Feedback & Reports

The last of five days on Howcaple first three days river carrying some colour and overcast barbel feeding well, then colour dropped out and weather got hot and sunny best times early morning and evening, all fish caught on pellet and hemp in feeder, best two barbel 8lb and 9lb all fish fought as only Wye barbel do with savage bites and powerful first runs heart stopping stuff. This outing gave a good chance to try my new mark Tunley 1.75lb dark carbon barbel rod great action and superb build quality, if you are looking for a new rod check out his web site, looking forward to my next visit to the lovely river Wye.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

Nice parking by the trees with an easy 150 yd walk to the river in the middle of the stretch. Decided to find the gulley at the top end of the fishery. Could find no deep water with any flow at the top end. Water levels slightly low but normal summer level. Then walked the stretch looking for swims combining features with flow. These are all at the downstream end and only the last swim is a large tranquil salmon pool. All the flow and features are on your bank. The opposite bank is low and has many comfortable shingle beaches to fish from. The farmer was digging gravel from the river using a a small digger when I fished. Quite a few people fishing the opposite bank and casting to your bank. Not a real problem on the day I fished but I suppose it could be. It wasn't until I met the other angler booked on the beat that my luck changed. From Oxfordshire he clearly knew the section well and was generous with his advice. My luck changed quickly and soon had 3 nice barbel - two at 8lb, one slightly smaller and I lost one when the hook pulled when the fish was beaten and under the bank. I didn't see the other angler again as he went off for lunch but I am very grateful. As all the depth is under your bank you need to be careful as deep water can be off the rod tip. To net the fish I had to sit at the top of the bank and then use a 3 piece landing net to reach the fish. I also used a rope to trail into the water just in case I fell in!
Great stretch if you like near bank work and can put up with a few anglers on the far bank.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub

6 Barbel

8 Barbel, 1 Chub

4 Barbel, 1 Chub

Thursday we arrived same again long walk when got there there were four fishermen on other side we manage to get in between them. We got 3 barbel and 6 chub all on meat and cheese. As I said earlier there are a lot of swims that need to be cut.

3 Barbel

I got 4 chub 3lb to 4lb . My father got 1 barbel 6lb and 3lb chub. The river was in good condition. But the swims could have been a bit better,
They were over grown. Long walk to swims. My father is 88. But we enjoyed the fishing.

I do like this peaceful beat. A lovely setting and lots of swims to go at. We were heading home after our four days so packed up at 5pm so could have had more. One swim produced four barbel for my friends while I did a bit of roving for my fish after a great looking swim produced nothing. All happy to each catch barbel on every beat we visited.
Back next month. Yippee !!

5 Barbel, 1 Chub

River had a bit of pace on it, we were using open end feeders with various flavour pellets, most fell to cheesy garlic. Had a fly fisherman enter the river from the opposite bank casting all the way, he had no regard for us fishing as long as he could get to where he wanted he was happy.
It was a very slow day but the best Chub was 4lb 4oz and the best Barbel was 8lb 7oz. We camped overnight at the Ross- on- Wye rowing club very cheap and had good showers.

2 Barbel, 3 Chub