Feedback & Reports

Plenty of leaves but no fish
Regards
Denis

A tough day on a low and clear river. Tried but failed to spot any fish so fished "blind". Caught a couple of small chub (ounces) in a few swims and a 3lber and a 4lber in one of them. All on trotting tactics. They seemed to switch off very quickly though. We were mullered by small fish (dace mostly) on any bait other than meat and had not so much as a sniff on feeder tactics despite fishing most of the available swims.
Upper half is typical Wye water with gravel runs, pools and faster water. Lower half is more like the Severn with deeper, slower water.
As others have said, a beautiful beat with great access. As long as you don't mind the "spectators" at the Weir Garden watching you then then it's a lovely place to be but we were surprised how hard the fishing was.
Again, as others have said, the corner swim is a snag pit but trotting there was ok.
Would return but only when the level is up as, looking at the catch returns, it seems a difficult stretch when the river is low.

10 Chub

Nothing seen or caught.
Did see 3 otters in playing in the reeds outside the cottage.

Having arrived 45 mins before first light and forgotten my head torch i eagerly awaited the darkness to turn to light before slowly unpacking the car putting my waders on, it was soon light enough to make the short walk to my selected swim for the day. With rain and cloud forecast for the morning and sunny in the afternoon i was really looking forward to another (hopefully) successful session, after seeing the river i was thankful to see it a nice tinge of brown i could not wait to get the rod in the water. Bite time was slow and after changing to meat my fortunes changed, i had three bite in quick succession, and delighted to land three Chub of 5lb 2oz, 4lb 13oz, 4lb 8oz, and another hour or so later around 4lb, only no sign of those elusive Barbel? As the sun started breaking through the clouds the bites started to diminish i managed another fish an eel of 2lb, Next cast i was snagged again and promised myself if i lost anther rig after the 5 times previous i'd call it a day, i guess what yes i lost it. Canoe traffic was light, so no complaints this time. Thanks again WUF for great access to a great river, i'll be back in a few weeks to try again.
** yes almost forgot, when i settled into my swim i watched a wild otter playing in the margins on the opposite bank before disappearing into the undergrowth... i was blown away, my first wild otter.. !

4 Chub, 1 Other

6 Grayling, all on the smaller side. Taken on a mix of duo (PTN on the dropper) and euronymph. Also moved two to the dry fly but failed to hoot up. One out of season BT, returned swiftly.

A Salmon leapt three times at the bottom of Lady Alexander's Catch (or three fish?!), just after the Salmon fisherman who submitted the return below had been through the pool and moved on!

1 Trout, 6 Grayling

My first days fly fishing with a local guide – really enjoyable and managed 3 small grayling and 1 out of season trout. I will be back!

1 Trout, 3 Grayling

My first experience fly fishing – such a lovely place to spend a day. No fish – hopefully next time!

River still very low, but was carrying a little colour. Fishing was very hard with only a few chub caught (one notable fish of 5 lb 0 oz). Lost one barbel on light float tackle off the pumpstation peg. With hindsight needed stepped up tackle to deal with the powerful flow against the near bank. Notably, the bed of ranunculus which anchored the fish to this beat is not present this year (likely due to the blanket weed). Hopefully not a sign of things to come. Double banking is now increasingly an issue on this beat.

4 Chub

Tough day at Middle Hill Court today, we caught 2 Barbel & 12 Chub.

2 Barbel, 12 Chub

3 Trout