Feedback & Reports

Only a short beat with a few swims - good advice from the staff on the fishery who told me exactly where to fish - lots of canoe traffic during the day but things improve after about four in the afternoon - had five lovely barbel up to about seven pounds. Thanks again for a wonderful few days fishing.

After a half a days casting instruction followed by a full day's salmon fishing on Wyesham with John Symonds I arrived at Courtfield on the Friday anticipating my Barbel fix. I settled in at the croy where the river meets the road at the second parking spot on the beat. Lost a good fish almost straightaway that ran out a good length of line on the baitrunner and then kept going even though I had the clutch reasonably firm on account of using 12lb line. The power of these fish never fails to astonish. Then had an enjoyable chat with the owner who came down to introduce himself - a thoroughly decent chap. Picked up a stonking chub in this swim before moving into Meadow Pool to put some distance between myself and the half wits in their canoes. Actually not all of them were a nuisance, just the groups of young men for whom the river habitat/environment is purely incidental to the ridiculous posturing that constitutes a canoe trip. I had one of these idiots yell out that if I was not catching any fish this was likely due to 'us lot coming through' and to reinforce the point slapped the water with his paddle much to the amusement of his mates. Half wit does not do justice - if I had had my slingshot with me a I might have been tempted. 5 more chub in the Meadow Pool but, in spite of steadily feeding the swim, of Barbel there were no more signs. Some lovely water on this beat and when I come back I will explore the streamier sections downstream towards Wyebank. I believe the Barbel fishing would benefit from a good rise in water and a bit more colour. Also worthy of note: a number of Salmon were holding in this pool revealing themselves during the course of the day; entertained by a family buzzards in the opposite field following a tractor and picking off rodents flushed out by the thresher - a remarkable sight. Just a quick word about John Symonds - a real gentleman, with a scholarly appreciation of Wye salmon fishing - he is also an excellent instructor.

Thought we would have a go on the middle Wye. Arrived in heavy rain, so chose the easy walk to the right bank. Fished the large swim in the middle of the length, but after a couple of hours, we did not have any bites between us, so decided to fish the left hand bank. I eventually settled in the last swim, below the rapids. Fished halibut pellets on standard barbel rig, and although I had to share the swim with 23 juvenile swans!,had lots of bites from the off in the shallow water but only managed to hit 6 of them, 6 chub to 4 1/2lbs, and lost a fish that pulled the rod off the rest, and snapped the line. Tony fished the deepish swim below the bridge, and only had a dozen bites on luncheon meat but managed 7 chub and 2 barbel to 6lbs. Was nice and sunny in the evening.

Late start on the beat due to a flat on the Transit which was compounded by being unable to get the spare wheel off due to a securing screw shearing which meant that we had to get into Ross to get the flat repaired!

Finally got to the beat in the pouring rain! First time on this beat for us and it's certainly a lovely place. After a general explore our first impressions were that there is a lot of water but access to the vast majority of it is difficult at best and downright impossible for significant distances. We did spot a few barbel at the bottom of the beat but it was difficult to find enough swims with reasonable access to the water to accomodate all four of us and therefore we elected to fish at the orchard end and even here there was only just enough access for the four of us (we didn't venture further than the field above the orchard due to the presence of a rather large bull with his hareem!!) We definitely felt that more access needs to be opened up to make this beat more viable for four anglers.

The river was very low and clear and by the time we got fishing the sun was shining brightly just to make things a bit more difficult! We finished with 2 barbel & 9 chub to 2 rods with the other 2 rods fishless although I'm sure we would have had more as the light intensity dropped but alas we had to leave before then!

Worthy of note is the high average size of the chub with the majority of them definitely pushing 5lbs. I'm convinced one of them was well over this but before I could get it in the sling it flipped and promptly landed back in the water and shot off like a missile! Rather summed up the day did that!

8 Brown Trout all returned.

Very nice stretch of river with good access and lots of nice swims. Very quiet day managed two barbel and four chub on pellets near the hut at the beginning of the beat. Many thanks

River was close to in-flood and coloured after 2 days of heavy rain. Not good for trout really. Managed 1 Brown only (returned)of about 1 lb but moved several others and had several plucks and pulls. Fished team of 3 Czech style or downstream beneath a fast sinking leader to try to get down to the fish in the heavy current.

Brown Trout x 5 All approx 6"-8".

4 grayling 3@1lb+ and 1@2lb all on dries size 18

6 Wild Brown Trout in fantastic condition in a couple of hours. First time on this beat and very impressed. Almost as good as the Dulas Brook, a little over grown in places my 6 foot rod was a bit long until I got down on my knees.
All fish on para Adams. Must try this one again on a day when then weather is kinder.