Feedback & Reports

This was the second of a four venue end of season trip to the Wye, and with the water temperature dropping rapidly, we felt today was our last chance of a barbel. We had just two bites between us, resulting in one barbel landed and another lost due to a hook pull. We tried different baits and rigs, but the bites both came to the feeder and pellet approach.

1 Barbel

No fish. Very cold.

Nothing.

My first time at this location and another excellent WUF beat. The weather & the river was exceptionally cold & so my hopes weren't high - the river was also low and clear. A long walk from the car park, but well worth the trip. Tried 4 pegs and caught fish on all of them - initially chub (up to 5.5lb) and then barbel for a frantic 3 hour period before dark. Chub caught on maggott feeder and meat, with all the Barbel on small elipse pellets with micro-pellets in the feeder.

9 Barbel, 8 Chub

First time fishing Caradoc. Nice long beat with some nice fly water. Saw a few kelts jumping during the day and one well mended kelt of 9-10lb landed on a black and yellow tube. No sign of any Springers.

1 Other

Fished Beat 1 (Dukes) and Beat 2. No Salmon seen or felt. Water temperature around 45F and unfortunately risen by ~6" following rain on Friday (from 11" to 1'5"on Fownhope gauge). Main river coloured (below calf depth bottom visible) but clearing, however River Monnow bringing in rich chocolate coloured water. Overcast and damp all day - a cold day's fishing.

Fished fly and spin, tough day as it always is this time of year. No salmon caught by myself and R. Thanks and regards.

Overcast and very still. We fished by stalking for rising trout then casting 3.5cm shallow diving lipped crank baits and 1/8oz copper buzz blades on ultralight gear (0-5g rods, 10lb 0.06mm braid, 40cm fluorocarbon leader). Between three of us (father and two sons) we caught 13 hard fighting Rainbow Trout in a little over 4hrs. Superb fishing, and beautiful venue.

13 Trout

The morning drizzle relented around lunchtime but with the water still very cold, it proved to be a challenging day. Despite our best efforts with pellet, maggot, cheese-paste and meat, there were few signs of fish, with the barbel remaining elusive throughout the day. C H did, however, manage to entice 3 chub, all perfectly conditioned fish weighing 3lb 2oz, 3lb 9oz and 3lb 12oz. Two out-witted by a small halibut pellet and one by luncheon meat.
Great to see the darting kingfishers and soaring buzzards (less happy to see at least 3 cormorants overhead through the day). Overall, as always, a day on the river was good for the spirit.

3 Chub

Sporadic LDO hatch from 1200 for two hours. The odd fish moved and one of 11 inches was released. A happy start.

1 Trout