Feedback & Reports

8 barbel, 3 of which were over 9lb, numerous chub including a personal best of 5lb 7oz for me and a few eels. Pellet and boilie fished on running lead rigs did the trick. Great river, great fishery, back in 2 weeks!

8 Barbel, 15 Chub, 3 Other

2 Chub

Fished 1.30pm until dark, could not find any barbel but had 7 chub, best 5lb 10oz and 1 eel.

7 Chub, 1 Other

Nice stretch. Easily accessible and plenty of spots to go at. It was such a hot day that we didn't move around as much as normal and left the river for most of the day. One nice barbel of around 9lb and loads of chub of a pretty good stamp up to 5lb. One eel of around 2lb and watched a young eel (15 inches) hunting fry in the margin which was fascinating.

1 Barbel, 15 Chub

Salmon of 7 or 8lb from Lower Courtfield between pub and 40mph exit sign. Single hooked small orange/silver Flying C. Quite coloured fish with many spots and off white underside, hooked mid stream on slow retrieve across current. Unhooked in water, swam off strongly.
From the raised deck of our home I have seen groups of grilse moving up shallows by island Friday morning and again around 8am this Saturday. Why they do not go up deeper water behind the Island is beyond me. Not seen this in previous years. Gulls feasting on baby mallards and returning Shad all week.

1 Salmon

11 barbel between 6 and 8lbs caught using method feeder tactics with pellets and paste... 9 chub caught in total including a new PB of 6lb 4oz!!!

Great days fishing... look forward to returning again soon.

11 Barbel, 9 Chub

Great days fishing. All fish taken on pellet and feeder. Biggest barbel going 9.75lb. Still after an elusive Wye double so I will be back!

12 Barbel, 10 Chub

This was my first visit to this stretch and to say that I have had better days is an understatement. Arriving at the fishery at first light just after 4am, I found that the parking area on the grass verge, as described in the guide, is now cordoned off with bollards. There is now only room for one car each side of the gate.
The weather has been fairly hot and dry recently so I had decided to leave waterproofs and boots at home. Unfortunately, there was a very heavy dew that night and with the grass in the Legg meadow at waste height. My trousers and socks were soaked by the time I got to the water.
I proceeded to find the swim half way along the field as recommended in the guide and was pleased to see that it was available. I fished with pellet feeder and supplemented feed with hempseed and cereal groundbait. By about 8am I had caught 5 chub between 1 and 3lb but no barbel. My lack of sleep was taking it's toll and thought it best to hold onto the rod as I was nodding off. It is then that I contacted with what I suspect was a sizable barbel as my reel drag had been set too high and the 10lb hook length parted on the fishes first run.
I was becoming frustrated with the swim, which seems to be a tackle graveyard and with bites drying up and the start of canoe traffic I left the fishery with the intention of returning later in the afternoon to try another spot up near the pumping station.
At 5pm I returned to bait up the swim ready for the evening. It was very hot and bright now but it was not long before I began getting quite a few bites and felt quite encouraged. The trouble I found was however, in connecting with the fish. It was a strange phenomina of having a solid take but only to find the mystery fish was immediately snagged. When I did managed to land one it turned out to be an eel of about 1 1/2 lb. I wonder if all the other bites were from the same species? At 6pm the canoes had gone and peace returned to the water again. Even the annoying repetitve pounding noise of the water pump had stopped.
Suddenly, I heard female voices from the other side of willow tree in the next swim. Imagine my surpriSe upon hearing a loud splash, which made me think one of them had fallen in. It turned out however, that this young lady had intentionally jumped in as she was to be immediatelly followed by 3 or four of her half naked friends. It was when they were in the river that they first noticed me but were not phased by my presence and proceeded to swim across to the fallen tree on the other side and then back again and generally have a rowdy time. I was thinking this was quite a dangerous pursuit, considering the strength of the current and the numerous snags present.
With any fish now two miles downstream and not knowing what to say to these naked young ladies I finally had had enough of fishing and with their male companions arriving I packed up and left.
Driving home I reflected upon my experience of having spent £20 on bait and losing 5 swim feeders plus numerous hooks and braided leaders etc, not to mention the cost of the day ticket, fuel and bridge toll. No doubt I will be back though because I know there are some big wild fish here.

5 Chub, 1 Other

Caught 3 barbel from 6.2lbs to 7.2lbs. 1 chub at 5.2lbs, all caught on halibut pellet.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub

River, good flow and coloured, apparently due to top soil run off which seemed to suit the barbel. Weather started a little cloudy with warm and sunny afternoon and evening. Fished 10.30am to 10pm. Moved swims twice, some snags present near the bank. Used 12lbs line but still lost a little tackle. Best to cast well out and 12 to 23 across. However fish fed throughout the day. Used 8mm and 10mm halibut pellet on hook and pva bags and catapult as loose feed. I had 8 barbel, 1 of 5lbs, 3 of 7lbs, 2 of 8lbs 1 of 9lbs, and a final barbel at 9.30pm of 10lbs 1oz. Best Chub of 4lbs mid afternoon. My friend also had a great day, 8 barbel, 6lbs 8ozs to 9lbs 14ozs and a chub of 3lbs.
Some of the bankside conditions are quite difficult, steep banks, rocks and vegetation. Travel light, its reasonably easy to return to car for food and bait if required.
Parties of canoes up to late afternoon but this presented no problems.
Overall a very enjoyable day. Thank you.

16 Barbel, 5 Chub