Feedback & Reports

First time fishing this beat. Arrived at sunrise to fish the bottom pool. Hadn't appreciated that the water levels were going to be so shallow. There are very concentrated pools of deeper water which take some locating. Fished for 8 hours without a bite. Tried feeder with pellet and free lined pellet and tried the other swims further up (although all were very shallow). I think what would have made a difference is trotting some luncheon meat but I didn't have any. What didn't help was the approx. 500 people in canoes. A serious canoe train started at about 10am and did not stop until about 6pm with a constant flow. Don't come here on the weekends unless you are a canoe spotter. They also pull up on the banks all around you and start with the usual splashing/shouting. Got to about 5:30 when I had 4 fish on 4 casts followed by another 5 until sundown. A long days fishing and could have done with another foot of water. I also felt that the chub were wise to ledgers and hooklinks. Tried trotting some pellet on the far side of the island but to no success. All fish in the medium range.

4 Barbel, 5 Chub

River low with conditions overcast. Caught fish from the start and they came steadily throughout the day. Barbel were predominantly in the 3lb range although fish were caught upto 6lb. Chub upto 5lb.
Hooked a Salmon on Halibut Pellet which leapt out of the water and shed the hook some 50yds downstream! A coloured fish.
Great days fishing and thanks to Don the owner for his invalulable knowledge of the river.

15 Barbel, 5 Chub

Another great evenings fishing. The third and final day so started seriously fishing in the early afternoon and fished until early evening before travelling home. The river was still very low and clear and the fish seemed to have backed off the feed a little, although as soon as the sun started to fade the bites came thick and fast. All fish came to pellets and some very successful homemade boilies, all presented using standard feeder techniques. Biggest barbel was 9lb 8oz and the biggest chub about 4lb. A very enjoyable few days. I will be returning very shortly. Many thanks to Don.

7 Barbel, 5 Chub

The second of three days on Wyebank and had a quick fish in the morning before the procession of canoeists started. Managed a nice 7.5lb barbel and a small chub before breakfast. The river was very low and barbel could be seen in some of the more upstream shallower areas either feeding or possibly spawning. Although the canoeists tend to be a bit noisy and disruptive the fish seem to return almost straight away. I didn't fish again until early evening and this tactic seemed to pay off as soon as the sun went down the fish became far more confident and practically pulled the rod in several times. I used feeders and longish hook links with pellets or homemade meaty boilies for hookbaits. Only one minor problem was a gentleman arriving and electing to fish opposite the swim I had been occupying but after he was educated by Don about the finer points of practical geography he made his way elsewhere to leave me in peace to catch yet more great barbel and chub. This really is a great stretch, not only because of the fish but because you have the place to yourself, once the canoeists have thinned out!

8 Barbel, 6 Chub

The first of three days on Wyebank. Arrived to find the river very low and clear. Didn't start to fish until late afternoon but after a short spell trotting a float through some nice looking areas with some minor success (2x small chub) starting fishing the now famous bottom pool. This time of year this area can be fantastic and it didn't disappoint. Every cast resulted in a fish. A complete cross section of different sizes, all immaculate and hard fighting. A particularly nice chub at just under 5lb and barbel ranging from 4lb to 8lb. All caught on homemade boilies or pellets using feeders and long hook links.

5 Barbel, 7 Chub

Great afternoon and evening session on the bottom pool of wye bank. Started within 5 seconds of casting out and then frantic action, a fish a cast. After 20 plus fish on free lined meat and pellet I couldn't help think I had fished it out as no bites in the last two hours. Moved up steam for a few more. No monsters but barbel to 6lb and chub to 4lb.
No weed this year in the river and relatively snag free. Look at Trabucco-uk.com blog for photos if interested. Thanks to Don who runs the beat. No Salmon seen.

14 Barbel, 10 Chub

Started on the float and centrrpin and had 3 nice chub to 4lb. After 45 minutes I decided to fish the feeder and after a few casts building up the swim I had my 1st barbel after 5 mins. I then caught steadily until mid day when the increase in boat traffic stopped the fish feeding for a while. They came back on the feed at 3pm and I fished until 8.30 when I ran out of bait. I've been fishing the rivers for the last 10 years and this is the best day I've ever had - 26 fish, 20 Barbel and 6 Chub and on Fathers Day too, brilliant fishing.

20 Barbel, 6 Chub

Another fun day on Wyebank with 35 fish on the bank. We arrived a couple of hours before first light and whilst sitting it out on the bank, awaiting daybreak, we witnessed a pair of otters feeding in the pool. Fished from first light until 8pm and had fish throughout the day but with the bulk of the action coming before 11am and after 4pm. Barbel included two at 8lb 14oz, three +6lb, one +5lb and the rest mostly in the 3-4lb range. The Chub went to 4lb 8oz. To keep the bites coming we had to loose feed pellet and hemp regularly and change methods. We caught on open-ended feeder with pellets and groundbait or scalded pellets moulded around grippa leads. Successful hook baits included Hinders Elips, Bait-Tec Hybrid barbel, Sticky Baits The Krill boilies wrapped in matching paste and scalded Halibut pellets. We struggled to get bites when it was raining or when the sun was shining directly on the run. Canoes were out in force from 11am to 4pm with long periods where we were forced to rest the swim.

15 Barbel, 10 Chub

Perfect summer flow conditions for the bottom pool which fished well early and late with barbel to 8lb and chub to 5lb. Also enjoyed trotting a float on faster water on the far side past the island which produced some good barbel and chub on the centrepin. Most fish to pellets but with meat also doing well. Don't pack away too early, the best fish came at last knockings! Lovely start to the season.

24 Barbel, 28 Chub

Started fishing at 5am and was in to fish almost straight away. I caught steadily until packing in at 3pm
it did slow a bit once the canoes arrived but not too much. Fished both feeder/pellet and trotted a float. The feeder was the most productive but catching on the float is much more enjoyable. It was great to be back on moving water doing proper fishing. Many thanks to Don and the WUF.

10 Barbel, 22 Chub