Feedback & Reports

Arrived for first light and after walking the entire beat, opted to start in the Wood Crib. At 11am and without a bite, the decision to move was simple. Moved up stream and baited various spots that took my fancy and settled into the swim with the drain cover (done alright there previously). Again, very slow so roved about flicking luncheon meat under bushes and overhanging trees. Eventually felt something pull back and instantly recognized the frenzied fight as only an Eel fights, damn those serpents! Still, a fish is a fish. Resettled back at the drain and didn't have to wait long for the first Barbel, a stunning little fish of around 2lb. Followed this with a Chub of 4lb 7oz. It was not very long before the 3ft quiver came into the equation, eventually resulting in a barbel of 7lb 4oz. This fish gave absolutely everything in the fight and took nearly 10mins to recover. She went away strong and well in the end. No sooner had I recast, the tip was bouncing again, this time a chub of around 3lb. Finally as the light began to fail the best fish of the day returned to the folds of the landing net, weighing in at 8lb 4oz. Looked every bit of a high 9lb fish, tiredness had obviously set in clouding my judgment! All fish fell to either sweet corn or halibut pellet, hair rigged over a feeder of hemp and crushed halibut pellet laced with corn and 6mm pellet.
All in all a satisfactory day considering the conditions and the lack of water. Only one disappointing thing to report. When I was dropping bait in various swims, I arrived at one, to find a half used tin of sweet corn, an empty beer can and various other wrappings and the lid off of the sweet corn discarded in the undergrowth. I cleared this up and took it away with me to dispose of. I do hope that this was the remnants of a poacher and not an angler that had booked through the WUF!
Thank you Don and WUF for keeping this lovely beat available.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub, 1 Other

River was low and coloured when I got there at 15:00. I had a 6lb and 9lb 4oz immediately and thought it was going to be a bumper afternoon but it then went dead. Just on dusk I had another pair at 6lb 7oz and 10lb followed by a late Chub of just under 4lb.

4 Barbel, 1 Chub

Largest barbel was 9lbs 6ozs and the biggest chub was 4lbs 11ozs. All fish were caught on various combinations of feeder fished pellet. Very enjoyable day.

Note for WUF: I read the report at Courtfield for Thurs 4th Sept about an angler finding a discarded tin of sweetcorn etc. I can assure you that it wasn't us. The tins of sweetcorn we brought with us remained in the car for the four day visit and like the angler who posted the report we clear up not only our own litter but anything else we find in the swims we fish.

8 Barbel, 4 Chub

Well the fishing became very hard and the fish difficult to find. It was very much it was a week before.
Still a beautiful place to fish.

1 Barbel

Another days guiding on this fantastic beat. The two anglers I was guiding caught 8 barbel between them, the largest being a 10lb 2oz fish. Two other 9lbers were caught during the day.
Not as good as yesterday, however brilliant fishing for these guys. Think they might return again!

8 Barbel, 2 Chub

A fantastic day guiding 2 clients. The river was slightly up and coloured. The barbel fed well during the whole day. All caught on pellet and swim feeder. The largest barbel was 10lbs 11oz followed by a 9lber and a host of other great fighting fish. The barbel on this beat keep moving around so you need to find them. Clients thoroughly enjoyed.

13 Barbel, 4 Chub

Another very difficult day on a perfect beat. The barbel are moving around the beat and finding them is the most important element. Eventually landed 8 beautiful barbel with two being 9lbs plus. Also landed some good chub to just over 5lbs. Had the hook pull out of 3 which is very unusual.
Everyone had a brilliant river Wye experience. Thanks to Don and WUF.

7 Barbel, 5 Chub

I struggled for a bite all day and made the mistake of not changing swims as I think the problem in my swim was a large pike. Each time I cast the feeder out small fish started feeding on the groundbait before being ambushed by the pike which I did see a few times taking the fish off the surface. That's the reason for me still kicking myself for not moving. I will say that I still thought the stretch looked really good and I enjoyed my day there, just a shame that I live some distance from the Wye as I would definatley be back righting my wrongs!

Second day of two day session. River started to drop but was already low and running fairly clear. Another hard day during the day with fish only coming at dusk. Lots of canoes during the day but most polite and considerate.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub

canoes, canoes and canoes,canoes again. Very promising place but not for now. Risky because the people in canoes, struggled to fish up to 8pm.

4 Chub