The reason I ask - is that I don't.

I received the new 2009 WUF passport "catalogue" in the post yesterday - and on browsing found "Pike" mentioned on a good few of the lower beats. Preston Court (B19) seems to be the first, and thence downstream.

So my question is this - If you wanted to fly fish for Pike - which beats (if any) lend themselves to this approach ?

Any and all info would be greatly appreciated - even if its to tell me which beats are unsuitable, for whatever reason.

Thanks in advance Guys ..... Tony

"The Wye is probably the best river pike fishery on main land Britain - Fred Buller's 'Doomsday Book of Giant Pike' testifies to that. Those of you who think that pike don't fight try catching one of these freshwater Barracuda in the autumn. The record pike, a fish of just under 40lbs, came from the river at Hay-on-Wye. The most consistent pike fishing is to found from Llyswen downstream and in Langorse lake at the top of the Llynfi system although some of the beats further upstream, such as The Rocks, also hold some large specimens. "

From the Wye and Usk Foundation website

__________________
Around the steel no tortur'd worm shall twine,
No blood of living insect stain my line;
Let me, less cruel, cast feather'd hook,
With pliant rod athwart the pebbled brook,
Silent along the mazy margin stray,
And with fur-wrought fly delude the prey

There have been some 30lb+ fish more recently, one was filmed and might yet appear on TV. In former days Hay on Wye was probably the best bet for a big pike but in recent years the big pike tend to come from below Hereford. The Ross on Wye to Monmouth stretch produces quite a few and the WUF scheme has beats on this stretch. The Biblins stretch just below Symonds Yat holds a lot of pike and is available in the close season on a Glam AA ticket as is about 3/4 mile above the bridge at Monmouth.

Further down at Monmouth you can get a day ticket from Monmouth & District AS which has several miles of the Wye in the salmon close season with some good pike fishing.

If you are looking for pike whilst salmon fishing you will often find the pike in amongst the ranunculus beds in the runs as well as in the obvious pools and back eddies but as the water cools they drop back into the pools. Fly will of course catch them but I tend to just get the spinning rod out with a selection of jointed plugs.

__________________
“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Hi Lake fisher,
We (WUF) have a policy of not naming beats that produce big fish to protect the fish. I know of one 32 that was caught twice this winter. Does the big girls no good. 4 other beat available through the passport also threw up 30's this winter in what was a bit of a stella year for big Wye pike

Dave Wolsencroft-Dodds is the only one who regularly fly fishes WUF beats for pike with some success. He has done well, no 20’s yet but plenty of teens and he missed a very large fish last time out. He does offer a guiding service if you want.

If you are flyfishing and want a back cast I would suggest that Maesllwch and Sheephouse (mind the canoes) would be the best upper river bets with Whitney a close third.

Preston court is heavily treed and unsuitable for the fly but Holme Lacy, Caradoc, Backney, Middle Hill court and the Courtfield half of Wyebank all have enough tasty bits of water for a pike fly fisher to keep you busy for a day. As long as you are not taking the michael and fishing a size 8 cascade. You will only be charged for a coarse ticket.

Passport beats offer pike that get very infrequently fished for and wild surroundings but you do pay a bit for the privilege. Ross and Hereford AA have cheaper tickets on waters that get fished a bit more, contact Woody, or Ross angling for details. They both advertise in the passport (Page 10)

Golden mile might do a DT as well and they have some nice water and big pike.

Good luck

Simon

PS just in case you weren't aware season closed for pike on river until 16th June,

Thanks for the replies Gents.

I fish Langorse regularly for the Pike (once in the company of David Wolsencroft-Dodds ) and simply wanted some info regarding the Wye as a suitable venue for pike fly fishing.

Please continue to protect the big girls Simon, it was very general info I was after, not "secret squirrel" stuff.

Do I take it that a "size 8 cascade" is a salmon fly ?
Assuming so, you have no fears on that score - any salmon accidentally caught, would be treated the same as my Pike. Gently turned off a barbless hook, preferably still in the water, admired while it recovered, and when it did - sent on its way, back into the river. Tho' why a salmon would want to chomp a 6" Perch fly is beyond me.
I only take enjoyment - and photographs.

Will be in touch via the WUF office Simon - Once the season opens again.

Thanks again ..... Tony.