Feedback & Reports

Fishing was tough with the quantity of kayaks and canoes around from 10am until 3.30pm but the chub fed very well. Biggest was 5lb 1oz and biggest barbel being 8lb 2oz. All fish fell to feeder fished pellets and boilies. Fished last swim on the beat into the edge of the fast water. Best action in the evening. Lovely venue but tread carefully when leaving. I fell badly a few times on the walk back as the path is very slippery and narrow.

6 Barbel, 23 Chub

Morning produced a few average size chub, but as expected no barbel in the bright weather conditions. Returning in the evening after 6pm produced 4 barbel up to 7lb-13oz on pellets.

4 Barbel, 4 Chub

Having fished Lower Canon bridge the day before we knew the river conditions and were keen to make a start on a new stretch to us Fownhope 5. Finding the parking easily we loaded up the gear and made the relatively short walk through the field to the river. A quick look at the printed out beat map we made the decision to start at the furthest point down stream and work our way back up towards the car. This entailed conquering a hill as due to a landslide access through the woods is unavailable. I've not personally climbed Mt Kilimanjaro but feel after making the summit of the hill at Fownhope I'm more than ready! With all the gear making it over the hill and too the two available fields was a big effort but well worth it. There are several fishable spots and the use of spikes and ropes open up the availability to a couple more. Finding clear spots between the weed seamed to be the key and this stretch would seem to be home to shoals of chub. Having fished the morning with only chub to show, to K.B, for our efforts and the looming hill ever present for the return journey the call was made to return to the first field and finish the day there. Once back in the first field and suitably recovered from the ascent I dropped into the swim nearest the fishing hut and was soon playing a chub followed by the first barbel of the day. K.B was fishing slightly up from me and had got straight back into pulling out chub. As the day came do a close and K.B still only having caught chub he moved to the top of the stretch and fished off the croy landing a last gasp barbel along with more chub. The day finished with myself on 3 barbel and 1 chub too K.B with 1 Barbel 13 chub and one other, a nice small eel that amused me more than its captor.

4 Barbel, 14 Chub, 1 Other

First time on this beat and with plenty of swims to go at will be back.

4 Barbel, 7 Chub

Found getting to the swims a bit tricky because of the 5ft high stingers and undergrowth but once we had beaten our way through to the river, fishing wasn't to much of a problem. The river was in good order apart from a slight algae bloom which put some colour in but we found it didn't affect the fishing too much. We enjoyed some good sport with both chub and barbel taking our pellet feeder tactics fairly regularly and over the course of the weekend we managed 9 barbel to roughly 9lbs and 6 chub to 5lbs plus.
All in all a great weekend and hope to get back as soon as possible.

9 Barbel, 6 Chub

Halibut pellets hair rigged, best Barbel 6.5lbs. River low/med flow.

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

Canoe traffic horrendous. Not worth fishing between 10am and 6.30pm. More chance of winning lottery than catching a barbel! Sunny with showers. All fish caught on pellets between 7 & 9.30pm. Best barbel approx. 8.8lbs. Best chub approx. 4lb.

5 Barbel, 3 Chub

Feeder/pellets. We'll overgrown banks this time of year. Four swims only available. Being a Saturday lots of canoes which all kept to the other side on seeing me therefore no problem apart from a break in tranquility. Several large salmon jumping. Did not fish for long so may have caught more if I had stayed into the evening. Good advice to travel light. A discharge from local farm coloured the water and appeared to start the fish feeding.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub

First time on the Wye for the 2014 season and the chosen venue was to be the beautiful stretch of Lower Canon Bridge. Having fished the section last season we knew what to expect and was not disappointed although the river level was very low we were still confident. Having given the very helpful Mr Richards a ring prior to arrival we took advantage of the excellent taxi service so stood next the the river with out the normal heavy breathing and aches and pians normally associated with making it from the car to the river! As ever fishing the Wye we adopted the routine of fishing as many swims as possible in an effort to find the fish. Starting up stream and working down we found that the fishing was not going to be easy but kept on till the rods indicated fish present. As mentioned in other reports care needs to be taken in the field down stream as hidden in the long grass are some major holes and gullies which could be the cause of serious injury to any unlucky angler. The fishing was slow but started to pick up in the afternoon by which time we found the fish back in the up stream swims. I drew first blood and landed a nice barbel of around 6lb, K.B then found a few in a swim close by and proceeded to land some very nice barbel to just under 9lb in quick succession. Always pleased to feel the power of Wye barbel we stuck it out in these up stream swims until our taxi arrived! Finishing the day with a tally of K.B on 5 barbel and a chub too my 3 barbel.

8 Barbel, 1 Chub

Great day on the Wye, barbel were keen and in good condition! Can't wait to get back!

13 Barbel, 9 Chub