Feedback & Reports

Wyebank, Bottom Section 06.00 to 09.30, 6 Barbel to 8lbs and 9 Chub between 2 and 4.5lbs. Rolling touch ledger in main flow on large halibut pellet and later on curried luncheon meat, 18inch bottom length to size 8 hook on 10lb line, 10ft barbel rod and fixed spool.

Courtfield Middle, tail of island 16.00 to 18.00hrs.
18ft trotting rod and centerpin with 4lb line, over-shotted chubber float set at 2ft to size 14/12 hook with single/double sweetcorn over sweetcorn loose feed. 1 GRAYLING about 10in long, 3 chub largest 3.5lbs, 3 barbel to 6lbs and numerous dace of around 8 to 12oz.

Wyebank Bottom Section 18.00hrs to 22.15hrs. Same trotting set up as above, another GRAYLING! 8in long, 4 Chub largest 5lb plus a bit, 7 barbel 5 to 9lbs and numerous dace and chublets.

On light gear in the fast shallow water over 30yds this was trotting at its best and I consistantly caught more quality fish per hour than are caught in the usual meadow section.
For these sections easy wading to mid stream is required when water is low, felt soled thigh waders would just do in low water. The 18ft trotting rod only has a 0.75lb test curve and was hardly able to control the barbel in the current, a more powerful rod would be advised. Use a centrepin if you have one to present the bait correctly.

The 2 grayling came as a suprise as they are seldom caught in this Wye section but most anglers fix ledger with large baits or perhaps its the constant high levels last year flushed them downstream. Their return would add another species possible on fly in this section.

Another angler fished ledgered pellet with swimfeeder just below the island and throughout the day caught good chub and barbel even as the canoes came directly through his swim.

An oddly difficult day. Barbel reluctant to play in any of the usual swims. Caught a couple of 2lb class chub and lost both of the two barbel tempted.

Sunday Chubby Sunday.
Arrived late @ 4 pm, very windy, first cast a 4.12 chub which set the tone for the next 5 1/2 hours - some kind of feeding frenzy irrespective of bait, hook size, hair length etc. I stopped counting after a dozen, mostly around 3-4 lb with a few chublets thrown in, some bites within a second of pellet landing in the water. A welcome break at 9pm when a solitary 8lb barbel joined the party then after that more chub.

Downstream wind + hungry otter + low river conditions made this session challenging to say the least. But 5 WBT to the net, 4 around 8inches plus one around 12 inches and fighting fit. All safely returned. Action during morning and evening only. Middle of the day was hard going. All fish to #20 Klink, but missed takes on #16 para-adams and #18 tungsten PTN. Abundant midge and sedge hatches with a lot of small upwings in the mix too

Three young grayling, all returned. Guided by Kim Tribe.
Stayed at Caebetran Farm BnB - excellent.

It was a very windy and rainy day. We could not catch any fish at all.

3 rods fished, river low weather sunny, 9 barbel caught, all on pellet, best 7lbs. Lots of chub caught, best 4.5lbs. Great fishing.

A great little beat providing some excellent fishing. Caught 2 very small brown trout (apx 7 inches and about 1/2 lb each) Both caught using Klinkhammers. Had difficulty finding access to the top half of the beat so didn't fish it.

Nothing. Not a sniff.

Water levels were extremely low and weather was bright and warm.

Arrived to find water level up on recent weeks and slightly coloured. However, the bright and sunny weather through most of the day undoubtedly contributed to the difficulty in persuading fish to take an interest in our baits.

Despite a long fish-less spell through the middle of the day, the activity either side of this more than made up for it.
3 Chub weighing 3lb 6oz, 2lb 2oz, and 1lb 6oz
4 Barbel weighing 7lb 12oz, 6lb 8oz, 7lb 8oz and 5lb 12oz
All fish caught on pellet.

(Most canoeists polite and courteous throughout the day, but some seemed to find control of their vessels difficult, particularly when in the vicinity of our chosen swims - no major harm done though).

Once again, many thanks to all involved at the WUF for a truly first-class service.