies which proved invaluable on Sunday.The fishing on Sunday was superb. I fished that run you suggested and pulled 12 Grayling and 4 Brownies out of it. 6 of the Grayling were between 40 & 45cm and fat as pigs, great fighters in the fast current. Most of them I caught at the head of that run. I caught the brownies in the streamy water above that run.I gave it an hour Monday morning and caught 4 in the same run (2 over 40cm), I then moved a good bit up river but met no fish. A lot of Grayling seem to be congregated in that run.Again thanks, I'll definitely be back over to fish for Grayling. I've fallen in love with the fish. They really are beautiful creatures.
Good luck and take care,
Bert Mulhall
Another location near to Corwen is 'Powys House' and I have access to a private beat nearby which produces excellent winter grayling fishing.
If you fancy a short midweek 'Grayling' break, or a weekend break, then please get in touch and I will price and arrange it for you on a guided basis.
e-mail: sarah.hardyflyfishingschool@yahoo.co.uk
UPDATE 10th MARCH 2006
As we approach the end of another Grayling season the winter of 2005/06 has been an exceptionally good season with plently of Grayling in all age groups caught, the best going three pound plus. The better fish are now starting to show signs of 'Spawning' mode and the Brown trout will come into the area's where the grayling are spawning to take care of any loose eggs that wash down with the current, nature is a wonderful thing, its only a few weeks ago that the grayling were onto the same game with the loose Salmon and Sea trout eggs. Whilst fishing for Trout we will catch the odd Grayling but these fish will be the year plus fish and they will be very active when the first serious hatch on the Dee occurrs, the 'Grannom' it is usually in the third week of April, but we are about a week behind this year according to the date that the snowdrops flowered, but nature has a wonderful way of correcting herself, who knows really?
UPDATE 18TH JANUARY 2006
River Dee up due to water releases from both Dee and Alwen out yesterday with Stephen Webster,wading was a bit difficult with water pressure, he had seven grayling on bugs and lost another three, the best fish was near 3lb it jumped three times and tore off line from the reel, it was really nice, then decided in a cartwheel to throw the barbless hook,right near the net. he had most of them on a 'Gold tungsten pinky' here are some pictures.
UPDATE 5TH DECEMBER 2005
On Saturday 3rd a 'Grayling Social' took place on the River Dee in the Corwen Area and 29 fish were recorded between 11am and 4pm. Four of the fish were in the 2lb 8oz bracket and most of the rest were 1lb to 2lb class, superb conditioned fish. As I update the river is in flood and when it fines down should fish well before and after Christmas right through to March. If you fancy an outing give me a call.
HERE IS ONE OF THEM!!
The River Dee in North Wales is Internationally renowned for its population of 'Grayling' and is in a class of its own on the numbers of fish one can encounter in a day, given suitable conditions and by adopting the right methods and approach you could enjoy your most memorable 'Grayling' occasion.I have access to 'Private' Beats and also can arrange day tickets on others.
'GRAYLING ON BUGS'
Learn the art of 'Bugging' on a short line right in and among the fish, Learn about the 'Grayling' and its lies in the winter months and how best to approach these magnificent fish, from November right through to February they are in prime condition, they feed avidly during the warmer part of the day, even in frosty conditions, I've known the line to freeze in the rod rings and still catch fish.
'LONG LINE INDICATOR FISHING'
In the slower deeper pools great sport can prevail using this method, once you find the depth and the shoal of fish, mending line to decrease / increase drag, all methods perfected over several winter outings.
'GRAYLING ON DRY FLY AND NYMPH, NEW ZELAND STYLE'
On the warmer days, small chironomids hatch , so be aware that you may even get 'GRAYLING' on dries or small nymphs, even in the depth of winter.
For prices on Tuition or Guided ' Grayling' fishing per day for one to one or small group, please contact, e-mail:ghughes2@btinternet.com or 01490 412731.
Bed and Breakfast can be arranged locally to suit your needs, please see details on the 'LINKS' page.
CASTING TUITION IN NORTH WALES
GAME ANGLING INSTRUCTOR IN NORTH WALES
GUIDED FISHING IN NORTH WALES
GRAYLING FISHING WALES
FISHING TUITION IN NORTH WALES
FLY FISHING COACH
COACHING IN ANGLING
FLYFISHING TUITION
FLY FISHING TUITION
LONG TROTTING TUITION
CENTREPIN FISHING
FISHING TUITION
Please contact Gwilym Hughes on 01490 412731 or at e-mail: ghughes2@btinternet.com to book and discuss arrangements.
Email : Gwilym Hughes
|
