Feedback & Reports

Was late starting, with wet and windy weather which the fish seemed to like as bites eased slightly whenever the sun came out. River came up about 4 feet while I was fishing, causing the catching crease to move from the centre of the river to right under my feet. Lost a further couple of barbel through having to put too much pressure on when they shot off into the main flow, which was really charging through by mid pm. Several really big rises in main flow, presumably salmon? Fish and I shared a tin of Spam. Could probably have had a lot more chub if I’d shortened my hair and hook link as I missed a lot of bites. Fish all in lovely condition. Very enjoyable day, I shall return.

1 Barbel, 10 Chub

total wash off

The river was a little more coloured than I was hoping for after overnight rain. On went a squirmy worm which caught a Grayling and a OOS Trout at 13” each. A few other fish were on then off. Only a short session, due to the wading being tricky in the conditions.

1 Trout, 1 Grayling

A bit of a disaster really - all weather-based. The BBC had been forecasting "moderate winds" of 10-12 mph (?) and 9 degrees, with some light rain later in the afternoon, after I was planning to leave. As I drove across Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons, there was rain but it was increasingly being followed by patches of blue. I decided to press on. Wrong idea. When I arrived, my car said 4 degrees. As I tackled up, my fingers began to stop working. The wind had really picked up. I had only been at the river 15 mins when the horizontal rain and hail started. Casting was literally impossible. I surrendered after 30 mins and drove back. From what I saw, this new beat looks delightful. That'll teach me to under-estimate February grayling fishing....

Intermittent rain, cloud and sunshine but mainly overcast. River low and water visibility to 12- 18 inches. The rain showers made the banks very slick making the already limited access sketchy. After checking out the lower section - access limited by a fallen tree! in the end we settled on the upper section and found a swim with both the features we wanted and reasonably safe access. We float fished a dead bait 4 feet from the bank in the slack of a tree growing out from the bank and my daughter had the only take of the day with a lovely 14lb pike - her first from the Wye and a new PB - happy days!

1 Pike

No fish seen or landed, river a little high and coloured.

Hard going, river only accessible in a few places. Nothing seen and nothing caught, This is the closest beat to where I live, but not sure I’ll be back for while. The brambles and undergrowth made progress difficult in many areas.

After a complete blank on this beat three weeks ago in near freezing weather an increase in temperature and slightly lower water levels combined to provide much better conditions for this trip.
Fished from around 9:30 am through to 15:30 with just just 5 bites through the day, but these produced four chub of over 4 pounds with the largest just over 5, all on ledgered meat.

4 Chub

Had the beat to myself so was roving the margins for pike, float-fishing deadbaits. River still very low and clear despite rain overnight. Started grey and mild and had a take (missed) before catching a fiesty pike below the island that broke the surface attacking the bait. Then the wind really picked up with bright sunshine and it all went quiet. Tried trotting some corn and bread for chub for an hour but couldn't see the float for waves and glare!
Had a second pike on static bait late in the afternoon when the wind and sun had calmed down.
Also saw my first Wye otter which cheered me up. I doubt the previous comment made by another angler about the otter killing the swans and geese, which sadly are still there. Most likely, as WUF mentioned, deaths were a result of avian influenza which was reported in the area.

2 Pike

1 Barbel, 8 Chub