Feedback & Reports

A superb day. Extremely hot, bright sunlight, river quite low. We fished opposite the gardens where there was good flow, on feeder and ledger. Between us we netted 15 barbel and 4 chub. Several fish snapped us off - like other reports close inspection showed the line abraded on rocks. Two barbel of 8lbs, several more of 7lbs - the rest between 5 and 6lbs. All fish in superb condition. Long walk well worthwhile. DO PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF HIDDEN CRACKS/HOLES IN THE GROUND. They are invisible because they're covered with grass as you walk through the field about 10 yards after the electric fence going to the garden end. I fell up to my thigh and was very lucky not to break my leg. A superb day. Thanks WUF.

15 Barbel, 4 Chub

We enjoyed a very successful session fishing in the faster water opposite the Weir Garden using a variety of methods with pellet baits. Only fished from 3pm - 9pm and sport was fast and furious at times with barbel between 4lbs - 8lbs.
Left it too late to book a taxi so walked to the river. However as we wanted to fish the faster water we had a further half mile walk downstream - take care if you do this as there are some very deep holes in one of the fields hidden by long grass. I think this needs attention as a serious injury could occur in a remote location.
If a shorter route could be made available across the fields that would be a very positive development.

15 Barbel, 2 Chub

3 Barbel

No fish caught; fly, medium size nimph and small streamer. Some large splashes, difficult 45mins walk down to the river, extremely helpful farmer Mr Richards for the way back!
Quite a few canoe's, not always on the other side of the river. Lovely scenery.

After yesterday we decided to remain in the same spots as we had put in plenty of feed the previous day and knew there were a few fish in the area. Today though, we saw fewer fish downstream and I saw nothing in my swim. My mate stayed put, recasting his feeder every 15-20 mins but had no bites in 8 hours. I went upstream pre-baiting likely looking spots for chub and fishing these swims on my way back down. There were some chubby looking areas but again I could not find any fish despite trying meat, pellet, cheese & corn hook baits. Settled back into my original swim and 5 mins before packing up time my rod banged a couple of times and I struck into a fish but snapped immediately on 10lb line. Upon inspection the line was frayed & must have rubbed against something sharp as I struck. Not good! So 4 days fishing - 2 Barbel caught by my mate (2 bites), 3 Chub caught by me (5 bites). Poor by any standards and the worst time I have had on he Wye.

We decided to move downstream today where the river was slower and deeper in the hope of locating fish. As we approached the area we were met with the nice view of a dorsal fin of a barbel breaking the water & proceeded to see a fair few fish throughout the day at least giving us some hope. Unfortunately we made no early breakthroughs and it wasn't until 5.30pm when my rod butt flew up. As I caught the rod and tightened up it immediately broke. Upon retrieval I had lost my feeder and hook length with the stem of the feeder left above stop. I presume the hook length got lassoed around feeder and caused the break when the barbel took. My mate was having better luck and 30mins later landed a nice specimen just under 9lb on pellet.

1 Barbel

If you decide to fish this beat, be aware of the long frustrating walk to the river. From the car park the swims opposite the weir garden are tantalising close but with no access you have to divert right & walk around the fields in a big square quadrupling your journey & it's a killer, especially on the way back! We fished further downstream today on pellet feeder & hook bait but again saw no fish or any activity and no bites, bumps or knocks. Very frustrating paying £20 per day and getting very little action. Decided to move back upstream opposite weir garden & pre-baited a swim with hemp & corn close in & just before dusk had 2 nice chub which fought well at 3lb 11oz and 3lb 12oz.

2 Chub

River fined down from recent floods with colour dropping out. Fished opposite weir garden but very quiet with no fish spotted all day. Tactics used were open end feeders filled with pellet & pellet hook bait. My fishing companion caught a barbel (5lb 6oz) which was to be his only fish of the day whilst I continually found snags & lost 3 feeders & a ledger. Decided to switch swims & 1st cast caught a 2lb chub but then started to snag again. The swims looked good with slow oxygenated water running round the outside of a bend but perhaps the fish have moved downstream into deeper, slower water? Very snaggy!

1 Barbel, 1 Chub

River dropping off after another slug of rain water passed through. Water temp 47C. Plenty of finicky bites and a few fish landed. Lovely day in a lovely spot.

2 Barbel, 22 Chub

Water cold and still pushing through. Few bites.

1 Trout, 1 Chub