Feedback & Reports

Probably the strangest fishing day ever for me. Barbel were caught steadily all day not twenty yards downstream of me in featureless open water on identical tactics to me but I remained on a blank, should of moved in hindsight as my bait was working more for next door than it was for me but the weather was not nice so I stayed put, lazy angling on my part.

Oh well I'll try again in a week or so in drier conditions hopefully.

NOTE:A dog spike and rope are essential on this stretch it will set you back a tenner but you will have problems getting out of your peg if you go without one in the wet.

Had another great day on this beat. The river was still a little high and had some colour. The forecast was for strong winds and heavy rain. The umbrella took off a few times and the Fox shelter pulled the pegs up too. And did it ever rain! A great day though Paul and Alex had never caught a barbel before. They ended with 9 barbel with each of them having a 7lb plus fish. 4 chub were caught nothing larger than 4lbs 10oz.
I think the two of them will return to this beat.
Canoe traffic very quite but the weather was terrible so not too surprised.

Conditions looked perfect for a good afternoon/evening session but the weather worsened and the fish were reluctant to feed. One Barbel (7lb 9ozs), 5 Chub (to 4lb) and an Eel (2lb) between two rods. Fish fell to Elips pellets and meat. Torrential rain from 7pm turned the banks into a slippery mud track which was extremely dangerous and difficult to escape from. Take great care if the weather turns in like it did for us.

A strangely quiet day on what is one of our favourite lengths of the wye which has been good to us on previous visits. Only 1 barbel and 1 chub to show for our effort, the barbel coming with virtually the last cast of the day. Fortunately it was a nice fish of 9lb 7oz. Not sure why the river was so out of sorts but rudi the bailiff seemed to think a rising river with an influx of colder water might be to blame. Typical of fishing just when you start to think you've got it cracked you have a session like this. Will definately be back for another go on this excellent length though.

Hadn't been coarse fishing for a very long time (15 years or more), so decided to book a day on the Wye. I had some fantastic help from Rudi and WUF in providing plenty of advice and tips before the session. Arrived at dawn to make the most of the 'morning' potential, but it wasn't to be. I was joined by two other gents from Leeds at around 10.30 and we carried on through the day. Plenty of fish jumping, but not a sign of any interest from any barbel. That was the story for the rest of the day. I called 'time' at 6.30pm and headed home. A lovely day on the river despite not a single fish, except a chub for one of the other chaps. Saw plenty of wildlife including an over-friendly mink and the small family of ducks that decided to sit next to me all day (even with my spaniel sat next to me!). I will definitely return for another go soon......

Great days fishing again. The river was low and clear which was a surprise. Caught throughout the day on pellet. The rain fell very heavily and the banks were treacherous in places. In one swim it was so bad it was impossible to fish without a risk of falling in. The barbel were feeding really well however it was much too dangerous.In total 11 barbel were caught to 7lbs 6oz and 5 chub to 4lbs 10oz. There is a definite pattern to feeding at the moment. But I'm sure this will change. Looking forward to fishing this lovely stretch again on Monday and Thurs next week. No problem with canoes, I think us anglers are more upset by them than the fish.

1 x Barbel 8lbs 4 oz.

Bit of a struggle today, not as good as this beat usually is. Barbel, chub and dace to float and feeder tactics.

Arrived just before sunrise and decided to fish the meadow. The river looked spot on with a nice bit of colour and after a cup of tea and a bacon roll on the stove we settled into our pegs, several biteless hours later we were beginning to wonder what we were doing wrong as nothing we tried seemed to work. We decided to move and opted for the steps pegs where we were met with the same biteless responce. After being relieved of a few feeders and hook lenths we decided to go back to the meadow and take our chances into the evening. The sun was high in the sky at this point and our hopes of catching were diving but after a bit of casting around a fish was finally on the bank of around 6lb another two hours past before the next bite and a barbel of around 3lb started a run of fish which included a fish of 10 lb 1oz as well as two 9s. All in all 8 fish landed and two lost. 12mm pellets acounting for all.
On a final note although all the fish seemed fit and healthy some were showing signs of mouth damage, one in particular which was still carrying a complete braided hooklength was a bit of a mess which was a bit sad to see. Not a fan of low diameter braided hooklengths myself, its as good as cheese wire. Looking forward to a trip later in the year.

Fished from early morning, caught barbel throughout the day. 2x 3lb 1x 4lb, 1x 5lb, 1x 7lb and the best was a 9lb 140z and a 9lb 9oz. All on open end feeder with hair rigged pellet.