Feedback & Reports

19.00 to 21.30hrs. From swim half way down Leggs Meadow, 2 chub of around 3lb and 4 barbel of 9lb10oz, 8lb approx and at last, after telling visitors where they are and seeing them catch but failing myself, my first Wye double at 10lb 6oz followed by another of close on 11lb. All caught on large halibut pellet, size 8 hook and 12lb line and swimfeeder from what appears to be a deeper gulley under far bank where salmon frequently lie and jump.

Mid morning to mid afternoon spinning for Salmon as many jumping and rolling throughout the beat, tried everything without success and to add injury to insult got drenched on Leggs croy when one landed beside me! They were still there in evening, a few dark fish in residence plus silvers and some Grilse.

It appears a slug of water from a local downpour on Friday passed towards Monmouth and these fish may have moved up to Courtfield, however the river was up 18in, muddy and rising this Tuesday morning.

On arrival at the car park at the bottom of the beat we were greeted by Rudi who gave us a helpful account of what to expect from the fishery.
We spent a long time walking and looking around the beat before deciding where to fish after the worst excesses of canoeists had passed at about 4 o'clock. A nice variety of swims of varying character to choose from.
JM decided on a swim in Leggs Meadow which I had dithered over - and I chose what I thought looked like a classic barbel spot down towards the lower end.
The river was low and in need of rain to get the barbel movng throughout the river.
They didn't show up in my principal swim or the other couple of spots I tried, although I did catch 8 chub to around 4lb. There were salmon jumping regularly and I'm pretty sure I saw 3 different fish.
Meanwhile, JM back in his slower water had done what I fully expected (having rejected the swim myself) and caught a brace of barbel, losing a third. Best fish 8:02. He also spent some time watching and trying to tempt a huge chub which was harrying the fry in front of him.
We both had the pleasure of meeting Don, the fishery owner, who was helpful with advice, very interesting on all aspects of his fishery and the Wye scene in general, and clearly passionate about it all.

Caught a 9lb or thereabouts fresh salmon late Saturday evening along Legg Meadow in the Courtfield fishery, from the nearside bank, on 2" green and yellow devon minnow, size 10 double. Fish holding all through the Courtfield; there must be several score of salmon in the fishery. Very difficult to tempt. Caught this fish casting upstream to cover a regularly showing fish, just out from the bank, using a fast retrieve.

Two of us fished from approximately 2pm to 8.30pm and managed to land 3 barbel between 8lb and 8lb 10oz and a chub of 3lb 8oz. All fish falling to legered meat or pellets.

A nice stretch of water and I will definitely fish again, although canoe traffic can be heavy at times.

Excellent advice provided on fishing Courtfield by Don and Rudi who couldn't have been more helpful which made fishing a previously unknown stretch of water much easier.

Caught three barbel to just under 8lb and three chub to 4lb between the two rods. River very low and clear. Very tentative bites. Plenty of salmon crashing throughout the whole beat all day long.

Fished from early 0630 until 1900. I saw so many salmon in this beat that I lost count of sighting. These were both resident and travellers, I think about 20 different salmon mainly on the croys and in front of the house.
Tried everything I could think of to no good end. Don let me fish down through the "Run" last thing but without result in respect of salmon.
Final result; Salmon nil, Shad 1 about 2lb, Pike 1 about 18lb on a Mepps, Brown Trout 1 about 1 1/2lb.
Does anyone want to buy any Salmon kit? Think I'll go back to barbel.

This report is for both Wyebank and Courtfield. Fastastic stretch of river. Struggled a little in the morning, all fishing the lower section of Courtfield, with a couple of small chub between us. Had a good chat with Don (the owner) at lunchtime, who was very friendly and put us onto the 'going' swims. Two of us fished swims in the meadow at the top of the Courtfield beat. Beautiful setting, and excellent fishing. Must have had around 20 fish between two of us over three hours or so, mainly barbel, the largest going 9 lb 5 oz. The other two in the party fished the pools on Wyebank, and had a few small barbel. Thanks very much to Wye and Usk and to Don - we'll be back!

Fished from 4.30 in the afternoon at the 'new swim' in Legg Meadow, casting to the far bank by the hole in the willows. A fantastic late afternoon's fishing including 3 chub between 5lbs and 7lbs and 5 barbel of 8,9,11,12 and 12.5lbs.

After a half a days casting instruction followed by a full day's salmon fishing on Wyesham with John Symonds I arrived at Courtfield on the Friday anticipating my Barbel fix. I settled in at the croy where the river meets the road at the second parking spot on the beat. Lost a good fish almost straightaway that ran out a good length of line on the baitrunner and then kept going even though I had the clutch reasonably firm on account of using 12lb line. The power of these fish never fails to astonish. Then had an enjoyable chat with the owner who came down to introduce himself - a thoroughly decent chap. Picked up a stonking chub in this swim before moving into Meadow Pool to put some distance between myself and the half wits in their canoes. Actually not all of them were a nuisance, just the groups of young men for whom the river habitat/environment is purely incidental to the ridiculous posturing that constitutes a canoe trip. I had one of these idiots yell out that if I was not catching any fish this was likely due to 'us lot coming through' and to reinforce the point slapped the water with his paddle much to the amusement of his mates. Half wit does not do justice - if I had had my slingshot with me a I might have been tempted. 5 more chub in the Meadow Pool but, in spite of steadily feeding the swim, of Barbel there were no more signs. Some lovely water on this beat and when I come back I will explore the streamier sections downstream towards Wyebank. I believe the Barbel fishing would benefit from a good rise in water and a bit more colour. Also worthy of note: a number of Salmon were holding in this pool revealing themselves during the course of the day; entertained by a family buzzards in the opposite field following a tractor and picking off rodents flushed out by the thresher - a remarkable sight. Just a quick word about John Symonds - a real gentleman, with a scholarly appreciation of Wye salmon fishing - he is also an excellent instructor.

2nd time on this beat on two differnt swims. Boat taffic heavy around midday. Looked like someone was fishing off one canoe. 14 chub to 4lb and 2 barbel to 7lb.