Feedback & Reports

With the river starting to rise yesterday (it was up about 3 feet from its level of last week), I had high hopes for today, although certainly never expected to catch that number of barbel. I intended to start at the lower end of the beat and picked an area I'd not fished before. Got a barbel first cast, and then regularly throughout the day, so extremely lucky to just drop on them from the off. Fish ranged from 4lb 8ozs to 9lb 6ozs. All caught on pellet/PVA bag method. Looking forward to a second day on this beat tomorrow.

16 Barbel

First time on this beat, and only second time on the Wye. Fished the wrong area (fast, shallow water) for most of the day but still managed a nice barbel of 8lb 5oz which held in the strong current for at least 10 minutes despite using a powerful barbel rod.
I had an eel at dusk which considering their declining population was not unwelcome.
Lovely day out saw kingfishers, buzzards, wagtails and woodpeckers all in very peaceful location. Some swims tricky to get to but this is the Wye not a commercial.

1 Barbel, 1 Other

The river was low & clear and the sun was shining brightly between the showers. Not textbook Barbel conditions. Surprisingly they fed throughout the day though. Tactics were the usual groundbait feeder and pellet hookbait combination. The Barbel ranged from 4lbs to 8lb 10ozs. A cracking day's fishing which was just what we needed after struggling at Backney Upper a week ago!

15 Barbel, 1 Chub

Fished towards end of the beat had 6 barbel each most coming to feeder and pellet all were over 5lbs biggest was 9lb. 3 chub up to 5lb.

12 Barbel, 3 Chub

Conditions low and clear, all fish caught on pellet and bollies using feeders. Best barbel 8lb 5 and all fish caught in the deeper parts of the river.

15 Barbel, 3 Chub

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

Terrific day, river conditions not ideal still low and slow however weather was good plenty of cloud. Started in the faster water by the island, nothing after 2 hours so moved to the bottom field. Caught throughout the day from just one swim, pellets/PVA bag method. Barbel between 5lb and 9lb 2oz. Best chub of 4lb.

10 Barbel, 6 Chub

A difficult day on a low and very clear river. I started trying to catch a fw chub on floatfished bread but never managed a single bite on any of the swims I tried, the strong downstream wind didn’t help but there’s usually a mug fish somewhere. Baited and tried several swims I have caught from before for barbel but only managed a single fish around 5lbs at 6.00pm. The other angler had a very good day further downstream so it just goes to how location is the key.
Despite the lack of fish it is always a pleasure to be on the river at this time of year

1 Barbel

Day bright and sunny after a ground frost and river very low and clear. First time on beat so walked the stretch before choosing swims. We were disappointed to find that there were very few swims that were fishable especially from the island down stream where the banks are dangerously steep and access to river near impossible. Two barbel and one chub caught late on in the day.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

Anyone else ever caught a 12lb Salmon on stick float and bread? Frightened the life out of me when it leaped clear of the water when I hooked it ???? Lovely days fishing, barbel on pellet, chub on bread/stick and a couple on pellet.

1 Salmon, 4 Barbel, 13 Chub