Feedback & Reports

1 Trout

Report same as 23/06/21

Zero fish caught

Fished for about 3hrs after work, 6.30pm - 9.30pm. A few fish on nymphs from riffley sections in the first part of the evening, until the fish really started looking up as dusk fell. Another 5 vibrant Arrow fish - rich yellow bellies and bright red spots in big halos - fell to a size 18 CDC dun, with as many again missed connections/long distance releases. But I think the highlight of the evening was my closest ever encounter with an otter. I was hunkered down on my knees, tucked into the bank, trying to avoid spooking a small pod of rising fish in one of the slow, clear pools, and give myself enough room to cast underneath all the bankside foliage. About 15 yards upstream of me, he plopped into the water from the opposite bank, swam down the pool and set about harassing the trout I'd so painstakingly stalked - a magical, incredibly frustrating thing to watch in clear, shallow water. Eventually he popped his head up, close enough that I could have tapped him on the nose with my rod tip, took one look at me and disappeared down stream with a splash, which I took as my cue to call it a night.

8 Trout

I walked most of this fishery the previous day checking to were swims are plus how safe there are, found very few places that Ok to fish from and decided to fish a swim in the woods that had somewhere to sit quite comfortable in and then had a small very steep path to water side to land and return fish. I only fished for a few hours in the morning, had first Barbel within ten mins of first cast and a small chubb of about 2 lbs quickly after, it then rained for a couple of hours during which time I did not have any further takes. When it stopped raining I almost immediately had another Barbel , but when landing this I found the path to water side was now so slippery that I almost went in on way down and had to scramble up grabbing greenery by side on the path to help pull myself up after I had returned to Barbel, I then packed up, not worth a swim to catch a fish. This could be a very good fishery If the Fishery management team did a bit more to improve swims. In the field section (down stream from woods) the swims on the opposite bank look great.
Fishing Passport Note: the banks of both the Wye and Usk are protected as a Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). There are, therefore, strict limits as to what can be done with regards bank clearance, which has to be done sensitively and in compliance with the law. Inevitably there will be many inaccessible sections, especially in the peak bank growth months of July and August. We ask all anglers to please bear this in mind when booking Fishing Passport beats and not to assume fishery managers are not doing their job if some areas are overgrown.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Caught 3 rainbows and 2 browns all on fly towards the top end. There were beetles on the water and the trout were taking. Pack your beetle imitations if you have any. Great day's fishing. Lots of action. All trout in great condition and hard fighting.

5 Trout

After hearing all the negative comments on pricing, and because I’m from the Black Country and value every pound (i.e., I’m tight), I arrived at first light determined to stay til dusk, to ensure I got my money’s worth. I then proceeded to throw at least sixty quid’s worth of hemp, pellets and meat into the river over a 16 hour period, thus making for a very expensive fishing trip.

Nonetheless, a very enjoyable day on a beautiful stretch of river. As it was a Thursday, the hordes of holiday makers, sunbathers and canoe ruffians I’d heard about were few and far between – instead I was only briefly joined by a few dog walkers, a bloke flying a drone and a frisky couple on the beach bit who were quick to get dressed when they spotted my rod.

Maybe they’re the reason the guy was flying the drone.

General comments – the beat is stunning and it’s a bonus to be able to drive the full length, but bank access is very poor bordering on non-existent apart from the top and bottom end. I loved being there but £45 is way too much, especially when the Brummie lads on the opposite bank pay that for an entire year for the same stretch and another gazillion miles of the Severn, Teme etc.

Fish wise, caught 8 or 9 chub, one bad tempered eel that managed to knot himself into a pretzel and a stonking barbel.

That was the highlight of the day, stalking to catch a barbel.

Through my Poundland Polaroids, I’d spotted a huge shoal of big, big barbel in low water but the only way to get at em was by channelling my inner Ray Mears to fashion a fishing peg from the roots of an elderflower bush (I think, I’m not good with nature). Somehow I managed to get into a fishing position at the foot of a 20 foot drop, defying gravity by lowering my 16 stone Black Country self down a slippy 70 degree bank whilst grabbing only a B & M dog spike and a chubby handful of nettles. Once in place I managed a single under arm cast with a small cube of meat, resulting almost immediately in a massive take from a hungry 8 pound barbel.

The fight was pretty scary, almost as if the fish knew from where I was sitting that he could just as easily pull me in as I pull him out. It was close fought but eventually the fatter man won and photographic proof is below.

Possibly the most exciting way to catch a fish ever.

1 Barbel, 9 Chub, 1 Other

Great day on a very low river. First cast PB Chub just shy of 6lb, plus a 9 1/2lb barbel. All together with a 9oz Dace caught on 12mm pellet and feeder.
Access to swims recently cleared, many thanks, great work.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub, 1 Other

A great days fishing. Spent much of the day in the faster flowing upper reaches.
Lovely pristine chub to 4lb
2 barbel
1 dace

2 Barbel, 24 Chub, 1 Other

Mmmmm, tough day on one of my favourite venues as the water was rather low. However, I did have a 9lb Barbel on the first cast of the day, but that turned out to be 'first cast curse' as that was the last bit of action I saw. My mate had a Chub later on in the day, but that was it. However, we will be back!

1 Barbel, 1 Chub