Feedback & Reports

I booked two days on this beat which was an unknown to myself having previously fished the middle court beats. I did read many of the comments before booking and was aware of the close proximity of the beat to the A40 however I didn't full understand just how close or how loud the traffic would be for the entirety of the fishing. This is not the beat for anyone who wants piece and quiet! Again the parking is an issue with the lower parking in my opinion not an option with expensive items in the vehicle. The upper parking is quiet well hidden up a little pull in but again there were concerns due to cars meeting up later in the day and just hanging about while I was getting kit from the van. It just felt very uneasy and leaving the van in such an isolated spot on the side of an exceptional busy dual carriage way, in my opinion just asking for trouble.
This said the fishing is fantastic! The upper beats slow and steady paced water with lots of swims to choose from, the lower shallow with more pace. We fished the upper stretch as the sun was out and the lower beat just to open with not enough cover for the conditions. The potential for the lower section is obvious if there were some colour in the water. Watch out for the rowers on this section with the addition of a punt equipped with a 10hp outboard which were up and down most of the afternoon. What effect this has on the fishing I'm unsure, the fish are probably accustomed to the commotion.
All fish were taken on halibut pellets, I got the feeling they would have taken anything it was just a case of being in the right spot as my friend 10 yards to the left blanked and we struggled for bites in other swims which looked promising. If I were to fish this beat again I would bait up several if not all the top swims and keep moving about till you find the fish. Hope this helps for anyone wishing to fish this beat.

10 Barbel

Slightly coloured, slow flow except at furthest upstream swim. Fish caught between 9am and 4.30pm. 4lb6 to 8lbs for 35 lbs total from 3 swims. Pellet and meat. Salmon jumping all day. Please cut more swims down stream of step.

6 Barbel

Our final day of the trip. Walked the beat and decided to fish the lower part. My friend had a great day catching 6 Barbel up to 10lb all on legered maggot with five fish lost due to the snaggy swim conditions. I blanked, though had three Barbel snag me up in a sunken Willow tree. Thanks again WUF. Hopefully back again next year where we'll try some new beats. That Wye Barbel double still eludes me —maybe next year.

6 Barbel

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

Pellet, meat and legered bread.Barbel 2 x 9lbs, 1 x 3lbs
2 barbel before 8am, last one at 6pm.
Walked about half the length of this beat. Good fishable swims turning left after access steps at upper end but it would be great if more swims can be cut after turning right from bottom of steps.
As with previous WUF day tickets at Wyebank and Lower Canon Bridge, the additional info and map were very helpful.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

Feedered meat and pellet
6 Cormorants sighted - one surfaced at bank under rod

9 Barbel, 1 Chub

First time on the lovely Wye with logistics made easy by excellent WUF. Fish to 8lb on legered meat. Three cormorants sighted.

6 Barbel

First visit to this stretch and have to say I was a bit surprised by the lack of fishable swims and the poor maintenance of the access steps at the top end given the day ticket price. However, the river looked the part and I rotated 3 of the swims at the top and caught fairly regularly throughout the day, although I did take a long lunch break from midday until 3.30pm. 5 barbel to 9.01 and a couple of decent chub made it all worthwhile.

5 Barbel, 2 Chub

Lovely stretch of the river. Fished the upper part all day catching on pellet and meat. We caught a barbel first cast and steadily until the sun came up over the hill, when the action died off. Picked up again late afternoon until dusk.
Barbel caught between 4lb and 8lb, chub to 4lb, all in perfect condition. Boat traffic fairly quiet and the majority were considerate.
All in all a great day and we shall be back soon.

10 Barbel, 6 Chub

Fished the upper section in the morning arriving later than planned due to the M5! Looked perfect as I set up and fed the swim, but then the sun got above the hill burnt off the mist in about two minutes and i knew it would be a struggle. River very "sluggish" and clear holding the bottom with 30gram feeder. 1 Chub in the morning. Planned to move down to the bottom section for the afternoon evening packed up, back to the car and drove down to the lay-by for the downstream section. This was not a nice experience, lay-by full of big lorries and the hedge full of rubbish, bottles of urine and you can guess what else. To be honest felt uncomfortable leaving my car there, and a quick walk along the banks did not inspire so back in the car to the top end again. Afternoon session produced another chub on bread flake. Evening session produced three Barbel, 5lbs 2oz, 8lbs 4oz and 9lbs 14oz. If only they would feed all day. All fell to feeder and pellet. Another great day and well worth the drive

3 Barbel, 2 Chub