Feedback & Reports

Had a great day fishing for barbel on the Wyebank beat, conditions were not easy with the water level up, running fast and plenty of colour. I caught 12 barbel with the biggest being 11lb 12oz, a big long lean fish.... Would like to catch it at its winter weight! Also had 4 chub. Booked an extra rod for a friend who caught 5 barbel and 6 chub. All fish were caught on halibut pellets and feeding a mixture of sizes in PVA bags, fishing in the deeper runs and slower water. Very enjoyable and look forward to my next visit.

Arrived at Wye Bank at 11am, to find river approximately 3 ft up and a nice redy brown colour. Myself and my friend John fished the two swims behind the first 2 cribs, in the slacker water on the inside run. We had a total of 8 Barbel, 5 Chub and 1 eel.

Sunday 1st July - River had dropped to approximately 2ft started fishing 5pm, we had a total of 9 Barbel and 13 Chub.

Thanks to Don, very helpful.

River about three feet up but still dropping. Fished the faster water at the downstream end with no bites so moved to the slacker swim at the top end mid afternoon. Caught barbel from the start taking 6 to around 7lb when the bites stopped until the chub moved in. Took 6 chub to about 4lb all on feeder with a variety of pellet hook baits.

Two mates fished Courtfield (we could not all get on same stretch) catching a total of 12 barbel to just under 10lb and 3 chub all from the meadow end. Thanks to Don whose advice was invaluable being our first visit to this really lovely stretch of the Wye.

Wyebank unfishable due to extra water. Fished ferry pool on Dons advice. I barbel 5 1/2lb barbel and 1 medium chub. Tried steps later on but no interest. Enjoyed day in lovely surroundings. Thanks Don for your help.

My 2nd day the river was still raising and was 9 foot up by mid afternoon making fishing very hard and getting bait down difficult. I didn’t rush down to fish due to the conditions so started about 11am. I managed to find a bit of calmer water again with Don’s advice and caught 2 barbel in the afternoon sunshine the best being 8lbs 3oz 1 to a Richmond Drum Boilies. I also caught 2 eels. I packed up about 6.00pm as the weather closed in again and I had a long drive home. So in 2 short days I managed 4 barbel best being 8lbs 3oz and considering the conditions (which were poor to say the least) I was pretty pleased to catch them. Don is very helpful (thank you Don) and this is a lovely stretch of water to which I will return. For those travelling and needing a B&B I stayed at the Green Whale Tump (about 3 mils away) which I would recommend it is very fisherman friendly and is more like a chalet with its own access (great for early mornings late evenings) and an excellent breakfast.

Arrived about 1pm and the river already up and raising make fishing difficult. I managed 2 barbel in the evening both on double gubber pellets. I also managed a couple small chub and a dace. All the fish were in excellent conditions and despite not being the biggest the barbel fought very hard in the fast flowing conditions. Don the beat owner is very helpful and full of advice and put me on the fish in very tricky conditions. The potential of this beats was clear and I will return in better conditions.

First Barbel session of the year and full of hope out testing new product from Alcedo. River highish and a little coloured. Perfect for Barbel although the favoured lower pool could not be accessed due the high water.
Result was just one 8-9lb fish on meat for a full afternoon and evening session. Heavy fight in very fast white foaming water! Will be back when its a bit lower or will go high for the Salmon.
Thanks to Don as always.

1 barbel on meat 9lb plus. Hard days fishing and finding the fish in the fast flow.

17.15-18.30.Moved from Courtfield. Still heavy rain and river colouring with local sandstone. 1 brown river trout on the small pink silver flying c of around 2lb in shallows behind first croy. Later in shallows between lower 2 croys another fresh silver salmon similar size to the Courtfield one. Hooked it within 2 mtr of rod tip so had to let line out fast! Both fish released in water. By 18.15 river very coloured and rising fast around the (2nd) swans nest on the island.
Not a bad 3hrs, much better than watching rain run down windows, river to myself and no canoes.
You need patience to fish the Wye and hang in when the going gets tough but the good days produce exceptional memories to last a lifetime as those of us who have the pleasure of fishing it regularly have come to know and treasure.

Two fresh salmon caught and one darker fish missed on barbless size 8 bann shrimp. Saw a large salmon in high teens head and tail about 30 yards below the beat far bank in the run and another straight across from the lower crib. Several shad including 5 pounder. The first salmon was about 8lb caught at the tail of Wyebank run below crib at 8.30pm and 10lb fish caught in bottom pool about 9.10pm.
I saw a small salmon at midday lying on the gravel bar, tail of the run, possibly the fish I caught and another much larger fish lying where the flow angles to the left bank and thought it an opportunity too good to miss with the hectic weekend coming up.
7 salmon seen today and caught two makes it one of my best days sightings on Wyebank for many a year. Bloom not too bad today just a tint and visbility good for both fish and fisherman. The last two days have not been too bad for canoes so it may be jammed over the weekend!