Feedback & Reports

River was low and clear but I found a deeper gulley by the old viaduct (the lowest swim). I had 14 barbel half were caught in the last hour of daylight with hair rigged elips pellet fish over pellet and hemp. The canoe traffic was busy but the barbel seem to be used to it. The bailiff was very helpfull and welcoming and I am definately coming back.

14 Barbel

Water level was very low grounding some of the many canoeists who seemed to take great delight in disturbing as much water as they could. We only managed 1 small barbel between us, trying various baits and methods. Please note the upper limit is marked by a yellow topped post and we used a foot path along the field edge to the ford stream area, slightly different to the beat map.
I would recommend anybody fishing this beat to talk to Adam Fisher the bailiff first as he was most helpful. Our thanks to him.

1 Barbel

Caught 5 barbel, all from the middle of the beat.

5 Barbel

Although the river is my favourite place to fish and would love to be able to fish it on a regular basis my day on Saturday was a blank session due to the river being crystal clear and very low!
After walking the whole section to locate some barbel to target rather than fishing blind I eventually came across a nice looking deeper glide with barbel holding nicely in it but unfortunately another angler had beat me to it and was fishing there already from the other bank !
I did manage to find another very small group of fish in shallow water but as soon as I introduced a tiny amount of bait they spooked away never to be seen again !
Apart from my fishless trip I hope to return soon as its such a magical place

Now I know where to find the fish, had another great day at this very picturesque beat. No joy in my initial spot, but after I found where there was depth and flow it was a fish a cast - despite losing a lot of rigs initially in the weed and very rocky bottom in places. The river was very low again and absolutely gin clear, but the secret was definitely to find some depth and flow. Not a single chub all day but barbel from 5lbs to 12lbs and a total of seven doubles. All fish caught on 2x12ml sonubaits ellipse pellets glued to a hair rig on a 15 inch hook link of 12lbs breaking strain, with micro-pellets in a large drennan flat-bed closed end feeder. Not a touch on smaller pellets, boillies, ground bait in the feeder or a longer hook-link. All fish caught on my 2.25lbs test curve Daiwa Infinity specialist babel rod with 15lbs TFT Gear red mist mainline and a size 10 Guru hook. I fished until 8pm and would have stayed in to the evening if I hadn't realised my head torch had packed in! The only slight down sides to the day were the noise and activity in the National Trust property opposite, having 5 canoes hit my line despite my giving them early warning, and having to remove previous hooks and line from 3 fish - but having said all that I can't wait to get back to this excellent Wye & Usk beat.

27 Barbel

Perfect days fishing ruined by canoes. Had one small barbel early on the pellet then canoes appeared need I say more.

River low and very clear. This is a difficult beat having fished it twice now. I caught two smallish Chub on trotted bread crust, and a third small one on meat. A lot of weed coming down which made fishing a feeder difficult at times. The beat no doubt holds some good fish, but it may be easier in the Autumn I believe. An easy stretch to reach from my home near Woodstock, Oxfordshire, 1 hour 30 mins door to door.

3 Chub

All fish to pellet, weather sunny and warm. River low and clear. If someone wanted to target chub exclusively, lots and lots about.

5 Barbel, 5 Chub

Hard work, flummoxed as to how to fish this beat, however caught six Chub all above two pounds and two eels. The river was very low, and just like last time the extraction pump was going all day, its very noisy.
All were caught on luncheon meat. This is the second time I have fished this beat. Although I like it, the beat offers limited access, and the water extraction pump spoils the day.

6 Chub, 2 Other

River low and clear. Several nice looking swims fished but both rods blanked. Spectacular scenery and great banks for sleeping! Fished with pellet and little optimism.
Excellent service from W&U.