Feedback & Reports

Took my 13 Year old son with me and because of that couldn't fish the very top of the beat near the power line!
Settled in the next beat down stream, plenty of room for the two of us. Started about 0900 and fished sliding ledger with pellet on a hair rig. The River was slightly colured and slightly up due to recent rain.

After a quiet start I lost one barbel but caught another after a couple of hours, a beautiful 6 pound fish. Then my son caught his first ever barbel. He refused an eager father's help and landed the fish himself, very proud and very tired after! another 5-6 pound fish that fought like a demon.
Nothing then all day as the wind really picked up and waves appeared.
Lost a fair amount of tackle in the river, lots of snags.
Overall an enjoyable day and made up that my son caught his first ever barbel.

I had not read the previous reports about there being only one real peg/barbel area. This seems to be the case during this period of low water. I fished 4pm till 8 and caught 4 barbel - 5 -6 pounds. I may fish here again but only if I were the only rod on the beat.

1 Barbel at 9.2, fishing two swims down from the power lines. Fishing the far bank, using meat (luncheon) over hemp, under the willow trees. Fishing this beat not brilliant because the only swim worth fishing was Boys Rocks - but of course this is no longer available due to resident objections.

JT fished the first swim in the woods and waded out and cast up stream to the tree down from boys rock taking 15 or so barbel up to 10lb 6oz. KT started in the second swim and took one barbel in the first hour then fished with his dad. All fish fell to small pellets. I started in the last swim in the woods feed 4 pints of hemp and corn then went for a walk for an hour. Started to fish and took two chub about 4lb one on corn and one on a small boilie in the first half hour then that was that. Fed every swim in the woods and never had another bite all day. Warning the photos of this beat are of boys rock and the shallows above if there were photos of the rest of the beat you probably wouldn't go there barbel fishing.

Had a great day here, two of us fishing took a total of 9 Barbel to 8lbs and a decent chub from the top of the fishery. Fishing was very quiet during noon through to five pm. Really enjoyed the location with lots of wildlife to watch when the fishing was quiet. The A40 does drone a bit but after a while you just ignore it. All the fish fell to elipse pellet fished over a bed of groundbait. As usual the river is tough on tackle so be prepared to loose some. Will be going back once there is some water in the river again.

A bit slow today; river was very clear compared to my last visit. Only 1 chub caught in the morning then had to wait till the evening for the barbel to put in an appearance. Only 2 landed, best 7.10. A slow day but enjoyable none the less.

Fished the top area of the beat, amongst kingfishers, ducks and squirrels all day.
Very enjoyable, despite the autumnal conditions.
Had to contend with extremely strong gusts of wind, (white-water waves blowing up-stream for most of the day - I was sure the calendar said July, not November!).
Very grateful for the tree-cover during the worst of the rain, but still got very wet landing three barbel before mid-day.

No sign of fish followed between mid-day and 6:30pm, coinciding with the usual mix of canoeists, some courteous, some less so.
Then hooked five fish between 6:30 and 8:00pm, three of which sped like steam trains into the weed – immense power that I could do nothing about.

So managed to winkle out 5 barbel in total, all caught on pellet –
7lb 1oz, 3lb 6oz, 5lb 4oz, 7lb 12oz and 7lb 4oz
All in good condition, except for a small number of Argulus Foliaceu (freshwater fish lice) on some fish (extra nurturing needed prior to release).

Stopped to watch a deer as I drove back to the main road – the last wildlife encounter of the day. Great to see.

Many thanks to everyone at the WUF - for the clearance work to create the swims, Alyson’s advice on the telephone, and the excellent directions.
1st class as usual.

A bit dissappointing although to be fair conditions were not ideal with the river clear and the weather sunny.

In total 2 barbel of 9lb and 7lb 5oz from one swim and 2 chub in the region of 4lb from another were caught.

All three of us though are willing to return when the conditions are more favourable.

Around 15 fish taken between 4 of us, fishing cage feeder and pellet. Fished as close as possible to the run-off below Boy's Rock. It's a shame fishing is not allowed in front of the cottage (immediately below the rock), and this would undoubtedly be a fantastic barbel swim. River level was too low to realistically target the shallow reaches lower down, although with a bit more water on it looks like this could produce some fish. Quite a lot of rowing boats at the lower end of the beat, though.

Fished Wyastone Leys for the first time. The tree coverage behind was very handy considering the conditions and recommended for south westerly wind. Caught 5 barbel the best being 8lb 3oz. No sign of any chub. Thoroughly enjoyable day considering river was clear and will be going back in the future.