Feedback & Reports

Lovely couple of days on this stretch. We spun all day on the first day casting to the many fish that were moving about in Vanstone Pool. Nothing wanted to know our variety of colours and patterns. On the second day we lost a fish in the Vanstone Pool first thing, had it on for a good 5 minutes before it rolled and threw the hook - est. at 10lbs. I went up the top half of the beat guided by Adam Fisher, I'm not sure what the other reports of poor access are entirely about, there are many access points for wading and perhaps these other anglers are just not looking hard enough? Yes it's very lush, but I was happy with what Adam showed me. We'll be back!

Fished the Bottom Pool, fishmeal groundbait feeder and double 8mm elips hair rigged. Caught steadily through the day to take 13 barbel and 8 chub.
Very enjoyable day. Had a great chat with Don too!

13 Barbel

Caught on a Fly and returned.

1 Salmon

River a little low, a few salmon top and tailing and a pike strike. A couple of Chub caught on luncheon meat but not a sniff of any Barbel, I wonder if they are still spawning? Roamed the river and tried 7 or 8 swims between the two of us.
A good day however, hopefully better luck next time.

4 Chub

Fished bouncing touch ledger and large H pellet in the pot below island (by wading out to it) from 19.00hrs to 22.15. 4 Barbel between 6 and 8lb released in the water, all in good condition.
There is a swans nest close by concealed under the willows and pen jumps off nest on top of canoeists if they get to close which makes good entertainment!

4 Barbel

My best day on the Wye, catching nine good sized barbel. The biggest a long, lean beauty of 9lb 6oz, with four others over 7lb. Plus a 4lb 6oz chub. All the fish on pellets. The river level increased a few inches in the last couple of days, due to arrival of the rain in Wales last week. Also a calm day after a windy day is usually good for barbel, so the planets were aligned perfectly today.

9 Barbel, 1 Chub

We only could fish the bottom half of the river because access to the upper part was impossible with no clear paths cut. Nothing caught and didn't see anything, poor day.

River low & clear: 3 small trout on upstream nymphs by my fishing partner.

3 Trout

Nothing caught.

Perfect day, water clear, arrived about noon, no fish rising or seen even with an abundance of fly life including a scattering of big mayflies. Wandered the beats most likely spots for three hours trying to tempt a fish on drys, complete blank! Hoped for some movement or a rise later in the day, still nothing! Didn't even see a fish, most odd? Tried drys, nymphs, emptied my fly box still nought? Finally at about 7 pm and completely baffled I had a break to reflect, the only fly I had not tried was a tiny Diawl Bach.
Welsh fly, Welsh water give it a try?
Second cast and a 15/16" beautiful WBT, a few casts later a 12" grayling (my first ever) all on a 7ft #3 both fish healthy and fighting fit. Returned both safely.
My day went from pathetic to perfect!

1 Trout, 1 Grayling