Feedback & Reports

After yesterday we decided to remain in the same spots as we had put in plenty of feed the previous day and knew there were a few fish in the area. Today though, we saw fewer fish downstream and I saw nothing in my swim. My mate stayed put, recasting his feeder every 15-20 mins but had no bites in 8 hours. I went upstream pre-baiting likely looking spots for chub and fishing these swims on my way back down. There were some chubby looking areas but again I could not find any fish despite trying meat, pellet, cheese & corn hook baits. Settled back into my original swim and 5 mins before packing up time my rod banged a couple of times and I struck into a fish but snapped immediately on 10lb line. Upon inspection the line was frayed & must have rubbed against something sharp as I struck. Not good! So 4 days fishing - 2 Barbel caught by my mate (2 bites), 3 Chub caught by me (5 bites). Poor by any standards and the worst time I have had on he Wye.

We decided to move downstream today where the river was slower and deeper in the hope of locating fish. As we approached the area we were met with the nice view of a dorsal fin of a barbel breaking the water & proceeded to see a fair few fish throughout the day at least giving us some hope. Unfortunately we made no early breakthroughs and it wasn't until 5.30pm when my rod butt flew up. As I caught the rod and tightened up it immediately broke. Upon retrieval I had lost my feeder and hook length with the stem of the feeder left above stop. I presume the hook length got lassoed around feeder and caused the break when the barbel took. My mate was having better luck and 30mins later landed a nice specimen just under 9lb on pellet.

1 Barbel

If you decide to fish this beat, be aware of the long frustrating walk to the river. From the car park the swims opposite the weir garden are tantalising close but with no access you have to divert right & walk around the fields in a big square quadrupling your journey & it's a killer, especially on the way back! We fished further downstream today on pellet feeder & hook bait but again saw no fish or any activity and no bites, bumps or knocks. Very frustrating paying £20 per day and getting very little action. Decided to move back upstream opposite weir garden & pre-baited a swim with hemp & corn close in & just before dusk had 2 nice chub which fought well at 3lb 11oz and 3lb 12oz.

2 Chub

River fined down from recent floods with colour dropping out. Fished opposite weir garden but very quiet with no fish spotted all day. Tactics used were open end feeders filled with pellet & pellet hook bait. My fishing companion caught a barbel (5lb 6oz) which was to be his only fish of the day whilst I continually found snags & lost 3 feeders & a ledger. Decided to switch swims & 1st cast caught a 2lb chub but then started to snag again. The swims looked good with slow oxygenated water running round the outside of a bend but perhaps the fish have moved downstream into deeper, slower water? Very snaggy!

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

River dropping off after another slug of rain water passed through. Water temp 47C. Plenty of finicky bites and a few fish landed. Lovely day in a lovely spot.

2 Barbel, 22 Chub

Water cold and still pushing through. Few bites.

1 Trout, 1 Chub

No fish caught. River still slightly in flood. Due to the excess water in recent weeks the banks are treacherous so extra care is needed. Lots of evidence of otter presence in the freshly deposited mud and silt on the banks aswell as a flock of cormorants numbering in excess of 20 in a tree on the far bank.

Nil caught - we had set our heart on pike but met a rising river. Had a heart stopping moment when a large dog otter burst out of the water at my feet as I lifted out a 4 inch brass spoon. Thank goodness I didn't hook it.

4 Chub

Fished feeder and pellet without a bite. River very low and clear. Also tried trotting single maggot again no bites. Lovely looking beat but suspect the fish have all moved into deeper water. The £5 farmers taxi down to the river is a must and money we'll spent! Nice day, also spotted a wild mink at the bottom peg under the fallen willow tree.