Feedback & Reports

Another cracking day out. Nice beat, with several swims marked by wooden posts with plenty more potential swims if cleared/cut back a little. Some areas bank very steep so little care needed when going to waters edge, plenty of areas where you can wade if you take waders. Parking good and very close especially at the orchard. We started the day first light at top end in the open field by the orchard. Although water levels low and competing tug of war with the weed beds, managed to land 3 barbel up to 7lb as well as losing several fish which seems to be the norm for us. As the sun came up by mid morning swim went quiet, so we decided to have an early lunch break, then head to the lower parking and have a go at the lower end of beat. Plenty of fishable areas but a bit of walking too. With some decent swims near to the parking end of field it is possible to leave gear there and you can venture off with rod/net and bait and walk all way up to lower boundary of orchard and work your way back down stream trying out different swims. Cattle watering swim was big with fast flow and plenty of fish and weed. Highlight of day being when MB hooked into a really big chub/barbel which nicely took him into one of the big weeds beds and so determined to land it, off came his boots and socks, trousers rolled up and he started to wade down to where he was snagged up but then realised some of the runs where deeper than appeared and more disappointing for him that after a while the fish had escaped and left his tackle nicely in the weeds so Twang, get another hook and end tackle on. However be prepared for the cattle to visit this location and although we stayed there for a little while as more and more of them came down the bank we decided we didn't want a stand off with them, more so as they are accompanied by a rather large bull (with balls bigger than footballs lol). At end of day its their field and watering hole. Although the big old bull watched us, no aggression was showed and he seems to be quite content as long as you stay to the edge of field by river bank. The Foundation might want to put a comment in the beat description as from the entrance style you can walk through field to get to top end of lower stretch, but with young cattle and big old bull, it might be advisable to walk the long way round keeping to the river bank. Absolutely plenty of fishing on the lower stretch and we took chub to 3+lb and a wee minnow for me lol. Late afternoon, early evening we decided to try and have another bash at top end which had produced barbel at the start of day but to no avail. Another fantastic day out which keeps us keen ready for another Wye excursion. all fish caught on pellet/feeder type tactics with different flavours tried, spicymeat/sausage seeming to be preferred. Another note for the Foundation, the barbel were quite heavily covered by some type of parasite.

3 Barbel, 3 Chub, 1 Other

With the river so low we were not expecting to much, however with the overcast conditions and rain moving in later in the afternoon, we did manage to find some fish.
The barbel all came in two short spells, where as the Chub came all day long from multiple swims.
Sugwas is a great beat with lots of options as long as you are prepared to work a little.
Thanks Wye and Usk Foundation.

6 Barbel, 19 Chub, 1 Other

River still very low and now with a green algee colour in the water. Angler 1 hooked 3 barbel but only 2 landed and angler 2 had 1 chub.

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

9lb 2oz Barbel caught on the lower beat in the large swim by the tree in the open field. Caught on 10mm halibut pellet wrapped in halibut paste, cast halfway out to the weed bed with 4, 6 and 10mm halibut pellets catapulted in the area. Hard days fishing as the river was so low and it was so bright but a magnificent fish caught. Happy days.

1 Barbel

River very low and stagnant. 2 anglers fished but only one 3lb chub caught.

1 Chub

The river was low and clear and it was a very warm day. In the hard conditions we had 3 barbel to 8 pounds and 2 chub to 4 pounds.

3 Barbel, 2 Chub

This was a bit of a grueller to say the least! The river was very low and clear with blazing sunshine. Also a family swimming in the river and a group messing about in a dinghy didn't help. Actually I was pretty pleased to eke out 3 barbel and 3 chub by moving swims and changing methods. Caught a barbel 1st cast, then didn't get any more until 7pm, after which most of the fish were caught.

3 Barbel, 3 Chub, 1 Other

Brilliant fishery, exactly what it says on the tin. Barbel flashing everywhere but blanked, will be back.

The hottest days of the year really made life difficult but we did manage to find a shoal of willing fish just above the orchard. 10mm blood worm boilies and fish meal filled feeders brought a short but intense spell of action. Day two proved much harder as we fished swim to swim all the way down. The fallen tree swim had a few flashing barbel showing all afternoon but they would not take a baited hook. In the end I think we did well to catch, but my God it was hard work in those conditions.
Thank you WUF, great service, lovely river.

12 Barbel, 4 Chub

Another beautiful day on this stretch of river. It had come up about 4 inches because of the storms on Friday and Saturday and still had some colour. Caught 3 barbel biggest 8lb 13oz and lost two as well as a nice chub. The cows returned to the field in the afternoon but were no problem. Fished in the first meadow once again using a swim feeder . It is a truly wonderful spot and saw the buzzards, kingfishers and 5 plovers skimming the water. There was also a mink on the far bank hunting the ducklings by swimming after them but fortunately it had no success as the mother was alert to it. Thank you once again for allowing anglers to access such a beautiful stretch of river. I will be back next time I am in Herefordshire.

3 Barbel, 1 Chub