Feedback & Reports

Caught 13 barbel, all on pellets.
Long walk from car park.

Took a few hours out from a family holiday to enjoy the delights of the River Wye. I definitely picked the wrong day! The weather was horrendous and, being a non-fishing holiday, I was poorly equipped for the conditions! Lost 1 barbel and caught another around 8lbs. Whilst playing the fish, slipped over twice in the muddy conditions created by the torrential rains. Plenty of bites in this swim too but unfortunately safety first meant I had to move and caught nothing else. 4 hours fishing and I think I was wetter than the barbel I was trying to catch! Lovely stretch, definitely more like a 3/4 mile walk!

7 chub from 3lb to 5lb. 4 barbel 5lb, 6lb,4oz, 8lb 6oz and 10lb 11oz, all caught on corn.

Poured with rain from early morning until about 3pm. Almost didn't bother to make the journey. Arrived about 12.30pm and managed to climb down bank to swim to be greeted by the river pushing through and chocolate in colour for the first third of the way across.
Tried fishing beyond this to no avail then decided to fish close in, which produced barbel about 6lbs in the first 5 minutes in the pouring rain. Ten minutes later second bite and fish took off like a train eventually brought to the net about five minutes later. Opening the net looked like a double so unhooked it and took quick picture with my forceps beside the fish to give me some idea of scale of fish. As it was pouring with rain at the time I quickly weighed fish and was disappointed to see it go to 6lbs 12oz on scales, then returned fish. It was then when I was ready to start fishing again I noticed the scales were set on kgs, so it was 13lbs plus! Caught 3 more barbel to 7lb+ all on halibut pellets. Later scaling of photo showed fish to be at least 32" long.

Started at approx 3pm, barbel being our target. Chose a sociable swim on the right hand bank, fishing within talking distance of each other. We did not have long to wait for the fist rod wrenching bite - 2 minutes to be exact!! Bright sunshine and a little southerly breeze made no difference to the barbel today. The fishing was full on for the first 3 hrs: 12 barbel to 8.5lbs and 5 chub to 4lbs and 5 fished bumped off on the take. Baits which caught were blitz pellets banded, 12mm halibut hair rigged, sweetcorn, chilli meat,(which accounted for a 2.5lbs eel)and 2 of the chub came to bread flake.
We also met the owner of the beat and his Labrador, had a very enjoyable chin-wag to boot. Fantastic place, thanks for a splendid day. We will be back.

6 barbel to 7lb 8oz and a 4lb+ chub. Nice warm evening promised more; what's to be dissappointed with in this lovely setting?
Should have got there earlier and had fun with trotting gear in an ideal swim in the middle of the beat.

5 barbel to 6lb and 7 chub to 3.5lb. River low and very clear.

I had to work quite hard for my fish and after lots of moves I ended the day with 5 barbel to 7lb and 3 chub to 4lb. My companion stuck it out in one swim all day and caught barbel to 8.25lb and a solitary chub. However, it was a lovely day and the threatened showers didn't materialise - so no complaints!

Caught 4 barbel.
Access to swims was quite difficult in many places.

7 barbel - a low 7, two low 8's, and a 9.7 plus 3 others, plus that ruddy eel. Several with significant hook damage - I use de-barbed 14's.
Had to cast and rove around a bit, all from Leg Meadow swims, river at near 'normal' summer level and clear.
As the road noise diminishes and the setting sun gets out of your eyes behind the tall pines, the place takes on the Wye magic atmosphere. Pretty reasonble for an evening session with the just the one, home-made and Indian-looking, canoe.