Feedback & Reports

70 Barbel, 4 Chub

Fishing small flies through some of the faster water in the beat with 6 inches on the Llanstephan gauge and on hot and sticky evening with occasional rain. Nothing to report except accidental trout and chub. Fish showing in the Millstream and Neck of Rectory.

1 Trout

River low and clear, no fish caught or seen.
Parking place outside the hotel full of picnic benches and flower pots! Parked in hotel car park.

Having spent two sessions broiling on the preceding two days elsewhere and with only one half pound Barbel to show for my efforts I was really looking forward to today. I followed the advice of an earlier visitor and given the very low and clear conditions headed for the bottom of the beat where the river channels into a fast flowing bend before meeting the River Lugg. The action was slow but steady and I ended up with 5 Barbel - the best just shy of 9lb and 5 Chub averaging 2lb. Very challenging but rewarding session in a very, very snaggy swim. O lost four Barbel - I suspect there are some very sharp rocks as the hooklength came back sheared straight through. Midway through the morning I was enjoying the lack of traffic noise - seems to be an inescapable feature of many spots in the Wye Valley - when the farmer came and started up his generator in the field opposite. If visiting best pack some earplugs and make sure you carry your rod license - I had a visit from a pair of EA Bailiffs who were very friendly once they had checked my licenses. We had a good chat and they took my picture for their Twitter feed! Finally praise for the pristine condition of the fishery - the banks were immaculate. Whoever does this deserves a pat on the back.

5 Barbel, 5 Chub

3 Other

Hot day and river running well but clear. Started at top end of beat with a couple of chub and barbel. Then moved to wooded mid section trotting float and bread flake to catch plenty of chub. Moved back to top of beat later in afternoon and had single Barbel which was best fish of the day at about 6-7lb.

3 Barbel, 20 Chub

Started the day on the very end peg on left bank (near sign) after the rapids. Difficult peg to fish (over hanging trees) but nearly a bite every cast which all turned out to be chub with the biggest about 4lb. Move later in the day to a deeper run looking for the barbel and fished the middle section. 6 barbel followed all on pellet biggest about 6lb. River looked very low but enjoyable day. Not many swims to fish but a small beat with enough accessible pegs and with some water I would expect the catch returns to rise but on this occasion 6 barbel and 12 chub we were more than happy with.

6 Barbel, 12 Chub

7 Barbel, 11 Chub

river low and clear and harder going than monday when we fished the same beat

14 Barbel