Feedback & Reports

Managed to get just one barbel around 6lbs and a chub on a day when the river fished very hard indeed. Nice stretch of water and one we'll return too another day.

We arrived at the beat to a very fast and flooded river (over 3' up according to Don). Struggled to find any fishable swims but after some sound advice from Don, we managed 3 chub to 4lb 8oz and 1 barbel to 4lb 8oz. A hard day but good sport and lovely surroundings yet again. All fish were taken on groundbait feeder and boilie. Looking forward to our next visit! Thanks again to Don and the WUF.

River up but still had 7 barbel best fish was 10lb 4oz plus 2 chub.

A wet and chilly day at Wyebank but rewarding nonetheless. Having visited this fabulous beat a few weeks previous in what were pretty tricky conditions we were eager to get another crack at it. The final tally was 5 barbel to 8lb and 2 chub. All barbel were caught from the bottom pool with touch legering tactics as some of the bites were a little twitchy. Great to meet Don for a chat and to listen to his valued advice. A great stretch of the Wye and one that we will certainly be returning to. I think our final tally would've been greater if I hadn't needed to retreat from the rain every couple of hours due to the lack of an umbrella!

A difficult day on Wyebank but non the less enjoyable. Conditions less than ideal with one of the first frosts of the season with temps of 4 degrees on arrival and clear blue skies. I fished the top pool below the island, wading to reach the fishable areas with high hopes of catching chub by trotting a float. My partner in crime headed for the bottom pool with Don's advice echoing in his ears.
Needless to say we retired to The Courtfield Arms for a lunchtime pint to compare disappointing notes with one chub from the bottom pool and two trout from the top! I did manage to catch 3 canoeists (or should that be, they hit me) which did not improve my mood!
I do feel that some degree of competency is required before letting people loose on the river. If I'd been knocked off my 'waded feet' I'd have been trying find dry land some considerable way down stream, if at all.
The day ended with a total of 3 trout and a few dace to the float on maggots and one chub to the feeder and pellet but having walked Courtfield, nobody had caught as much there, so perhaps we should be content!
Thanks to Don and Rudi for there kind advice but ultimately I think the conditions and canoes were against us. We'll be back though.

PS: I did hook "'something' from the top pool, freelining a cube of luncheon meat, which despite making early line on, turned and headed for Monmouth taking all 80 yards of line from my reel and leaving me with a rod and empty spool for contemplation! Ain't no stopping us now sprang to mind!
Don suggested that it may have been something with an 'adipose fin' shall we say, who am I to argue as I've never felt a pull like it!

My fishing partner JP has already submitted a comprehensive report on Saturdays visit to Wyebank. No barbel to report,1 chub late mid afternoon,my ony real bite of the day. Cold temps night before, bright day kept the barbel away. As ever Don helpfull & courteous, & Wye & Usk booking service as good as always. Hoping to return to Wyebank towards the end of October when river is a bit quieter.

8 barbel and 7 chub, overcast perfect conditions.

Not so much a slow start today as a nil start. River now quite low and clear couple with a cold NW wind. By lunchtime after trying several spots I had caught 1 chub. Don came down at 5pm and advised me to move again. Even then initially I had no success but as the sun set I ended the day with 4 barbel caught in half an hour. No big ones - but 3 were 7lbs. Without Don's advice I wouldn't have caught any!

First time that I have fished Wyebank ...what a stunning stretch of the Wye. Fishing with my god-daughter Gemma on her first barbel trip. Started fishing at 10.30am and she caught her first barbel at 10.32am....about 4lbs and was absolutely thrilled. We continued to catch spasmodically over the day, finishing with 6 barbel to 10lbs 7oz...with several lost and 8 chub to 4lbs 8oz. Successful method was feeder-fished pellets. Very many thanks to Don Macer-Wright for his generous help and information. Needless to say Gemma wants to know when are we going barbel-fishing again!!!