Feedback & Reports

2 rods fished 4.30pm - dusk on Thursday 11th and all day Friday 12th, one a relatively experienced Barbel fisherman and the other hoping to catch his first Barbel. On Thursday we caught 17 Chub and 6 Barbel between us - naturally the biggest Barbel at 8:12 fell to the beginner! The fish went really mad for the last hour.

On Friday we caught 18 Chub and 8 Barbel between us - fishing was OK throughout the day, but oddly the river went completely dead from 7.00pm when the full moon rose above the horizon and we didn't get a bite after that point.

Plonkers with paddles mercifully absent today, just a few good-mannered groups and family crews. Sadly, the fish also went missing. Well no, they were there, safely tucked underneath the bank-to-bank streamer weed festooning the 70 per cent shallows that comprise this beat. It was hot, bright and clear and they would not look at baits on 8lb bs rigs (no point going lower, you simply wouldn't land any barbel hooked). Probably emerged to mop up all my free offerings under cover of darkness, by which time I was struggling manfully up Cardiac Hill to the car, with no barbel and only a smattering of chub of no great size to my credit. Conclusion: Probably a better autumn and winter venue than in this low water spell.

Plenty of variety of water for barbel. Spent a leisurely morning walking the lower half spotting barbel feeding on the extensive weedy shallower (4ft+) stretches, and other spots. Fished the shallows but canoes activity and lunchtime called a halt after one 4lb chub.
Back in the evening targeting the other spots for 25 barbel from 2lb to 8lb 8oz with plenty of 7's and the rest (enough!) 4 to good 6's.
The boulders and rocks are generally flat throughout with a downstream shadow so suitable techniqe will mitigate tackle loss. I lost 3 feeders and one rig, 2 of the feeders bumping off at the net with the 5lb'ers that just will not give up. Also two barbel taking seconds after the feeder dropped as did many; probably foul-hooked as I got back scales. Adjusted the rig to stop that with smaller hook and longer hookling and went on for an eventful evening.
Access and security using the upstream point I thought was very good throughout, with gentle approaches to the water and several swims already there, but you had to look for them. Nice and away-from-it-all and many options for the future.

3 days fishing with A.T who will I am sure enter his own catch report. 14 barbel over the three days to 8.25 lbs. 6 chub to 2lbs. 3 small eels. All on pellet/paste. Very quiet during the day.....watched a fine pair of sandpipers feeding in the margins. Evenings were the most productive time. Lots of cut weed coming down for the whole three days.

River is very low and clear but with a stealthy approach and sensible tackle the sport was great this evening. Fished hemp and corn, 1oz closed end feeder straight through to 12 hook. It was fish a cast and even had barbel feeding in full view. Conditions are tough, but it's satisfying to adapt to them and still catch barbel as if it were a 3 foot warm flood in September. Finished with a dozen to 8lb ish. A few small chub were also caught, and salmon moving regularly.

I arrived at 08:30 and started fishing about 09:30 at the bottom of beat. The river was down about 8 inches from the last time I fished here at the end of June. The flow was still strong and the conditions looked excellent. I feeder fished pellet into the middle of the river into fast water and had bites straight away. My friend RH arrived about 10am and right on cue my rod tip hooped over and I was into the first barbel of the session which, at 6lb 6oz, was my biggest from the Wye. Keen to get started RH scurried off to his chosen swim just up the bank on the bottom crib and was into a chub within seconds of his first cast hitting the bottom. He used similar tactics to myself and had a total of around 10 smallish chub and barbel. We both suffered a blank period with no bites whatsoever from around 12:00 - 16:30. I switched to luncheon meat around 5pm and had an eel of about 1.5lbs. The action picked up later in the early evening when I had a new personal best barbel of 8lb 12.5oz followed immediately by another of 6lb 8oz, both to pellet. Another excellent day's fishing and I can't wait to come back and bring my dad here!!

Fished from 2pm with no luck - at about 8-30pm the action started and I ended with 2 barbel and 4 decent chub in the next hour. Conditions poor - very low with lots of weed coming down.

7 chub 2.5lb to 3.75lb, 1 barbel 4lb. A very enjoyable day bringing back fond memories of my youth. The chub were caught on luncheon meat and bread, and the barbel was taken on sweetcorn. A big thank you to Ian Boney for suggesting such a good swim. I shall be back!

Had the beat booked for three days with SE but really only fished for the first two. Had run out of steam by Wednesday as the fishing was not easy. So was fairly pleased with 11 barbel including 2 over 8lb and one just over 9lb in what were not ideal conditions, low water, very weedy and mostly sunny. Hence most fish came out in the evenings.

What a fantastic bit of water. Like the previous day, the level was low and it was very bright for most of the day. Fished had from 7am until about 3pm, but remained fish-less. Still, I can't think of a better place to blank, with salmon jumping and kingfishers darting all around. I'd rather blank 100 days on the trot here, fishing for wild fish in amazing scenery, than fish a muddy pool stuffed with carp. Thanks WUF - will be back!