Feedback & Reports

2 Barbel, 3 Chub

If, like me, you read these catch reports for detailed information only to be disappointed that SB from Bristol caught 16 chub and GG from Morecambe caught 1 “other” (an eel) then hopefully you’ll enjoy this.

I’m from the Black Country and we like our moneys worth so I got here nice and early to get full value for my 25 quid – I reckoned if I fish from 0500 til dusk it’s only £1.5625 per hour which is decent value.

Headed off from the car park as it got light and walked the easy way, thus avoided going through that poor blokes front garden. Weird that you have to go the long way round when there’s a much easier route via a public footpath on the other side… And, if you go that way, you’ll see the sign where the farmers daughter offers free tractor rides over Heart Attack Hill for fat fishermen – just my luck that the first shuttle was at 06.00 and I was already there at 05.00.

I’m only kidding, obviously.

They start at 07.00.

Yomped over the hill, through the woods and set up camp on the Lucky Stones just as the mist rolled around the river. From the first cast til the very last cast I didn’t stop catching fish. I lost count of the number of chub (guessing 50+) but I did count the barbel. 9 in total, including a baby at about 1 pound (beautiful in miniature) and a chunky double – only my second ever. I didn’t weigh it but it was massive, with a big thick set head, broad shoulders and the rock hard stare of a heavyweight boxer at weigh in.

I also caught a dace that took a pellet bigger than its own head and a big eel that fancied my meat. Bonus – it somehow managed to unhook itself after doing some weird fish yoga moves.

All fish were caught in the river on various methods, including float, rolling meat and electro. For bait I used meat, pellets and some leftover Tetra Goldfish flakes. The big uns were hoodwinked by Hinders Ellipse pellets on a short hook link attached to a 2 oz lead, plopped right into the whirly bit I’m pointing to in the picture. I was too lazy to move (even though I’d been sat still all day) so I’d cast slightly upstream into the fast bit – no idea if this made a difference but the bites were violent.

Safe to say that this was my best ever fishing day, one that will stay with me for a long time. If you’re thinking of booking this, get over the hill first thing – it’s not as bad as some make out and the fishing past the shallows is magnificent

9 Barbel, 50 Chub, 2 Other

Blanked. Fished groundbait feeder and pellet, tried a piece of peperami on hair also. I snagged up on weed a fair bit and lost a couple of feeders. I am a fairly inexperienced angler so put my blank down to that. Tried a few swims but should have watched Deano’s Diary on the stretch before going as I wasn’t sure how to fish the island swim. Having watched that again now I realise I would have probably found barbel there. Beautiful piece of river, will be back! Thanks land owner and Wye and Usk Foundation. Loved the day despite no fish. Learnt a lot.

2 Trout

Fished spiders and nymphs, started at the top of the beat, didn't realise that access to the lower stretch was so far. Fished the lower stretch in the afternoon, didn't see any rising fish although there were masses of flies coming off the water. Unfortunately no fish caught.

Nice to see a bit more water on the wye,4 of the barble were under 2lb and 1 around 4lb
Not the biggest of fish but nice to see some young ones

5 Barbel, 3 Chub

6 Trout

40 Trout

4 Trout

2 Trout, 2 Chub