Feedback & Reports

Another great trip to the Wye and the chance to share in a good friend's first success with barbel. He didn't quite manage a double, but 9lb 13oz was close enough. Our results included another two 9's and two 8's so, all in all, a good average size. All fish were in great condition and fought well.
The sunny and low, clear conditions meant feeding spells were short and confined to the early morning and late evening periods. Canoe traffic was heavy, but no real problem. The people that lost their camera (see 25 August report) even returned with wet suits and snorkels to continue the search. Thankfully, they found it pretty quickly and so the disturbance was minimal.
Lastly, a recommendation for the Chinese restaurant at the back of the Forge and Hammer pub in Lower Lydbrook. The decor is certainly 'unusual' and we did wonder what we had let ourselves in for. The food was, however, very good and we didn't feel at all out of place in our shabby fishing clothes!

15 Barbel, 5 Chub

No fish seen or caught.

River condition low. Method used Czech nymph and dry fly.
Weights from 0.5 - 2.5lbs. No fish taken.

16 Grayling

Windy day making conditions a little tricky for any upstream fishing. Slow start after a cold morning. Fish more active in the afternoon and early evening. Couple of grayling about 35cm. Trout 20-25cm. 22 adult/adolescent goosander in the bathing pool!

8 Trout, 12 Grayling

Very nice place on a working farm with a great view of Goodrich Castle but did find a previous angler's bag of litter with the day before's copy of the Sun (I took it home to dispose of).
Caught at least 10 mint condition Barbel (I lost count to be honest) to 7lb 8oz and one pretty little Chub about 2 or 3lb but lost a few fish as well and unfortunately had a feeder crack off on the cast. All fish on Hemp, Corn and Pellet.
It wasn't clear in the provided instructions where I should park, so just did my best to leave my car out the way.

10 Barbel, 1 Chub

6 Barbel 2 Chub on bread and corn. Caught fish from the shallow water below the wood.

6 Barbel, 2 Chub

Conditions not perfect on my first visit to this beat low clear river and bright skies but finally found some action above the islands. All fish in good condition and in the 6lb to 8lb range. Had a good chat with Stan and will be back soon .

6 Barbel

3 small brown trout.

3 Trout

Another lovely day on this most beautiful of beats. There are so many lies for salmon and hiding places for trout. I returned to this beat in the hope of not seeing bathers and dogs and children. I was disappointed!! Even during the evening rise there was a constant stream of people jumping and swimming with their dogs. More poachers seen too by the bridge. No wonder there are no salmon.

A beautiful beat. River down to its bones, bright day but surprisingly cool with a downstream breeze blowing. Very quiet initially with no surface action. Missed a few takes on gold head nymphs before landing a beautiful 1lbs brownie in a tiny run. At about 2pm it warmed up and there was a sedge hatch and although this didn't really induce a rise, we got two 2lbs grayling to dry sedge immitations and missed about 3-4 others. Sadly had to leave at 3 when the action was at its best.

1 Trout, 2 Grayling