Feedback & Reports

Water level was very low, not too many canoeists, most of whom were considerate, however one individual thought it very amusing to go out of his way to grab my line (or wire as he called it) and try to pull my feeder up.
Rained most of the day but a very enjoyable session. Barbel to 6lb chub to 4lb on pellets.

8 Barbel, 10 Chub, 1 Other

Another great day on what is one of my favourite WUF beats. To be honest we were not expecting much what with the water being crystal clear and very shallow (Don said he has never seen it so low) but it did not make any difference. The fish came steadily from 5amm until 4pm when we packed in. We fished feeder/pellet until early afternoon then decided to cool off and waded mid river and trotted luncheon meat which produced a better size of Barbel. Thank you Don and thank you WUF.

38 Barbel, 13 Chub, 13 Other

Fished a short spell late morning, early afternoon but it didn't really get going as it was bright and sunny so we took a few hours off and came back at 5pm and got settled in for the evening.
Bites came as soon as the feeder landed for the first hour and then steady for the rest of the evening. Most fish were very small with one or two going to 6.5lbs. Even so the small ones in the 1.5 to 4lb range were still fighting like crazy. Used medium sized elips pellets today.
Today's wildlife included sparrowhawk, kingfisher, tawny owl and ducklings sat in the landing net.

26 Barbel, 7 Chub

I fished with cage feeder and hiar-rig from 5.30am to 9.30pm no barbel caught until 12.30 using flavoured meat as bait. Two more caught in the following hour. Two more caught at 6.00pm - 7.00pm.

5 Barbel, 12 Chub

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