Feedback & Reports

Very nice stretch of the Wye. River levels were up slightly following a few weeks of very low levels (from what I read on previous reports) with some colour to it.
Conditions were overcast at first with a bit of rain, however this then turned to bright sunshine for the rest of the day.
Caught 4 Barbel to 8.5lbs and 8 Chub to 4lbs between us. All fish were caught using open ended feeder with pellet/groundbait and CBS River Monster hook baits.
I was concerned about the Water pipe/hump on the track that people have reported on. This needs attention as a lower vehicle could bottom out/ cause damage to undercarriage. My A4 Avant was OK over it but only just.

4 Barbel, 8 Chub

The river was falling from a flood. It was about 1ft above the summer level and a good colour. Had a fantastic day with a client catching throughout the day. 3 x 8lbers were about the largest and a 5lbs 6oz chub made it a day to remember.
Most of the barbel were 6lbs plus which is a great average size.

16 Barbel, 8 Chub

Water dropping, fishing not easy. Alternated between meat & pellet. Straight lead on the meat & feeder with the pellet.

6 Barbel, 4 Chub

River falling and very clear. 10lb salmon caught in the morning in Gravelly Pool, fished from left bank on Ty Newydd beat. Caught on 1/2 inch tube fly (monkey fly), black & yellow on an intermediate tip. Conditions perfect. Saw one other salmon & had a few plucks at the fly. Also had a fish on briefly at Top Planks on right bank in afternoon. A great day's fishing.

1 Salmon

Advice from the booking office to keep an eye on falling levels at Llansteffan prompted me to cash in a washed-off day from earlier in the season in an attempt to catch Abernant at its best. Usually, provisions for the day comprise a doorstep sandwich and a flask of tea. On this occasion, however, an en-route visit to a supermarket had to suffice and which produced a tortilla wrap, a bag of crisps and a worryingly named bottle of sugar free pop. Despite falling a few inches overnight, Lady Alexander's Catch remained eminently fishable with the fly coming round in a very satisfying manner and I set about experimenting at various depths. A shallow presentation proved fruitless, as did searching the depths with a short tube. Although not heavily coloured I concluded that visibility might be the key to success and attached a lurid yellow and orange creation, name unknown, on a size 8 double to the end of a sinking leader. A dozen casts later and my heart was set racing as the line went tight and then thump-thump-thumped as a well hooked salmon expressed its dissatisfaction with the situation. The fish gave a good account of itself but was duly netted and then returned without leaving the water. The bottle of Fanta Zero with which I toasted my success turned out not to be the omen I had feared.
Picture and estimate sent by return to admin@wyeuskfoundation.org. The bottom seam of the net is 33" but no way was the fish as heavy as the calculator suggests. It still had several lice but was a tad on the lean side and didn't look fresh run. Adipose fin intact! 8-9lbs was my estimate.
Blydi grêt!
As ever, Wye, oh Wye!

1 Salmon

Really good to be back on the Whitney Court beat again, it must be 2yrs since I last fished it. Level up about 9 inches and slightly coloured. Fished hallibut pellets in all sizes to take 6 chub up to 4.5lbs and 5 barbel up to 7.5lbs, all in tip top conditon. Wild life highlight of the day was to see a great white egret flying over! All canoeist were good, even the three in one canoe that all lent the same way to steer away from me when I stood up and surprised them. Yes they turned over and took a ducking! Great day on the Wye! thanks Terry for our chat sorry, it was late in the day.

5 Barbel, 6 Chub

4x common carp in perfect condition the largest of which was
15.2lb the others all around 10lb.
3x small Bream taken close in on bread.
All fish taken on float fished meat. Pool very shallow with thick brown mud color however fish caught were in perfect condition and really fought. Beautiful surroundings to fish would go again.

7 Other

The top of the beat was a little difficult to find but once located it was a lovely bit of river. Hooked a salmon in Bridge Pool and performed a long distance release after 20 seconds. Did not get to Rectory Pool as I struggled to find the access.

2 Trout

Arrived at 6.45am & fished through The Rocks & The Chine with small salmon flies. No salmon seen or any takes except for a large trout which was no match for a 14 foot double hander!
Swapped to a little 3wt for trout later on & took a couple on a tiny gold head pheasant tail fished duo.
A very big salmon rolled in the slack water at the back of The Chine Pool about 11am but given the low clear water I wonder if it was stuck there & had been in a while. Still I tried covering it with all sorts as it clouded up later, but no interest at all.

3 Trout

A great days fishing on a beautiful beat. I took my Brother in law (American) fishing for Barbel as I promised him over a few too many beers at Christmas!
I set him up and even before my bait hit the water he was into his first ever barbel, a lovely fish of about 7lb. I was made up for him. He was thrilled.
Long story cut short he ended the day with 2 barbel and a chub while I settled for a beautiful 12lb barbel (my second best) and an 8lb barbel.
Wind picked up late in the afternoon so we up sticks early to head off. A great day - thanks to WUF!

4 Barbel, 1 Chub