Feedback & Reports

All six barbel caught on Halibut or crab pellet , ranging from 5lb 2oz to 6lb 12oz on a simple ledger rig .all fish were in superb condition.

The river was clear and low, lot of streamer weed in places with a shoal of barbel spotted in a really dense weed area on the near bank, however like most of this beat almost impossible to fish for.

The only downside to this beat is the lack of swims available, I know you can "make your own" ,which is what we tried to do, only to find that once you get next to the river, it is either a steep drop off ranging from 6-10 feet or overhanging trees making landing anything all but impossible.

There are maybe 4/5 places to actually fish from. I was disappointed in the lack of swims/access to the swims.
That said if you want to go and stalk these barbel the effort is well worth it these fish are beautiful in colour and condition. Take a rope to get back up the bank if you are feeling brave.
On a really big plus point fishing from the croy is an absolute joy , you will know what I mean when you get there!!!.

The scenery if fantastic with all manner of wildlife to watch " as we'll as your rod tip". Trout rising opposite the Croydon all evening after the hatch.

It's a healthy climb to get back to the car, take a torch if you leave at dusk it's quite dark in the wood. I would go back here no doubt but with a view to going light.

6 Barbel

Had a couple of hours in the night after some rain, no sewin for me but the river looks healthy with a nice flow. The river had a slight stain in the water but there were a few anglers out. I saw three sewin jump and heard a few more on the move, it was a very dark night with a slightly stained river so my chances were slim but you cant catch fish at home. Did once again catch some nice brown trout all over the 1 pound mark.

3 Trout

Very disappointing day. Tried everything but couldn't get a bite.

1'7" and falling on the Llanstephan gauge as dawn broke....a lovely height.
Lovely early morning to lunchtime session, unfortunately the cloud cover was short lived and air temperatures soared to 30+ degrees!
Not quite the day after a rise I was hoping for.
Nonetheless a nice height to fish the Rectory at.

Rainbow trout stock fish caught on worm. Hot sunny day with rippled water.

3 Trout

Only intended to fish the evening rise and I knew that this beat would still have some decent water in it.

Arrived a 7pm with the sun shining straight down the river so I went to the Red Lion for a pint.

Returned about 8:15 and worked my way upstream eventually arrived at the run about half/two thirds way up with fishing starting to rise . Had a frantic half hour from 9pm, landed one fish of around 12 inches, lost three others and loads of missed takes.

Left around 9:30pm, this is not the kind of beat you want to wade in the dark !

As I worked my way back down stream I saw no other fish rising. Just goes to show that you have to find the fish.

Thanks as always to the Wye and Usk team.

1 Trout

One trout. Worm

1 Trout

No fish, not even a bite.

Hot bright sunny day. Hooked and lost three small fish. A lovely beat and plenty of trout to be caught for those with a little more technique than me!

Arriving at first light we managed 3 Barbel from 6 to nearly 8lbs from towards the far end of the beat. By 10am, it was already pretty hot & obvious that the Barbel had gone for an early siesta so we packed up & made our way back for a well earned full english & a cold shower.

We returned at 5pm, & with the mercury touching 32C we made the sweat drenched trip back to the same area. As the sun started to drop, the Barbel came on the feed again & we managed another 5 of a similar size until the light started to fade & we reluctantly had to reel in & call it a day.

An enjoyable visit overall but limited somewhat by the the weather conditions, the low & clear water & the limited number of fisherable swims, particularly as our trio included a father & son meaning we needed to fish close together on the grounds that returning to a distraught mother to explain how we had sacrifed her precious teenager son to the river Wye might have been a bit tricky.

I note from a previous report that there is nothing to stop you from creating swims but the feasibility of this is a bit constrained by the level to which the vegetation has now grown on along much of the beat. Whilst accepting this may not be too much of a issue to anyone young & fit there is still the consideration of finding a spot that allows for access close enough to the water to allow fish to be safely landed & returned.

8 Barbel