Feedback & Reports

Perfect conditions and excellent fishing. Barbel took a while to get going but were very cooperative later in the day. The chub were extremely active and it was difficult to get a bait through to the barbel at times.

15 Barbel, 28 Chub

First visit to this stretch and overall disappointing despite good colour and river levels dropping, though mainly a result of poor choice of swims as we eventually found out from Colin just as we were leaving.
Lulled into a false sense of security, bites on 1st casts (typical pellet feeder approach), 3 chub and a barbel within 45 minutes suggested a bumper day and a good swim selection. Sadly that was it for the day with the remaining time spent in snags and lost terminal tackle, even managing to snap a rod (carelessness!)
Unfortunately when we did see Colin at 5pm and he advised of the hot-spots, my son who was on his 1st ever river fishing trip was not in optimistic mood so I decided it best to call it a day.
I will be back, lovely stretch, Colin a very nice guy and very helpful.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub

Lovely day, ideal conditions following quite a rise in the river. Great choice of swims. Ledgered pellet. Stayed at the Old Mill at Hoarworthy. Warm friendly and best breakfast ever. Carol our host couldn't do enough for us. Pub right across the road PERFECT!

3 Barbel

Good day at Holme Lacy, river was low but managed a few fish between us. Chub to 4lb and Barbel to 6lb. All fish caught on pellet, some on a float the others using a feeder.

4 Barbel, 13 Chub, 1 Other

A cool and damp day with the river low and clear. Some nice fish made the day worthwhile.

6 Barbel, 12 Chub

Catch numbers are approximate as I lost count. Biggest barbel went 8lbs 9oz and chub went 4lbs 8oz but was spawned out. It had the head of a 6lb fish easy. River at summer level, lovely day.

20 Barbel, 5 Chub

Another red letter day at probably my favourite Wye & Usk beat, despite the river being lower than I have ever seen it - and gin clear. Barbel from 5lb to just over 10lb and chub up to just over 6lb. Started in my usual spot and got in to fish immediately - not quite a fish a cast, but not far from it. Went quiet around lunchtime but picked up again in the early afternoon. Tried a couple of other locations later and picked up a fish few from each - but couldn't resist a return for the early hours of darkness. Every fish taken on 2x12ml eclipse pellets glued to the hair, with a wide range of micro pellets (halibut, krill and betane) in a large drennan flat-bed feeder. 18lb micro braid hook link with 12lb red mist mainline on my Daiwa Infinity Specialist Barbel 2.25 test curve rod. Lots of loose fed pellets with the occasional balls of ground bait also seemed to stimulate bites. A very good day with a good fishing buddy, and one I hope to repeat very soon - but the river really does need some water.

37 Barbel, 26 Chub

With the river having returned to normal summer levels, the bottom of the Island seemed like the place to try. There seems to be a huge shoal of Chub here with some Barbel occasionally moving in. Bites were immediate and continued for the entire duration of my stay. The fish were not huge with the best Chub just over 4lb and the best two barbel a couple of ounces either side of 7lb, but they give a good account of themselves in the faster water. Good therapy after struggling to get bites in the early part of the season.

10 Barbel, 24 Chub

Started late and so was beaten to the hot spot at the end of the beat. Managed fish from a number of different swims, working my way back up the beat. Access to the swims is superb and although its a hike down to the end of the beat, there are lots of good swims near the car. The barbel seemed to be in the faster shallower water. A great end to a another superb on the Wye.

5 Barbel, 10 Chub

Lovely days fishing in fantastic enviroment, all fish caught on pellet with open ended feeder. Pleasure every time you go there to see the gillie Colin Richardson, he is so helpfull to share his knowledge with you. Thanks Wye and Usk Foundation for splendid day.

7 Barbel, 7 Chub