It has been a better month now the weather has cooled down.' Ah' you might ask it has been cool all summer!!, true but water temperature governs the behaviour of fish. I recently fished for Salmon and sewin in West wales where water temperature, colour and hight of water was critical to catch.
I used spinner and fly on both occasions conditions were not quite right. A number of grilse have been taken. I returned three all of which were in poor condition. Having said that there have been quite a number in excellent condition. Most are around 5/6 lb mark. At the moment on the Towy water levels are a little too low. we need a good 2 foot extra to move them upstream. The best sewin this year according to local records is 16 lb.Most of the lower beats have fished reasonably well with more griles than in previous years, so this must be a good sign.

Llandegfedd reservoir
Fishing has generally been as predicted during the first half of the month with few fish being taken from the banks, and sport being marginally better on the boats. However, the later half of the month has seen a drastic improvement for the majority of anglers, with limit bags once again featuring in the catch returns.
Limit bags have been taken from Bill Smiths’ and East Bank, with washing line techniques using teams of Diawl Bach’s being one of the most successful methods. Daddies fished on or in the surface film have also produced good bags of fish in similar areas. With water temperatures now averaging 16 to 18 degrees, many more fish are being observed feeding on the surface, and for the first time in over ten years, trout have been seen ‘fry bashing’ in the margins, frequently resulting in the beaching of numerous perch fry. Floating fry cast into these areas are producing some nice fish, but many anglers are experiencing smash takes resulting in the loss of flies and leaders.
Prospects for the coming month look very good, with an increasing number of fish moving towards the surface, and the margins to feed. Stocking will continue until the end of October, adding to the large head of quality fish already present.
High water levels will hopefully assist in producing a better than average catch rate with submerged and emergant weed beds already known to be providing cover to large specimens.
For information on Trout or Pike, contact the Rangers directly on 01291 673722.

Wentwood Reservoir
There was a notable improvement to the fishing prospects due mainly to the much cooler weather. The fish have been rising during the early mornings and late after noon’s and have been actively feeding just below the surface. Excellent catches have been taken by the boat anglers including John Hole with 4 fish-9lb, D.Ellis 4 fish-8lb, whilst Alan Evans was on form taking 4 fish-11lb 9oz. Visitor L.Teague netted 2 fish -6lb and Robert Hole 3 fish-7lb 8oz. Ken Pascoe hooked several fish but managed to land 2 that weighed 6lb 5oz. but earlier in the week landed a limit of 5 fish-13lb 5oz 4oz. The bank anglers have also had some very good fishing especially on the tump and north bank areas. Visitor A. Thomas 5 fish-10lb 12oz, Gus Lillygreen 3 fish-8lb 7oz, Derek Elson 3 fish-7lb 5oz. Heaviest fish was a 4lb 5oz Rainbow taken by a visitor. Hopefully if the weather continues to be cooler fishing prospects should improve dramatically greatly. Catches were taken mainly using floating lines and various fly patterns that included gold head damsels, black and peacock spider fished with a slow retrieve. Anglers are respectfully reminded that the association does not provide life preservers and therefore the rule is no preserver-no boat. The water temperature during the week was averaging 17 degrees C.

Bristol Waters Tel 01275 332339
Another pretty good week of weather and fishing. With now over 40,000 fish taken we're well ahead of last years total catch. Of the main lakes only Barrow has yet to pass last years total. And the number of big fish continues to climb: 2160 over 4lbs, 690 over 5lbs and 139 over 6lbs!
A good stocking last week at both main lakes should continue the good catches. Usually the autumn provides some of the best fishing of the year as the fish pack on weight ready for winter and for spawning. As the weed dies back the fish will come more in to the banks so anglers fishing from the shores usually fare better. The very high water levels will make some of the usual areas difficult to reach but most of the popular banks should fish well.
Another very settled week, mainly cloudy but some brighter spells and winds from North-West mostly light.
Water levels are still very high at all the lakes. Some algae present but having little effect on the fish. Weed now dying back on most of the South shore at Blagdon. The surface water temperature is now 14°C.

Chew Lake Boat fishermen enjoyed the best sport at Chew this week. Most days have seen fish active on or very near the surface and dries and emergers or floating lines with nymphs produced plenty of action throughout the day. When the sun appeared the fish often dropped a little deeper down but continued to feed well. Evening times are now becoming cooler and any rises have been earlier but still good. The Dam basin around the aerator slicks has been the favourite place to fish but over the weekend more fish have been taken from Villice Bay, Herons and Wick. The bank anglers have found the fish more difficult to locate though Walley, North Shore and Woodford have all produced a few. Best flies have been Cruncher, Diawl Bach, PTN, Buzzers, Red & Claret Bits and Raiders. Colin Harvey landed a 7.05 rainbow when fishing from the boat last week. The fish was in excellent condition. ‘Solid and a bar of silver’ was how Colin described it and it fought well. Its his biggest fish from Bristol waters in 30 years of fishing.

On Blagdon With the weed now decreasing on the South side of Blagdon more fish are being taken from Green Lawn, Rainbow Point and Wood Bay. Still plenty to be found at Rugmoor and Pegs too. Boats have also found fish from the Dam area. Most of the bank fishermen are using nymphs but some of the boats have taken limits pulling bright mini lures. Blagdon FF held their Autumn comp on Saturday and caught well with 4 catching their limit and 62 fish weighed in. Winner was Club President John Braithwait . Steve Whistone was second with Steve Pope third. On the Sunday the Southern Federation held their Blagdon event. The 32 anglers took 103 fish including one of 5.08. The morning was slow but after lunch the fish came to the surface and some excellent sport was enjoyed by all.
BARROW An improvement this week at both tanks. Anglers on 1 have found fish close in to the road bank taking small nymphs and occasionally dries. No 3 still attracts the ‘Mousers’ and they have had some success during the daytime.
LITTON. The lower lake appears to be the best at present with some good rises in he Sherbourne Springs Bay. Nymphs and small goldheads in the main body of both lakes will also take fish.
This Weeks Catch:
Chew Valley: 710 fish taken by 263 rods, average 2.7 per rod.
Blagdon 710 fish taken by 265 rods, average 2.7 per rod.
Barrows: 77 fish taken by 64 rods, average 1.2 per rod.
Litton 39 fish taken by 8 rods, average 4.9 per rod.
Total fish taken from all waters: 40,507 fish to 13,483

Big Well Trout Fishery 01600 772904
Brothers Tom Clement 2 lb 4 oz ,Henry Clement 2 lb 3 oz visitors from Carmarthen. Gary Watkins,Cardiff 4 - 9 lb 12 oz, Steve James Cardiff 3 - 8 lb 7 oz, Luke Haggeth Glos 4 - 10 lb 6 oz, Dan Morgan Hereford 4 - 9 lb 12 oz, Paul Webb Pontypool 6- 14 lb 8 oz, Andre Williams Pontypool 4 - 9 lb 8 oz. C7 R Ken Hardy Worcester 8, Robin Hardy 6, Brian Williams 12, Don Jones FOD 7, Tony Barnett 8. The water is very clear in the bottom ponds and although the trout are sometimes reluctant to take if you vary your tactics you will catch.

Ravensnest 01291 689564
Fishing has been generally good most catches coming from small wets and buzzers. Colin Jones, Caerphilly 13 lb 8 oz, David Edwards, Newport 8 lb 14 oz , Colin Giles, Caerleon 9 lb brown, Brian Jones, Cardiff 6 lb 4 oz blue, Steve Evans ,Pontypool 6 lb 8 oz blue, Dave Collier, Newport 7 lb 4 oz blue, John Phillips, Bristol 7 lb blue, Jack Smith, Cardiff 6 lb 8 oz blue, Brian Davies, Newport 4 - 14 lb 2 oz bf 5 lb 1 oz, Andrew Thomas, Cardiff 5 - 16 lb 4 oz bf 5 lb 12 oz blue.
Catch Release Terry Wheeler, Newport 20, Andrew Davies 20, Shaun Pearce Blaina 18, Steve Cullan, Cardiff 20.
Lures fished just under surface will catch. Pink has been the in-colour !!