Feedback & Reports

Another fab day on the Wye. Caught 6 barbel and dozens of Chub. River quite low and clear so maggot the best bait.

Very cold easterly wind. River in good winter condition, if a little too clear. 2 chub and 1 barbel caught on pellet and feeder approach (not to my rod though!). Looking forward to the new season.

Chilly but otherwise pleasant day. In the car on the way up the A40 we agreed that the cold weather of the last few days and water temperature around 6 degrees would find the fish out of the main flow. So we spent more than half the day trying every crease and area of slacker, deeper water without so much as a twitch despite ringing the changes with maggot, corn, meat and pellets on float and feeder.
Then 'top bloke' Colin the bailiff turned up. "you don't wanna do that, you wanna fish out in the main flow, in the shallower areas where the river's wide". He suggested a couple of spots and we'd both had 6lb+ barbel literally within 5 minutes and chub to follow later. You learn something every day. Brilliant day, great fishing. Thanks WUF.

4 Barbel to 6lb 15oz and 2 Chub to 4lb 13oz. Three fish taken early on with a chub early afternoon, then a long wait until 4pm when I had the final two barbel which were both over 6lb. All fish accepted ledgered Halibut Pellets.

Our second day on the river, as we were on the Lower Carrots and Luggsmouth beat yesterday, and the river had risen about five feet overnight and coloured up a lot. As I'm 78 and not so good on my pins, I decided I couldn't cope with carrying all my gear to find a fishable spot, which would inevitably have been quite a way from the car, so I gave up the idea, and sat and watched my son fish a small area of comparatively slack well down from the hut.
He had four good takes during the day on pellet and meat, resulting in four barbel hooked. One came unhooked, one broke him at the hook, but he landed two of 6lbs and 7lbs respectively.

We were beaten by the flood water eventually. We went back to last week's productive swim but found that dragging weed was a problem and despite apparent drop in water level the flow seemed faster and it was difficult to hold the bottom. So we went to a slower patch of water at the bottom end of the beat and coaxed two barbel to the net. When the water crept around my ankles we realised that the water levels were rising despite a glorious and dry day. More weed and debris, two more barbel and I was chased up the bank by rising flood water, tree branches and other debris. So the dreams of 20-30 barbel did not become reality. We ended the day with 6 barbel to 9lbs and four decent chub. That's fishing! Thank you WUF, we'll be back next year.

A most enjoyable day. But we found it difficult to find the fish until Colin arrived at the end of the day and we caught a few barbel in quick succession. We know where to find them next time. 6 barbel 1 chub. Looking forward to next week.

2 chub, around 4lb and 1 barbel of 6lb. Hard going, particularly with such a wet day - never stopped until 14.00. One complaint: the blurb issued by the foundation states that "There is an excellent and comfortable hut with cooking facilities and a separate w.c." Great shame that it was locked - apparently only opens when the ghillie is on the beat. Maybe this misleading information should be updated - it would have saved me bringing food and tea bags!

4 x Barbel and 2 x Chub. River rising.

Lovely stretch of river, but no bites in the morning. Met Colin who told us of some likely places we should try.
I had 3 chub and a barbel about 5lb. All caught on pellets.
Other rod had his day made, he caught his first and second barbel ever, plus 4 chub. Also caught on pellet using maggots in the feeder.