Feedback & Reports

A very easy beat to find with the directions given. I opted to head straight to the woods which was an easy walk in the dry conditions. I am glad I read a report suggesting not to take a chair! Plenty of water to chose from, I found a swim with space to set up. Bites came quickly and I soon had a couple of chub both of around 3-4lb taken on luncheon meat. I explored a few more swims in the lower field but with the bright sunshine I headed back to the woods which offered shade over the river. I missed a lot of bites but managed a few more good sized chub. I didn't locate the barbel this time and I ran out of time to explore the top fields. Not a bad beat for an amateur such as myself and would consider going back. There were a few anglers on the other side and a handful of canoes drifting down but caused no issues at all.

6 Chub

A challenging day with bright sunshine and low water conditions. The fish responded in a short feeding session in the morning and then again at about 4pm.
We tried several swims both in and out of the wood, however all fish came from the wooded section to pellet/feeder tactics. This section is quite snaggy and some of the swims a bit precarious if you are trying to sit on a chair !!!!!
All in all a good day.

5 Barbel, 4 Chub

Arrived mid morning and decided to fish the top section.
Fished mainly with pellet and caught 3 barbel with the biggest being 12lb 5oz, a PB on the Wye. This particular fish had a large, what seemed to be growth, on one side so not sure what that could have been. The other 2 barbel ranged between 8 & 9lb.
A lovely part of the Wye with good access and parking, will definitely return to this beat.

3 Barbel

The river was in perfect early autumn condition and the fishing proved to be excellent. One rod managed 19 barbel from a swim in the woods, best 8lb plus with all falling to pellet and feeder tactics. The other rod caught 11 barbel from swims in the woods and also later from the field below the woods and the best fish of the day at nearly 9lbs. Every swim tried produced bites and this was river Wye fishing at its best.

30 Barbel, 5 Chub

First time here. We headed to the woods, CH picked a likely looking swim and sat on the rocks, he had 9 to 8.5lb, BT had no luck in the woods, I fished the 1st field, unfortunately the weed coming down spoilt the day until it disappeared at about 3pm, once gone managed 4 and a chub. Not sure where the weed came from as we had not had any the day before and it hadn't rained, WUF any ideas, will be back for another go.

(Wuf note: sometimes there is some cutting going on othertimes Swans/cattle/swimmers and canoes all possible causes)

13 Barbel, 1 Chub

Top field fished due to heavy rain making woods and route to bottom of beat very slippery underfoot. Pellets and meat took fish to 8lb. Late afternoon best.

7 Barbel, 1 Chub

4 Barbel

First time fishing this beat and really pleased we did. There is a fairly long and hilly walk involved (if you don’t want to fish the first field), so worth leaving the kitchen sink at home. We fished in the wooded section and caught most of our fish between 4-6pm, but we did have the odd fish throughout the day. We fished pellet and feeder tactics, best barbel around 9lbs and we had several around this size (and lots of Chub).
This is a very peaceful and scenic stretch and we really enjoyed fishing it. There are one of two very snaggy areas in this wooded section and we lost a number of feeders working out what was what (and I don’t generally lose much tackle on the Wye). The access in this wooded section is pretty dodgy, if you’re not fit or good on your legs – slippery sloped path and very steep banks leading to the swims. The fact there is rope to cling onto, should tell you everything! But I personally loved the fact it’s been left wild. Would certainly return to this beat!

10 Barbel, 12 Chub

Quick 4 hour session in the morning producing 6 barbel with one possible scraper double in great condition. 2 taken in the forest and the other 4 below in what was better levels of water compared to last time. Again fished to gaps in the weed using boilies and hemp in pva bags. Enjoyable few hours

6 Barbel

Arrived at Fownhope and chose the hike to the wooded area. Conditions were dry and we both found the walk certainly gets the heart pumping. However it is certainly not as arduous as many of the reports suggest although I can see how negotiating the wooded area path could be rather tricky in wet conditions.
The fishing action was non stop with all barbel falling to feeder tactics and elips pellets. Anglers should note that the swims within this area are very snaggy so quality abrasion resistant line is a must. We finished the day by returning to the upper stretch where we both took more barbel.
Fownhope is a stunning stretch of the Wye and the quality of the fishing is second to none. Many thanks to the WUF for enabling access to such an exceptional stretch.

17 Barbel, 4 Chub