Feedback & Reports

River level looking good at last, but rained all day. Seems like the barbel have moved from their low water tightly shoaled areas, as the usual spot only gave 2 small ones for me. Wobbly legged dad managed a load of chub and as we were packing up I looked upriver to see him, rod hooped over, trying to pull a barbel from the far bank snags while sat in a pile of mud. I did laugh.

He took a tumble trying to save his rod which was rapidly disappearing into the river and without his crutches couldn't do much but sit there in the mud and try to haul it out. To his credit, he didn't lose it and finally got his first barbel this year at about 6lb. :) Happy, soggy days.


p.s. Should be noted that the field and track to the river was still very solid on leaving, but the small area between the inner gates was getting slippy and if the rain continues, the safest way to get in/out will be to open the two inner gates at the same time, and drive straight through without stopping. Stopping between gates is going to create a mudbath and make future visits a bit more difficult.

I chose not to move around much in view of the incessant rain, but nevertheless put together a good bag of fish. Eight barbel to around 8lb and a similar number of chub to about 4lb.

Drove down from Lincolnshire in the morning, and it rained heavy all afternoon. Foy bridge is a nice little beat for 2 rods for a few hours sport. We caught 3 barbel of 4-5lb and several chub all on halibut pellets.

Barbel fishing is all about a good yomp in natural countryside, battling brambles and nettles and Lower Ballingham fits the bill perfectly. I loved it.

There are plenty of spots with easy access to the river. I had a great day. Fished the entire length, catching loads of chub and stopped (again) at nine barbel. All were in fantastic condition - and almost too easy to catch! I checked their mouths and don't believe any of them had been caught before.

I can't quite describe the feeling, but it was close to one of guilt for taking advantage of their vulnerability. Think I'll just take a pike rod next time.

Like all of us waiting for the rain to arrive and found we were lucky with a foot of water on the river! Started to fish at the top end of the field in the deep slower water. Was bit slow to start catching chub most of the day and ending up with 12 chub from 2lb to 4lb followed up with 4 barbel between 5lb and 8lb loosing 2 (with a shake of the head) all caught on the meat and pellet! However my fishing buddy done much better catching 10 barbel all between 5lb and 8lb and loosing 2 also! caught steady on pellet! even with the 20 or so swans feeding infront of us!

Just the one Barbel, 8lb 1oz and lost another in the morning. But the highlight for me was spotting an otter, though appreciate that may not be good news for the fish. Returned in the evening for a couple of hours but nothing doing. Enjoyable trip despite the lack of fish.

I think we were lucky to catch the river fining down nicely after last week's much needed flush of rain.
I had 6 barbel to 9lb from 3 different swims, and 3 chub to 4lb. Fish caught on pellets and little boilies.
J M caught 5 barbel to over 7lb and lost what seemed to be a bigger one on last cast of the day.
We both suffered the obligatory losses of feeders and end rigs - I wonder how many feeders and hooks festoon the Wye barbel pools!
A good day's fishing on this lovely river in beautiful countryside - worth the 200 mile round trip.
Just one observation which slightly takes the edge off the fishing... When I started looking I noticed that most of my fish had other quite fresh hook marks in their mouths. One fish had evidence of three recent hookings. It seems to be a feature of the Wye that the barbel tend to be concentrated in quite small areas. With the continual increase in angling pressure, some of these shoals are being fished for every day. Just an observation - and as this has been our first year fishing the Wye, I admit to being part of the problem. The fish don't seem to come to harm and the fishing is too good to pass by. I wonder if the barbel will eventually become as wary of tackle as the fish on our local Avon and Stour.
This short beat gives a very nice day's fishing for two anglers, with easy access and enough likely swims to be interesting.
Thanks WUF

Having struggled on White House beat with weed and wet weather with only one lost fish between us. Sunday saw us on Middle Hill Court with glorious weather and a river carrying a foot or so of extra water. We spent the day on feeder tactics with hemp/pellets, hookbait-larger pellets.
Chose a lovely nearbank glide below the small rapids towards the top of the beat but drew a blank. Spent the afternoon in a couple of swims in the middle of the beat and G Gordon caught his first ever barbel of 6.5lb, 7lb, and 7.5lb. Unfortunately we had to leave for home having finally located some fish. Great weekend and great service, thanks.

Started at Backney on Friday 20th with river very low and clear and in appalling weather, heavy rain and driving wind. Managed 1 barbel between the 4 of us.

Middle Hill Court on Saturday 21st saw us fare little better with either the fish or the weather. Adam (baliff) kindly came and spent a little time with us, a thoroughly nice guy who gave us lots of advice. However, despite Adam's advice, a rapidly rising / colouring river and fishing well into dusk we only managed 2 barbel between us!

Whitehouse on Sunday 22nd at least saw improved weather conditions but despite the flush of much needed water the fishing was still slow. We had 5 barbel all told falling to 2 rods with the best at 8-3. There were a few chub caught but nothing worthwhile and the majority of the barbel were taken on pellet although a variety of baits were tried.

8 barbel between 3 of us. The newly cut swims below the Vanstone pool were the most productive. Fish fed all day but with more gusto in the evening. Boilie the best bait.