Feedback & Reports

Arrived at the river around 9am. The conditions were not ideal as the river was very low and clear so took my time to consider my swim choice and decide where i thought the barbel might be. I decided to set up in one of my favourite swims in the wood section of the river. Started with my usual tactics of baiting and waiting and I baited little and often for an hour or so.
Had 2 barbel at 8lb 8oz and 9lb within my first 2 casts and then really struggled from about 10.30am until 4.30pm to get a bite from anything on the barbel rod. Trying lots of different tactics like smaller hook baits, longer hook lengths but couldn't get a bite for love nor money! I did manage to pick up a nice looking pike at 10lb 8oz on the predator rod on a bait fished down the margin towards a fallen tree around 1.30pm.
As the light gently started to fade around 4.30pm it was like a switch had been flicked and it went absolutely crazy...! I'm guessing that a large group of fish had moved onto my baited area and they were keen for some grub as I was getting rod wrenching bites every cast and picking up some beautiful barbel... loads of action. Ended up with 11 barbel in total and a couple of chub at the end of the session. I definitely think that due to the low clear conditions that early morning or later in the afternoon is the one here!!
All barbel taken on paste wrapped boilies and method lead tactics. A great days fishing in the end! Looking forward to coming back!

11 Barbel, 2 Chub, 1 Pike

River very low and clear. This rather shallow beat probably not the best choice in these conditions. At least that's my excuse for not contacting a single barbel all day! A large flock of fieldfares reminded me that winter can't be far away..........

2 Chub

First day of a two day trip, weather a little cold with a easterly wind and a low water level, Caught 5 Barbel to just over 6lbs and chub to 4.8lbs.

5 Barbel, 2 Chub

1st time on the Wye. Legered during morning and blanked. After lunch built up swim trotting maggot. Largest fish, Chub just over 2lb. Really peaceful stretch, just 2 dog walkers and some workmen checking the bridge all day. Thanks for a wonderful day.

5 Barbel, 17 Chub

River still very low and clear. Early morning mist failed to clear and remained all day. Started just below island with no bites on a variety of baits. Early afternoon, moved back upstream to swim to right of access path and connected with decent chub first cast. 6 Chub taken in total, best at 5lb 4oz. Only 1 barbel of 5lb caught shortly after dusk. All fish to usual tactics of feeder and pellet/boilies. With the fog, the low light level and the old church as a backdrop, quite a spooky place to be on Halloween!

1 Barbel, 6 Chub

River low and clear, cloudy/foggy conditions.
Large open end feeders with groundbait and pellet and pellet on hair with 2 foot hooklength.

5 Barbel, 5 Chub

Very little flow on a low and clear river. The weather was overcast and very mild. All fish were taken from the bottom of the beat with legered pellet.

5 Barbel

A tough day, river very low and clear, fished towards the bottom end with not a touch. One of those days where you think are they just not feeding yet or am I in the wrong place. Moved eventually and probably too late, but had a 5lb barbel first cast in new swim and had a few other knocks after that. Misty all day. Enjoyable and very relaxing day.

1 Barbel

First time on this stretch. Booked as part of anniversary weekend for me and my wife Becci hoping she could finally catch her first barbel. Track down the field was a bit ropey in my estate car and better suited a 4x4 but we managed - a bit of wheel spin on the way back up so I'd think twice before heading down there in a non-4x4 in wet weather but I'm sure the farmer would let you park at the top and walk down if you asked nicely.
Read a few reports about lack of swims - I can assure people that there are plenty of swims, at least in the relatively low flow conditions we had. Some towards the upper end are a little bit difficult but there is more accessible water than a couple of anglers could fish in one session without question. If you want perfectly manicured swims I suggest you stick to commercial fisheries. Absolutely nothing wrong with this beat.
Now the fishing - first fish out was an 8lb 3oz barbel to my wife. Hearing her nervous giggling as the reel screamed was an absolute delight. After that it all went very quiet apart from the odd salmon jumping and a few pike hitting fish at the surface so we moved downstream a bit - wish we'd done that earlier! 5 mins after moving my wife had her 2nd barbel and shortly after that I had one at 7lb 1oz. We finished with 4 barbel each, lost a couple, had a 4lb chub and then a few dace and a wee troot on trotted maggots - if you could be tempted away from the barbel (all caught on pellet) you could have great fun trotting on this stretch. If we'd moved earlier / had longer before dark we would have certainly added another couple of barbel to our tally. Also watched a kingfisher feeding throughout the day. One of my best fishing days ever and over the moon that my wife managed to catch her first barbel and that it was such a good size fish. Barbel ranged from 4lb up to 8lb 3oz. Great day, thanks to beat owner and WUF.

1 Trout, 8 Barbel, 1 Chub, 6 Other

Most of the stretch is shallow and full of streamer weed, unsuitable for lure fishing for pike at this time of the year.