Feedback & Reports

Started the day at lower end of beat. As others have said much of this beat is totally inaccessible due to steep and overgrown banks. 5 barbel caught by 3 rods best fish just over 8lb. River up slightly but no weed problems here. (is this because we are above Hereford??)

I only fished the morning and even then I had a break to join the other half for breakfast. Started at the top end of left bank but no bites, moved down to lower end and had a barbel of 6ish first cast. Returned after breakfast and had 3 chub in quick succession, all quiet then until I was thinking of leaving, then had one more barbel a little smaller than the first. A lovely short stretch for the time I had available, all fish caught on pellet.
Thanks again WUF!

This report covers 4 rods on wyebank and courtfield on 19 Sept, 2 rods on courtfield on 20 & 21 Sept.

Sorry we did not keep exact catch records, but the party caught a fair number of barbel with at least three double figure barbel and a couple of five pound chub from the upstream swims in the meadow. The average size of barbel and chub was significantly larger than other beats, and the whole stretch was well kept and an extremely enjoyable venue. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Baits varied, hemp and pellet probably taking most fish.

The outstanding aspect of these beats, however, is the personal attention and advice from both the riparian owner and the baliff. Both were true gentlemen, and devoted hours to ensuring that all the party were in the best possible swims, using the best tactics for the conditions.

15.30 to 18.00hrs. Overcast with sunny intervals and river level slowly rising but clear. Waded out to Island and used a heavy ledger to hold bottom solid as rolling ledger unusually produced no bites. Difficult cast 20yds downstream on edge of willows to deeper area but 3 prime barbel, 6 to 9lbish on large halibut pellet (again unusual no bites on luncheon meat) banded to 8 hook on 3ft hooklength. Used all the 2lb test curve to bring fish upstream through flow but all recovered quickly on return.
Saw a long furred jet black mink on far bank with what appeared to be an 18inch grass-snake dead in its mouth, hope its passing through!
Can anyone explain why nearly all barbel I catch are hooked in the fishes right side of lower lip??

Did a check on the beat on Sunday evening - it was low and gin clear. Spotted lots of fish before we left and got a good feeling about the day ahead.
Arrived at 6am, what a difference. Gone was the gin to be replaced by chocolate. My heart sank as we sat up our rods. A whole tree drifted past followed by clumps of weed and branches of all sizes. We started off next to the car park as it still looked fishy, but the debris being washed down made it almost impossible to keep a bait static. Plan B - we went past the orchard to the open field and tried to find slower stretches. 2 hours in Tom (river virgin) hooked into a barbel that got off but it lifted the mood. Half an hour later a shout from Tom - I helped him net his first ever barbel at 6 1/2lb, he was well chuffed. I found a gap between 2 overhanging trees and found chub and dace providing good sport. The largest chub was about 4lb and in good nick. It went dead about 3pm so we went back to the swim we tried in the morning and eventually Darren got a fish - a lovely chub of about 3 1/2lb but he was still mad about missing a brilliant bite that nearly pulled his rod in.
It was about 7.30 and on my last cast I hooked into a barbel. I called it a day after netting an 8 1/2lb fish which fought like mad in the fast water. Could have fished on but had a 4 hour drive back and we thought we'd finish on a high and build up the antisipation for next visit.
Great stretch of river. Will be back and Tom is now no longer a muddy puddle man - it's rivers all the way. Thanks WUF.

1st day of a weeks fishing on the Wye. River quite low and clear but managed 20 Barbel between 3 rods. Best fish around 7lb

Approx 22 fish between 2 rods mostly barbel to 8lb 4ozs.
The bulk were caught in the early part of the day but odd fish caught off and on all day including as the canoes passed. Canoe traffic lighter now and mostly well behaved with only the odd out of control one causing lines to be hastily retrieved.

What a delightful place to fish. Even the car parking spot would make a grand place for a picnic. Splendid scenery, atmospheric and interesting stretch of river.
River quite low again but still holding a tinge of colour. Drifting weed a nuisance in a couple of swims. Fished four good looking swims without a bite until finding fish in the fifth, and caught 8 barbel in final 2 hours. Best fish was a new pb for the Wye at 9:10 - a lovely deep-bodied specimen.
I dunno which books the Wye barbel read, but the swims they sometimes inhabit don't always conform to expectation!

Bright sun shine & a low river meant it was going to be a hard day. Morning - 2 rods fishing top meadow on the island, one on the feeder one on the float. The feeder rod had a nil catch, with plenty of dace and chub on the float. Third rod went roving middle meadow.
1pm - 5pm, 3 rods in middle meadow, one small barbel and 3 chub on pellet for one rod. Lots of small dace, chublets and roach on maggots for the other two rods.
5pm walk back to top meadow, 3 rods in one swim for a chat and coffee thinking of going due to no sign of fish and poor river condisions. 6pm and at last some cloud cover - what a difference. Finished fishing at 8pm with 3 rods casting all over the river taking a total of 20 barbel and 4 chub.

What an end to the day. My best fishing experience ever. Sugwas is a lovely beat - we didnt see a soul all day. Can't wait until How Caple Court next weekend.

21 barbel to 8lbs, approx 30 chub to 5lbs. Fantastic days fishing in great surroundings, all caught on pellets and sweetcorn. Many thanks to Colin Richardson for puting us in the right spot!