Feedback & Reports

River still 3m up but fancied another go for the barbel but knew it would be much harder than a few days ago as the rain was now cold, chilling the river. So it proved to be. One barbel landed early on and that was it. Chucked down all day. It was biblical! Can't complain though, catching a barbel the day before Christmas Eve.

1 Barbel

Good day on a very high and rising river. By the end of the day I was sat in a few inches of water and that had risen on the path (usually metres above the water level) with the field behind me filling up with water fast. Caught the Wye just right as it burst it's banks today.

6 Barbel

Big and rising coloured river, tough going.

Barbel fell to maggots, chub on cheese and two eels on meat.

1 Barbel, 1 Chub, 2 Other

River had dropped a good 12 inches overnight and continued to do so during the day. Water was a lot clearer from previous day. Tried for pike early doors, but nothing. Tried a number of different baits during the day but only cheese paste and bread flake caught in various swims we tried along the stretch. Again, all fish between 3 and 6lb. Lovely fish, lovely spot. Access good with a good number of swims along the entire stretch. Even though it's on the outside of a bend there are a good number of slack areas to fish when the river is up. I think it was about a metre up on normal 'winter' levels. First time either of us had fished the Wye so very happy some basic chub techniques landed us some quality fish.
Found an old hook in the mouth of one of the chub, even though it was barbless, so I guess it highlights the importance of using appropriate tackle for the size of fish. We used 7lb hooklength and had no problem getting positive bites even with good water clarity.

6 Chub

Cold weather with raised and coloured water level. All fish taken from one swim on cheese paste. Fish between 4 and 6lb.

5 Chub

5 Chub

One dace caught from midflow

1 Trout, 1 Barbel, 2 Chub, 1 Other

3 Barbel

Frosty morning followed by bright sunshine, not ideal fishing conditions. River level up by about 1.5mtr . Bites were few and far between with all the fish caught on meat with hardly a knock on pellets. Biggest Chub exactly 6lb , a new PB so happy with that. A pleasant days fishing before lockdown.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

Plenty of large tree trucks floated past us today!! Fishing was tough going & we stuck to feeder fighting; we managed 3 barbel, a chub & 1 eel (!!)

3 Barbel, 1 Chub, 1 Other