Feedback & Reports

A and T from our party fished Wyastone on Friday 26th. Fishing was slow probably due to the drop in temperature over night and the easterly wind. Caught 3 barbel to 8lb 4oz. All on pellet.

We turned up to fish this stretch for the first time. Having read some of the earlier catch reports that said this was a difficult section to fish we were surprised to find this was not the case. The walk down from the upper car park area was a bit tricky due to the narrow flight of concrete steps so wouldn't recommend this access for the less physically able. We didn't check out the lower access as its on a 4 hour parking limit. Anyway the fishing was good, we had 8 barbel between the 2 of us to 8lb on pellet. It was a bit snaggy as usual for the Wye but not the worst we have experienced. We would return to this stretch in the future.

What a difference a month makes! Having found a distinctly friendly and welcoming river on an overcast but pleasant day in September whilst on holiday when I fished this beat for the first time, I persuaded a mate to come with me on another visit to barbel utopia... only this time, the river was high and charging, we had frost overnight followed by bright sunshine all morning and the reception from the river was hardly open arms... In the circumstances (particularly having read through numerous catch reports here) I suspected that we might have to wait for the late afternoon for a feeding spell, and so it proved to be. Fishing from 10am, neither of us had so much as a twitch to get excited about. Then at about 4.40pm, JC hooked and lost a barbel in the swim three down from the powerlines. Next cast on the same spot, a barbel of 6lb8oz was landed. This persuaded NPH to move from swim 2 to swim 4. However, what neither of us was prepared for was that the feeding "frenzy" would only last 20 minutes, as after 5.00pm no more bites materialised. Worth a 170 mile round trip? I would say "yes" - as the sight of a leaping salmon (twice!) and a peregrine falcon are things we don't generally get treated to on the thames. We will be back. Thanks to all at WUF, the access here is fine but next time I might hhave a more realistic evaluation of how mmuch bait I really need - as climbing the steps on the way back to the car with unopened bags of groundbait and pellets is demoralising!

Four of us went on the 13 Oct. The river was impossible to fish and that resulted in only one barbel came out in 8 hours.

18 barbel to 9lb on boilies.

River still got a strong push with levels high, lot of debris like trees and logs coming down the river. The chub seem to look for refuge in slacks but the barbel appear to remain in the fast water, not even in the creases which makes getting a bait out to them and holding it there very difficult and not for the faint hearted. Fished with pellet and got a couple out. Hard going but not impossible. Need to visit the gym more often so i can tackle the trek from car/fishery!

River was blasting through chocolate coloured with trees and other stuff hurtling past after heavy rain. Well up so not ideal conditions but despite this over 2 days we landed 10 barbel to around 9lb and 3 chub to about 5lb, all fell to pellet. Stepped up gear (rod and weights) definitely necessary to combat the powerful flow when its like this. Access to the top end, whilst not easy, is worth the effort but parking is a bit of a pain. Doesn't matter though, its better than a good day in the office!

River up and pushing through after heavy rain. Fished a variety of swims, struggled in some but caught in others. A total of 8 barbel between us up to about 8lb taken on a variety of pellets. Other baits tried but no takes. Why only one car allowed in the parking area nearest the steps? Easily enough room for two without blocking access to the cottage. 63 steps plus the walk up the hill to the other parking area with all the gear is not for the faint hearted.

River was high and coloured, fished pellet and meat, only managed 2 barbel and 1 chub between us, best barbel 10lbs 3oz. Nice beat, thanks WUF yet again.

Second day on the Wye after blank first day river was still up around 2.6 metres. We decided to fish bottom section which proved a mistake not many slacks to aim for and once again all three rods had no bites just one foul hooked eel! Again it is hard to judge this water on the conditions.