Report of a 17lb fish yesterday from Lanstephan.17lb to Robert Wheatcroft.
Almost inevitable!!
River looking better all the time and still dropping slowly.

Going back to yesterdays WSA day at the the Red Lion one of the things that struck me and which I found really concerning was the often totally inappropriate tackle some of the newcomers to the sport had been sold, often by the two major local tackle outlets.  Although it may be the latest 'fashion', shooting heads,and skagit lines armed with t14 sinking tips are not very user friendly to a beginner, neither are the shorter fast actioned rods they had been sold, often at considerable expense.  One had a Switch rod teamed up with a very short heavy skagit head which was awful.
Why this tackle had been recommended I have no idea when a medium head Spey line and a selection of polytips is all that really needed to fish the Wye.  Some of the guys were elderly and newcomers to the sport and in reality would not probably been able to handle the rods and lines sold never mind the thin running lines they found difficulty in handling too.
Why they were sold the gear I don't understand and hope it was not just profit related.