Feedback & Reports

Tough going on a normally prolific beat. The barbel seemed reluctant to feed, other than for a brief period in the late afternoon. The overnight frost probably had something to do with this, as the river itself seemed in perfect condition. We both caught barbel, just not in the numbers we expected for the conditions.

3 Barbel, 3 Chub

A lovely beat with the river in perfect condition. All fish taken on pellet.

10 Barbel, 3 Chub

This beat is fast and shallow. Tried all fishable spots and managed to find one barbel about 7lb at the end of the day from the last swim on the L/H bank. It put up a great fight in the fast swirling water.

1 Barbel

Fog and mist cleared near to lunchtime and the first bite came all fish on pellet.

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

Cracking river. Well worth the trip. 8lb barbel on heavy feeders and meat paste and a pb 20lb 11oz pike on meat paste believe it or not. Very shocked when it surfaced with the line in its scissors. Very good day. Amazing river. Will be back after summer lows.

1 Barbel, 1 Pike

Apart from the map showing the parking position incorrectly and an electric fence across the alternative, a nice day.
A dull cloudy day with the river a few feet up with a tinge of colour and extra velocity. Started at midday and used small pellets. The Barbel came at regular intervals. Catching five to 8lb 4oz and losing a sixth.

5 Barbel

First time I've booked this beat so took me a bit of time to decide what to do with it.
River colour was good and it was less than a meter up but pushing through strongly.
Access to the beat is good with parking for one vehicle at both ends of the beat with an easy flat walk along the whole length of the beat. Quite a straight beat with a large bend at the end so limited options if the water levels are high but should be more to go at with normal levels.
Ground was firm on Wednesday but I could see evidence that someone had difficulty getting off the parking so care should be taken in wet conditions. Looks like recent floods have battered the banks and eroded what must have once been nicely carved out pegs.
Salmon anglers were working away along the opposite bank and were polite.
Tried a few swims around the middle and at the bottom end of the beat but the Barbel eluded me. Persevered with maggot on the float before giving up and reaching for my faithful barbel rod to chuck the feeder with hemp and maggots. Managed to tempt seven lovely Chubb in fin perfect condition ranging from around two and a half up to four and a half pounds from the faster water. Great to be out on my favorite river, many thanks to the Wye and Usk Foundation for being so helpful and finding me a decent beat at short notice.

7 Chub

River still above normal height, fast and just over the cribs. To fish midstream meant big feeders (4-5oz) and moving around to find a fish. Enjoyable day but fish hard to come by.

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

A fresh but dry day with the river fining down after the recent floods. Catch wise very disappointing with the only fish to show were one barbel (7lb 9oz) during the morning caught on double sweet corn and after moving up stream a chub around 3lb late in the afternoon on meat.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

We decided to move downstream today where the river was slower and deeper in the hope of locating fish. As we approached the area we were met with the nice view of a dorsal fin of a barbel breaking the water & proceeded to see a fair few fish throughout the day at least giving us some hope. Unfortunately we made no early breakthroughs and it wasn't until 5.30pm when my rod butt flew up. As I caught the rod and tightened up it immediately broke. Upon retrieval I had lost my feeder and hook length with the stem of the feeder left above stop. I presume the hook length got lassoed around feeder and caused the break when the barbel took. My mate was having better luck and 30mins later landed a nice specimen just under 9lb on pellet.

1 Barbel