Feedback & Reports

Arrived at venue well before light to ambush an unsuspecting potted fish at low water. Finding the fishing parking area difficult without a os map. Parked in the church laybye and set up two rods. The lab and I set off to find a well signposted way to the river. Walked down as far as the main road with nothing but padlocked farmers fields, one of which excluded dog walkers. No sign off river access. Asked a local how do I get to the river? "Well the only way I know is back down to the main street turn left and over the road is a gate". Smashing thank you. Found the padlocked gate, !&/x. Asked another early riser how can I get to the river?" Well there used to be access down by the old house next to the bridge". Thank you I'll try that. It turned out to be a building site, but the young man working on the roof asked if I was looking for the river. By this time it was light and people were going about their daily lives. "Yes said I" now truly pissed off, that would be great. " You go through that gate and follow the track down to the river. "Oh thank you". Another locked farmers gate. Lifting a forty pound Labrador over a steel five bar gate is no fun. On returning fish less after several hours fishing I found the building site fenced and padlocked. For a so called quality beat on the river Wye this is not good enough. If you would like even the basic privileges go elsewhere, Gromain maybe where, at least you can make yourself a cup of tea in the hut. Fish nil. Frustration 10.
(Wuf Note: the beat does have a right of access which is not being honoured. A call to the office would unlock all gates!)

Fishing wise a very difficult day, must have tried 6 different swims throughout the day and never able to find any feeding barbel. The two chub came, not surprisingly in the last half hour.

2 Chub

A second difficult day on a very low and clear river, started in the wood and floatfished bead again hoping for a chub or two. One bite was all I could muster off a nice fish that shed the hook halfway in! I then sat trying for a barbel but no bites were forthcoming so in the afternoon a move to the top field was tried as there were no anglers on the other side again. I started o the float and bread but could not raise a bite anywhere I tried in the top field. I spent the rest of the afternoon fishing for babel in a couple of swims and eventually having just the single fish around the 5lbs mark late in the day. Feeder and pellet the method. (possibly the wrong one?)
I did remove a large amount of line off the bank that some moron had left, they had clearly stripped it off their reel and stuffed it into the grass, why? Surely it is nothing to pop it into your bag and take it home? With the number of people that walk dogs on this particular stretch it is asking for problems if this type of thing happens.

1 Barbel

Water was low and clear and it was significantly cooler than of late. The 2 barbel came at about 12.0.clock at 9lb 9oz and 14.00 at 8lb exactly. The chub of 4 04 was later in the afternoon.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

River was wonderful but fishing hard. Adam Fisher was with us for first three hours and was left scratching his head as well. We fished from 11:30 till nearly 5:00.

2 Grayling

We fished Upper Bigsweir on Wednesday 12 th October, the river was quite low and very clear. We saw only a couple of fish and had no takes. On thiursday 13th we fished Cadora Backs and also Upper Bigsweir and again, saw only a couple of fish and they were going through. Two good sized fish were seen at The Cockpits in the afternoon, but no takers!

Due to conditions it was understandably slow until the last hour and a half when Stu had a 6.00 barbel followed by a 10.01 pb and I had a 9.01 just before packing up.
Good to meet up with Don on the bank who was as helpful as always.

3 Barbel

The Creel is a very attractive beat but swims are limited by the steep and slippery banks. My pal and I agreed that we would not like to risk fishing there in the wet and great care was needed even before it started to rain, thankfully late in the day. We managed 5 barbel to 8lbs 9oz and three chub so were pleased to have had some good fishing.

5 Barbel, 3 Chub

Low clear river east wind. 4 anglers: two caught chub other two fished for barbel which did not show. beautiful scenery but the otter we watched fishing I am sure caught more than us. The river on this stretch seems devoid of small fish. No good for the dace angler.

21 Chub

2 Barbel