Feedback & Reports

A few things notched off the bucket list today, fishing the Wye, catching a Barbel and catching a good sized Chubb. Fantastic epic venue.

1 Barbel, 6 Chub

Fished early morning through to late afternoon for 1 Eel and 1 lost Barbel that cut off on mid river snag. Beat looked great but just wasn't our day as even trotting wouldn't throw up a fish. Overnight rain had meant track down to river would be tricky unless in 4x4 and were advised by farmer to park in farmyard and walk down to river, glad we did as further rain during day would have meant a struggle to get back up.
At lunchtime couple of 'locals' joined us who claimed farmer allowed them to fish if beat not fully booked, they were polite and asked if we minded but shame they dropped onto the croy from which I had been trotting when talking to them and had fed earlier in the hope of a Barbel, especially as they claimed only after pike and seemed to be fishing for the Barbel!
Did spot a couple of otters patrolling the far bank but not sure we can blame them for what was a disappointing day for us.

1 Other

The river was as low as we had ever seen and, sadly, our two favourite swims had received severe pruning back of the trees bordering the swims removing refuge places for the fish. We tried three different swims but not a touch all day. Two barbel and a chub in the last hour. A difficult day.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Weather very changeable alternating between showers and sunshine. Caught a dozen fish the best being an 11" WBT. Succeeded with a mixture of a small dry caddis and a Jon Barnes (Onstreamguide) rainbow beaded flash back caddis nymph. Water was very low but enough to entertain. Lower end of beat before the rocks was best. Used a 5wt 9' rod.

7 Trout, 5 Grayling

Low clouds and some long awaited rain coincided with our visit to the Creel and we arrived with some hope on this lovely venue.Fishing was steady all day and much to our delight we bagged a few hard fighting Barbel a couple of which were just over 9lb...Packing up at dusk we also had the pleasure to meet the owner of the beat who is a really nice accommodating fellow..Needless to say but we thanked him profoundly on behalf of all WUF anglers for allowing us to fish this fantastic beat and was a pleasing end to a great day..!!

11 Barbel, 2 Chub

Arrived just after the morning rain had stopped to find the river a bit low but with plenty of flow, as usual here. I started with a bite after five minutes and hooked but lost a small barbel and thought I was going to have a typical Wyebank day with several small fish and the odd larger one. However, there was no more action until late afternoon, when I hooked and lost three chub in the weeds. The day was not going well, but I landed the next chub, a lovely fish weighing a whisker under 5lbs. As evening drew on I at last had a barbel, of about 5lbs, followed by another good chub, a bit smaller than the first. Meat was the preferred bait today.

1 Barbel, 2 Chub

6 Trout

Spent a couple of hours at Dinas. Lots of small wbt popping the surface of the pools but never worked out how to catch them - we both tried everything in our box - patterns, sizes, method! Nowt!

1 Barbel

Only fished a few hours in the morning and evening in the end, as fishing was very slow in the low water conditions. Rob took a brace of 7s fishing the streamiest water available, late in the day.

2 Barbel