Feedback & Reports

Arriving mid morning what was reported to be an overcast day quickly turned into a simmering scorcher! In the absence of a farmer to taxi.... he was off to market, it was a proper march from the reserved parking to the river bank! If your stamina isn't up to it then I would advise to travel light or make 2 trips! Maybe bait up first then return for tackle?
I had a quick glance along the lower stretch which was wide and deep enough to hold fish, but somewhat restricted for access. So I marched on to the ever popular top section opposite the NT.
1st thing I saw were fish flashing across the swim to the left of the boat house. It's shallow there so a stalky approach would be needed. I baited and walked on. Met the 2nd rod. What a smashing bloke! He fished the exposed gravel bar near the bend. All the signs were there for some hook ups!
I settled on a swim back towards the boat house opposite the wall... The water was low but at this point it deepens and presented creases. I ended up fishing to a point to the right and close to the willow tree since the main run was literally a snag a cast, even with buried hooks! No joy sadly.
I returned to the left boat spot and still saw flashing.... I legered out a corn offering since I guessed the fish would by now be sick of the sight of pellet what with local advice erring on piling in kilos of the stuff!! Still no takers. I do think the heat and extreme light was killing off chances.
I moved again to the very end of the top section where the river slows and expands. This is where I was going to end up for the rest of the day. It was cool and shady and the fallen tree gave me hope of holed up fish.
I packed the pellet away completely.... So with a mixed crush of ground bait, corn and single legered offerings outside of typical! Try a 22mm pre soaked hard pellet!! I settled in.
Well..... 1st catch was a clearly gob stopper chewing chub! Who fell to the 4ft link legered 22mm soaked pellet! (Bait tech krill tuna squirt).... Clonk, spirited fight, in the net!! Well now! Who'd have thought!!!
So after that bombshell nothing more on the big baits..... So switched to triple hair corn and GB feeder. Wasnt long til another... Remarkably larger and clearly an old wye warrior chub slipped into the net. I was suitably honoured at its presence. Stonking fish!! Cleared 5lb easy!
Not the barbel catch I was expecting but 2 well earned and specimen chub are not to be sniffed at!
My advice on this stretch would definitely be to think outside of common parameters.... I mean 22mm chokers?! Really?? Yessir!
Could save a blank on any day! All in all a stunning location with varied swims...
Cannot help but think the fish had backed off to the lower stretches but was unable to get bankside to have a punt.
Ps... It gets dark here VERY quickly!.... Best leave enough light to safely navigate out of the fishery.

2 Chub

First time for me on this beautiful stretch of water and the manicured gardens provided a picturesque backdrop for a good days fishing.
The action was steady all day despite the river being low there seemed plenty of life and the slightly cooler conditions also seemed to help. All fish were caught on the standard feeder methods and fought ferociously in the usual Wye manner!! Plenty of boat traffic and a few lads enjoyed some swimming upstream of me which fortunately did not seem to put off the fish...
Did try trotting with corn without success but will return to this beat which holds considerable charm and potential.

6 Barbel, 6 Chub

5 Barbel, 1 Chub

Beautiful fishing and stunning surroundings. Will be back again.

12 Chub

River running slightly high and colored. Good days fishing with bites coming consistently through the morning. Takes drying up a little from around midday onwards however.
Chub to 4lbs and barbel to 8lbs landed.

6 Barbel, 4 Chub

4 Barbel, 6 Chub

Always a pleasure fishing this beat with the nice garden opposite.
Moved from our first swim as there was too much weed to get snagged on which wasn't visible in the still slightly coloured river. It paid off and we started catching barbel after about an hour and steadily after that. Pellet feeder again being the method today.
Most of the barbel were in the 7lb range so a good average size. I cleaned off any lice found on the barbel in the net in the water which were mainly at the back of the dorsal fin or on the pectorals. One barbel leaked out some eggs on the unhooking mat which I have never seen happen before.
Todays wildlife included a little egret, kingfisher flying under the rods, sand martins again in the far bank nesting in drainage holes in the wall and of course a buzzard or two again.
No taxi service available this time but we are fit and able. Its a long walk if you aren't.

10 Barbel, 8 Chub

Late afternoon session fishing into dark. Barbel to 6lb, Chub to 4lb.

3 Barbel, 6 Chub

2 Barbel, 7 Chub

Thankfully river had continued dropping overnight and was some 4ft down comparative to the same time the day before. Water still very muddy but there were more choices and even some of the gravel bar opposite the gardens had begun to appear. Hope were high after an early lost barbel to pellet. Then followed an eel to luncheon meat - not particularly welcome! By lunch time I had managed to lose 4 barbel all to hook pulls, one right at the net which had torn all round the river and was a real lump... Luck had to change and around 1 pm the first was banked at 6 lb. Over the next few hours 4 more duly followed all between 6-8lb and also a gudgeon! Never had one of those on a 10mm pellet before. Strangely chub did not show at all, not even their knocks. Conditions were improving all the time as the river dropped, but having 9 takes in a day makes the long walk back worthwhile. Thx again WUF I will be back.

5 Barbel, 2 Other