Feedback & Reports

Arrived at about 5.30pm on this Sunday evening, only to find that we could have started earlier as the Kayak 'traffic' had already stopped. Fishing the same swim as the previous evening, this time with swim-feeders and 14mm halibut pellets, within 30 seconds of Alan's first cast he hooked a nice Barbel! We fished till 9.20pm, and in this short session, we caught 6 Barbel to 6lb.15oz., and 3 chub to 4lb.
Our thanks to the Wye & Usk Foundation for making this fishing available to us, with very special thanks to Don Macer-Wright for his friendly approach and his invaluable advice. Superb fishing which must be enjoyed again!

My son, Alan, and I arrived at about 6am to find the river running quite high, and having never been there before we had difficulty in identifying fish holding areas. But thanks to Don Macer-Wright's arrival at about mid-morning and his valued guidance, we were able to see how and where to fish.
With many kayaks on the river we determined to return for an evening session.
Returning from Bristol at 6pm, we fished from 6.30 till 9.45pm. We chose to both fish at the lower end of the section, one rod each, using simple running legers and hair-rigged baits. With 16mm halbut pellets as bait, we caught Barbel from the very first cast.
In the three and a quarter hour session, Alan out-fished me with 5 Barbel ( best 7lb.4oz ) and 3 Chub to 4lb.1oz.
My catch was three Barbel of 7lb., 6lb.15oz., and 5lb.
Drove back to Alan's home in Bristol looking forward to the following day's evening session.

12.30pm to 7.30pm – 12 Barbel & 3 Chub. I fished 3 swims, all of the fish were under the 4lb but proved to be great sport nevertheless. The Island Swim is not on the beat map and has vague fishing rights described to me as “For The Local Anglers Only” but with consent of the very friendly Host or Owner you can wade out and fish a deep pool that runs under the trees on the far bank. One angler from last week had tweeted “50 Barbel between 3 of us! One of my greatest angling experiences ever!”

The Wye bank has gone straight into “My Favourites’” Unfortunately I have to mention the Canoes (lots of them). As usual they disappear about 4.30pm

06.30 to 10.00am, large drilled halibut pellet on 8 hook, 12lb line, rolling ledger down main flow for 40yds whilst stood on lower end of island. Hand fed loose pellets until small chub moved in.
Fairly snag free in main flow (only!) over gravel. 2 chub to 3lb and then 2 barbel of 8lb and 9lb plus after very delicate bites. Great sport at long range in the current, lost 2 other barbel that went under weed, need to keep rod up. Boy did they go!
Tues late evening lost 1 mid sized salmon on weighted rappala, it rolled over the line, in main flow level with Old Quay and at dusk 3 chub to 3lb plus 1 barbel not quite 10lb on free lined halibut pellet and wading from bottom pool out to main flow.

Another fabulous day on this superb bit of water. Fished afternoon and evening. 8 barbel and lost count of the chub. Long trotting with corn and touch ledgered spam did the trick. Don as welcoming and helpful as ever. Thanks.

Short evening session 8 barbel 2lb-8lb on pellet.

Only a short beat with a few swims - good advice from the staff on the fishery who told me exactly where to fish - lots of canoe traffic during the day but things improve after about four in the afternoon - had five lovely barbel up to about seven pounds. Thanks again for a wonderful few days fishing.

An excellent day nearly all round. The forecast heavy rain and windy conditions did not really materialise and the river stayed low and clear. We shared 9 barbel to 9lbs (including two clonkers from the 'spot' - thanks Don) and not less than 15 chub to 4lbs, some of which were taken bumping large lumps of meat down through the current - John's foresight in bringing waders paid off. We also caught an obligatory eel. Lots of fish were caught from the bottom pool.

The only downside was the boat traffic - more canoes than I have ever seen in one day. Some of the groups that came through were supervised and competent. Others hadn't a clue and beached and back-paddled where and when they felt like it. Some passed the pub before realising that was an authorised stopping point and their efforts to paddle back upstream to get that hard-earned pint put a stop to the fishing for some time. John had to forego his mid-stream chub-fest when it became increasingly dangerous to be anywhere other than on the bank with lines wound in.

On the upside, having a pub at the start of the beat and immediately next to the car-parking is positively inspired and it was a pleasure to see the day's catch swollen by several Barbel in the 2-3lb range, we hope this augers well for the future. The shallow margins and banks of streamer weed make the stretch quite challenging but stick to the main flows and there's fish almost everywhere. Thanks WUF - good call.

An early start found the fish queing up, chub at first but then the barbel moved in and I finished a hectic early morning session with 9 barbel to just under 7lb and 6 chub to 3lb, all on simple pellet and feeder tactics. Despite the low water levels this is a very pacey stretch and the barbel make good use of it.
Fishing early and/or late is the key at this time of year as bites petered out by 09:30 and by the time I left at 10:00 the canoes and kayaks were everywhere,including pulled out onto the bank!

Excellent day. Fished various swims and had plenty of Chub plus 10 Barbel up to around 7.5lb. Used large pellet on the hook and smaller pellet in the feeder. Thanks very much for a very enjoyable day.