Feedback & Reports

River in perfect condition, unfortunately my fishing skills weren't. Spent the day pike fishing and although the river was spot on, I didn't catch. Wish I had taken my Barbel and Chub gear instead!

Late afternoon from middle of Leggs Meadow in 1 hour session, 6 Chub from around 2lb to a weighed 5lb 7oz fish with large, obvious scar on flank. Float fishing with pin and light terminal line as water very clear (at last!) and old bread and cheese pinched around hook. Fish in excellent condition and form. River in great form for this type of fishing and anticipate pike should be on move at dawn and dusk.

6 Chub

Good conditions, no joy.

We had booked a 2 day trip to the Wye a couple of weeks previously and traveled up from Portsmouth as we usually do. As such we have to take what ever conditions prevail on the day. The river was very high and fast flowing. We checked out the swim in front of the Courtfield which (as advised by WUF in a previous catch report) had some slack water close in. We then checked out the Meadow area and found 3 or 4 swims that also had fishable areas close in. As there were two of us we decided to fish here. Impossible to hold bottom out from the bank due to the flow and debris coming down the river. I caught a barbel of around 5lb on pellet within the first hour so all looked promising. My friend lost a fish around 1pm. Rained all day pretty heavily, we packed up about 2pm wet but not defeated! We will be back again.
Thanks to Denise and Tony at the Jovial Colliers in Lydbrook for looking after us again.

In the first 15 minutes of first light, I had a dead bait very large mackerel and had a big hit on my road with a long run and pulled the hook - gutted!

Fished this beat end of last week on Sunday, water level down a foot and a half and had fined down since then, but the water temperature had dropped from 57 deg to 48 deg also. Took a friend who has never fished for barbel. We managed 2 at 7lb and 4lb both to my rod. Both on pellet and small PVA bags of mixed sizes of pellets. Hard fishing but enjoyable, thanks to Don fishery owner with some advise on the day.

River high but Legg Meadow fishable on inside line. Caught a big eel estimated 4lb+ on meat and a barbel just under 9lb on pellet. One other barbel lost. Probably should have tried a few more swims.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

Tried the Meadow and subsequently the Woods stretch, but as the whole beat is on the outside of a massive bend and there was an extra 6 or 7 feet of water. There was a distinct lack of slack enough water in which 4oz of lead could keep a bait. The banks were treacherous too and with the rain lashing it down, we'd had enough by lunchtime, so moved to a stretch a few miles downstream where we caught six barbel to 9lb in a few hours. I know it's tricky in that you tend to have to book Courtfield a few weeks in advance, but if you suspect rain, I'd suggest a different stretch where you can find some slacker water.

WUF note - When the river is high slacker water can be found at the bottom of the beat by the Courtfield Inn, see where to fish guide http://www.lowerwyefishing.co.uk/the-courtfield-water/where-to-fish.

An enjoyable day, fishing was tough with about 4-5 feet of extra water coming through and water temperature dropped. Still managed 2 barbel and 5 chub. All fish came mid day to early afternoon when water rose to its peak temperature level, despite arriving first light and leaving on dark. Fish caught on pellets and small PVA bags of mixed size pellets.

A tough day on Courtfield but still can't think of a better place to be. River was running through at a fair rate of knots and inside lines were all that was possible. Many swims tried by one of us with the other remaining relatively stationary in 'the new swim'. It was the latter that produced the only barbel of the day at 8lb 13oz. The only other fish to grace the banks being a greedy 1lb eel. Good to meet up and speak with Don again but even his words of wisdom failed us this time. Will be back again and again. Thanks WUF.

1 Barbel, 1 Other