Feedback & Reports

We arrived early in the morning for our first visit to Wyebank and made our way down to the bottom pool to bait up. The river was clear and very low, we were a little concerned that we might struggle in the conditions. We trotted floating crust for a couple of hours starting from the shallows working our way down to the bottom pool. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Chub most obliging and of a good average size. We landed 13 Chub to 5lb 3oz (PB for me) and most fish were over 4lb. We fished the bottom pool through to about midday and landed 4 small Barbel. Canoes had started to arrive and we decided to leave and come back for an evening session.
Arrived back about 5.30, baited up and went for a pint and returned about 7.00. Fished the bottom pool where we had a fantastic evening session landing 12 Barbel. Some very small ones but also fish of 4lb 8oz, 4lb 11oz, 6lb 12oz and the last fish of the evening 9lb.
I would like to add that in the build up to fishing at Wyebank I read many of the catch reports from the beginning of the season. For the most part the fishing had been prolific. This however had not stopped a number of people moaning about SMALL BARBEL (surely this is such a positive) the PATH which yes is a little tricky but it is on a river bank which through the winter I suspect is in many places under water, this obviously makes it very difficult to maintain. CANOEISTS, they have a right to the river as well, we avoided the peak times but found those we encountered to do there best to avoid us and all were polite. It is a privilege to fish the River Wye and I would like to thank the WUF, keep up the good work.

1 Trout, 16 Barbel, 17 Chub

Fished from first light, had one barbel of around 3 pounds, after about an hour. Left at 9.30am.

1 Barbel

Arrived at 3pm to avoid majority of canoe traffic. Fished until 9.30pm, had 15 barbel from bottom pool, 10 of which were under 1 pound.

15 Barbel

Slightly more difficult day at Wyebank as the water was exceptionally low and the venue has obviously been fished hard throughout the last few weeks. However we managed to have a great day spent in stunning surroundings yet again. The barbel were a little more elusive than my last trip but all the same Mat managed 14 barbel to 4lbs and I had 13 to 5lbs. Lots of juvenile fish provided sport throughout the day. Note to others fishing the venue: This is a great venue for smaller fish that provides action throughout the day regardless of boat traffic. Just enjoy it for what it is. If you want bigger barbel then try other venues, read the previous catch reports first before booking. For a day of quantity then this is a terrific venue. All our fish fell to small hookbaits, 6mm pellets and size 12/14 hooks. There are a few better fish present but you'll have to work through the smaller ones first. Not really a big hardship in my opinion. The only downside I can see to this venue is the path which I have commented on before. Yet again both myself and Mathew fell over at the end of the day and have the bruises to prove it. The path needs some work and a little strimming of undergrowth really wouldn't hurt. Some of the rocks positioned on the path are extremely unstable and I would suggest that some reinforcement is urgently required before someone badly hurts themselves!

23 Barbel, 4 Chub

Arrived at half three to fish the evening after the majority of canoes had been through. Fished pellet with feeder and had 9 barbel, they were all tiny maybe only a few ounces each and about 5 inches in length. Slightly frustrating they were not bigger but on the plus side looking good for the future. Nice evening in the sun in beautiful surroundings, hopefully back in a couple of weeks.
Thanks WUF.

9 Barbel

Warm overcast day, river low and clear but rose probably a couple of inches during the day. Fishing not like any other WUF beat. Managed the tricky path to the bottom pool. Arrived ridiculously early after a 2 hour drive, due to previous reports scaremongering about canoeists. Yes there were plenty but all courteous and had no noticeable effect on the fishing.
Had a 3lb chub first cast on ledgered meat and then switched to elips pellet with 50g black cap feeder filled with 4mm elips. Biggest chub was probably 4.5lb, barbel 4lb. Never seen, let alone caught, barbel as small as some of them - some even caught 'on the drop'. Probably only 8-9 of the fish were 'netters'. Lost countless (10-15) hook lengths (perhaps 5lb was too light?) on snag in mid-river.
Interesting day, good fun, but not sure would fish this beat again. Cormorant spotted 4 times along with mink strolling along the far bank.

19 Barbel, 3 Chub

Waste of 20 quid. Boat traffic constant from 10 a.m till 7pm totally destroying fishing. Capsized boats, people swimming in your swim, stopping for lunch all down the swim all day. Told a few I had payed to fish, they moved and within 2 minutes the next few canoes were moored up. The arrogance of a few ruins it for so many. A few were more river wise paddling fast to pass through but mostly a bunch of arrogant idiots who quite honestly could not give a hoot.. and at their age, oh dear.. I have had this on other beats, people throwing stones in your swim and had them hitting the banks you are sat on. Mindless idiots.
WUF Note: July and August is the peak time for canoe traffic on the navigable sections of the Wye. Although we appreciate it is not always convenient, the advice to anglers is to concentrate fishing effort early morning and late evening at this time of year. Canoe traffic is less then and the fish are often more active.

5 Barbel, 3 Chub

Arrived about lunchtime and decided against using car parks suggested as notices said they would close at 3pm and 8pm respectively. A local (very excited about the egret on the opposite bank) did say they stayed open. The entrance to the fishery is along the road a little way from the downstream car park and it looks as though a few cars could fit inside - why can't we park there?
The fishery is a beautiful short stretch in a deep valley where the flow is very pacy and enhanced by the croys. The path is very narrow and rocky in places but with such a short stretch does not matter.
The river was alive with barbel though some of them small. Best fish of our 20 or so was 7lb. Caught on 8mm halibut pellet mostly but had fish on pellets up to 20mm and meat. Fed 4mm pellet and hemp through a black cap feeder with no extra lead. Tried trotting for chub but no success.
Lots of canoes during the day with various dramas including capsizes but did not put off the barbel. I think it was a branch that was partly sunken that caused the problems and some welcome humour.

20 Barbel, 1 Chub, 4 Other

Fished fly down the beat twice. Couple of plucks but think it was chub. Nice fly water.

Spent a pleasant few hours trotting for chub. Managed about a dozen modest chub including one about four pounds.

12 Chub