Feedback & Reports

My wife and I fished the Courtfield beat on a blazing hot, bright day - not ideal. We had a few chub to about 4 lbs during the day and 1 barbel about 6lbs at dusk. I imagine the beat would fish better with cloud cover and a bit more flow and colour. However, like so much of the Wye valley, it is stunningly beautiful and peaceful. The owner came round and chatted and is a very nice guy who knows the fishery well and can advise anglers. As one no longer in the first flush of youth I found the banks a bit precarious but there are some fishable pegs and it is no different in that respect to most of the middle Wye - if you need flat canal banks don't go there. A maximum of 4 coarse rods are allowed per day so you don't have to queue up for a swim which is nice. Would we go there again? Yes, definitely.

16 chub 1lb-4lb, 28 barbel 1/2lb-9lb4oz, various baits.

11 x grayling mostly 12" but a few upto 15". 1 x trout 14". Fish taken mostly in a klinkhammer but a couple came to an olive nymph. The fish were occasionally rising and were happy to oblige so long as the dry was presented well. Some of the rise forms were very small and it is surprising how large some of the fish are when you do hook them. I often suspected a small fish had taken until I set the hook and they were fairly good grayling. Only fished from 10 til 2 and things seemed to be getting a little more active as I was leaving. Good day in all but I must get some waders that dont leak before the winter comes. Does anyone know a brand that doesn't leak? (I've never found one).

3lb chub, 4lb chub, 7lb barbel & 1lb eel, all caught on ledgered pellet over groundbait. Weather very hot/sunny for time of year, barbel only showing after sunset. Several 10lb+ salmon jumping. Fished top section, Leggs meadow.

A scorching day on this most scenic of middle Wye beats. Low, clear water meant it was never going to be a red-letter day for catches, but we did try....
JM spent a few hours trotting corn and catching a mixed bag of chublets, little roach and dace before bagging a barbel at last knockings. RH sat out the day in the top swim with just one chub for his efforts. NS was blank for the morning but changed swims and finished with four barbel. Were it not for being frequently wiped out by mid-water drifting weed, there may have been some more.

Back for another go but unfortunately so was the weather and the crowds. This is a lovely and varied beat but it's definitely a place to avoid on a sun-baked weekend (a little unexpected in October!) if you want some peace and quiet, it was like Blackpool sea front at times.
Highlight of the day was being asked by a young lady "is it ok to swim in the river or will I get fish hooks in my feet?" - ??
From a piscatorial perspective 6 barbel & 3 chub were our reward for persistence, all caught towards last knockings.

The weather had cooled off considerably from the previous few days of Indian summer, although there were still fish rising to sedges and stone flies. Six fish caught; four grayling from 12" to 16" (the latter estimated at around 1.75 lb) and two out of season trout. All fish were caught on dries, mostly traditional patterns (double badger and red tags). Tried Czech nymphs in the rougher water, but didn't manage any takes.

Started fishing at 7am just off the orchard catching one 3lb chub around dinnertime. Very hot (hottest october 1st since records began) so we struggled to find any feeding fish, trying all methods in the pools at the lower end of the beat. We moved back to the top of the beat at 5pm and had probably the most hectic one and a half hours fishing we have ever had. We ended up with 6 barbel to about 7lb, one 3lb chub and had 1 fall off. All fish falling to cut down fishmeal boillies and pellet/groundbait. A beautiful stretch of river again and we will be back soon!!

Another jewell in the W & Usk Crown is How Caple, just dont tell too many people they said it. Stunning location and stunning weather 80*f, which sent us Old Boys scurrying (again RH ) for cover, offered this time by the tree lined bank for a Siesta, mid Sun - scorched afternoon.Zzzz ...!Oh! and the fishing allways going to be difficult in the conditions but 2 Barbel 3lbs & 8lbs and a 3lb Chevin,(pellet feeders) roving around in faster water swims were our returns on a day where catching didnt seem as important as just being there. Many thanks W & Usk everything spot on as usual.

Sadly fishing dour and only 2 takes to report, both on the flying c. no fish seen
Service from wuf excellent