Feedback & Reports

1 Trout

With low levels it was hard to sustain fish feeding. Still, a great section. Very peaceful.

1 Barbel, 5 Chub

Blanked. River very low - surprised to see it was even lower than in late July, and now with lots of large, green algal mats. Some runs that usually held fish even in late July were now much too low or slow; still saw plenty of fish but most were clustered in slower pools. They were extremely spooky with the water being so low and clear, not much hatching either so they were very difficult to fish for. I had to work hard for just three bites using delicate casts and realistic, footprint mayfly imitations - but unfortunately did not manage to hook any of them. I tried nymphs and caddis patterns too in various patterns but they got no interest at all (the sparse hatches late afternoon/evening were mostly mayflies though). It really needs a good spell of rain not only to top the river up, but flush all the green algae out. Still a beautiful beat though and saw plenty of wildlife including dippers, kingfishers, a pair of green sandpipers, grey wagtails and many Daubenton's bats skimming over the water at dusk. Fresh otter spraint on a rock near the beat start. Don't know if you're aware but in addition to the Himalayan balsam (which is pretty much everywhere these days sadly), there is a nasty patch of Japanese knotweed just on the bankside beside the 'beat start' sign. Thanks and look forward to returning when the river has got more water!

A pleasant day on The Wye in spite of low water making fishing difficult

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

Rolling meat captured all fish, not interested in static baits at all

2 Barbel, 9 Chub

Evening session only, pellet and feeder tactic between streamer weed - just the one chub at last knockings

1 Chub

As reported by many grumpy anglers before me, conditions weren’t great due to the lack of fresh rain from mid Wales. I’ve learned that fish get both lively and hungry after a downpour and also don’t mind getting wet so the more rain the better – they’re not keen on raw sewage mind.

Ever optimistic, we trudged down the hill in search of some fast water or a feature that might hold some fish. After a damp 15-minute walk up and down the bank we couldn’t choose a spot we truly believed in so decided to only fish in the morning. We also booked Fownhope 5 for the next day, knowing that there’s a better chance to get a bend in the rod in the fast gulley.

The few hours that we did fish were eventful though. One of us broke a landing net, the other fell in the water (again) and the third member managed to catch 2 barbel and a chub in the very end peg (all on magic pellet).

We retired to our digs around one for sausage and beans on toast. Delicious.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

6 chub

2 Barbel

Only 2 of the 3 fished today due to one of us getting a last minute invitation for a track day at Silverstone.

Fished the Lucky Stones from morning to early evening with a break in the middle for a nap.

River is hard going at the moment and despite leaving the price tag on his Korum feeder and using a bent paper clip as a hook, one of us managed a beautiful bronze Barbel and a few chub.

The other fella caught chub on rolling meat and the third member of this elite fishing crew drove a Jaguar D Type and a Bugati Veron. Very nice.

1 Barbel, 15 Chub