Feedback & Reports

River low and swims changed a lot since last year with the floods.
Barbel hard to temp with all the usual offerings had to wait till the evening to get a few although they were jumping out of the water all day! My son had 35 Chub on the float to 5lb on hemp and sweetcorn in 2 hrs before the sun and arm ache got the better of him. Feeder tactics gave him 5 more Chub and 1 Barbel.
I stuck to the feeder mostly 16 Chub and 4 Barbel being my reward.
My 60th season angling and a fabulous day spent with my son on the beautiful river Wye. All the bird life and catching fish is a bonus.
Thanks Wye and Usk Foundation and to the baliff Colin for keeping the swims so beautifully mown and strimmed. Good to see Colin and catch up on the changes to the beats swims and best approach to find the fish.

5 Barbel, 56 Chub

Water very low and clear, all fish taken were only 5/7 inches max. Perhaps the reason no larger fish were caught was the arrival of 2 people at around 18.45pm fishing the far bank with what looked like spinning or worming tackle. They made off when we approached, obviously local as they new where to go!
Also had to politely request the family who arrived to go swimming not to as we were trying to fish!
Otherwise a nice day and thanks to W & U for usual efficient booking etc.

3 Trout, 5 Grayling

Following on from the previous day we were back on the river at dawn. I went back in the same swim I had fished the day before to try and get a fish or two under my belt before going off to investigate other areas and leave the swim to one of my colleagues so they could hopefully have a few (the barbel appeared to be holding up in one area). After a couple of hours I had achieved my aim with four barbel to 8lbs 8ozs. I went off and set up in Legg Meadow. My colleague then fished the holding area and had another six barbel to 8lbs 15ozs and an eel by dusk. I spent the day baiting the deepest part of the swim I had chosen in the meadow, then fished it for the evening. While it was not as prolific as the swim I had been in earlier, barbel were passing through and I managed to catch another three of 7lbs 6ozs, 8lbs 11ozs and my first Wye double of 10lbs 1oz, taken at last knockings just as I was gathering my bits together. The perfect end to the session of a lifetime. Over the two days I had 20 barbel. My other colleague unfortunately had to leave early without wetting a line. Back In September.

13 Barbel, 1 Other

Well what can I say?
Arrived to find a family picnicking right where I wanted to fish with kids and dogs swimming in the river. Barbecue in full flight on the bank, radio at full whack and a scene reminiscent of Weston Super Mare beach!
Started fishing only for another family to arrive on the dreaded canoes and hold an impromptu white water lesson directly in front of us for the next 2 hours before they dragged the canoes out on to the beach and also started to have a barbecue party!
Caught 3 barbel and a solitary chub amongst the commotion, biggest at 9lb 1oz for my 13 yr old son.
Have to say I left the stretch a little dejected having paid nearly £50 for exclusivity only to have my fishing ruined by townies!
I do think WUF should offer evening/half day tickets and also some discount for juniors. £22.50 is extremely expensive for coarse fishing unless total exclusivity can be guaranteed.

WUF note - Unfortunately it is very difficult for us to react to these reports days after the incident. Please call the Booking Office immediately if you should encounter incidents such as this. This beat has a ghillie/keeper who we can phone any time to deal with issues such as this. We try to ensure exclusivity but it is impossible to monitor the whole river 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub

Only fished couple hours, needs rain.

1 Chub

One barbel at 6 1/2lb and saw 3 good salmon in the swim. Had a great time - fished from 10am untill 3pm and wished I had more time. Was sure I would catch more fish if I had been able to stay longer. Fished pellet for most of the day stitched to meat. Had 2 quick bites and one proper pull round.
Very pleased with the one fish as I haven't been able to get time off work for fishing. I will book again on a well looked after beat with good access and parking. Always good to fish on the Wye.

1 Barbel

Arrived at 11.00 a.m. to find 2 anglers fishing a shingle bank on the far side, casting over to How Caple side, making one swim unfishable.
Opted for the 2 swims either side of the unfishable one, and for the third day tried all sorts of tactics and baits, which eventually yielded a bite at 4.45, but no fish. Thankfully packed the factor 30. 3 days, nearly 60 combined hours of fishing for 4 fish (no barbel), what is the attraction of the River Wye? We will be back, after a spot of rain and a bit of cloud cover.
Couldn't work out where all the swims have been cut out, we counted perhaps 8 or 9?

River very low. Difficult to work out where we were on the beat despite Don's helpful notes. One decent chub and 5 small ones between both rods. Trotting corn and feeder fishing pellet. Retired at about 2.00 pm.

6 Chub

2 small dace on fly, both returned.

2 Other

Hard day on a low and clear river. Worked our way around the beat fishing all areas but nothing interested in the heat.
Still, the lack of fish action allowed us to really appreciate the wildlife and the beauty of this stretch of the Wye.
Will be back in the Autumn.