Feedback & Reports

Excellent day. Fished various swims and had plenty of Chub plus 10 Barbel up to around 7.5lb. Used large pellet on the hook and smaller pellet in the feeder. Thanks very much for a very enjoyable day.

Wyebank truly is a stunning location which offers outstanding fishing. I arrived at the car park around 9am and was greeted by a gentleman called Rudi who gave me the low down on where and how best to fish the beat. His advice was duly noted and within around 40 minutes of fishing I had, not only my first barbel of the session, but my first river Wye barbel. It was a fish of about 2-3lb and what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in its magnificent beauty. After this first fish the action dwindled for several hours. However, from around 3pm until I had what must have been my 15th "one last cast" at about 8pm, the fish really came on the feed and took a liking to my feeder fished halibut pellets presented into deeper water off the bottom croy of the beat.

I finished the session with 10 fish. Two small chub (1.5-2lb), 5 small barbel (2-3lb) and three larger barbel: 4lb 13oz, 6lb 1oz and 6lb 4oz.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable session which was no doubt shaped by the kind advice given to me by Rudi at the start of the day.

6 barbel to 7lb+, 6 chub to 3lb+, one 2lb+ eel. Most fish to pellet or corn. One powerful fish lost to a hook pull, maybe a foul-hooked barbel. All but one from the downstream end, and most fish caught in the morning. River still carrying a few inches of water and a little colour, but both level and colour dropping out during the day. A nice day on a pleasant stretch of river.

River up perhaps 1 foot but clear. Fished middle croy 10am to mid-day, 1 9lb plus barbel and 2 around 7/8lb on large halibut pellet.
Fished pool behind submerged bottom croy until 16.00hrs and caught 4 more barbel all over 7lbs and lost large one that went downstream to end of spool line when hook snapped at bend, (a size 8 carp hook by reputable manufacturer) All on large halibut pellet with loose fed small pellets.
An 11lb plus barbel was taken by a W&U angler from this swim on Wednesday.
Salmon seen frequently surfacing between croys, tried heavy flying c with no result.
For those who have fished here recently and been entertained by the loneley duckling, its still alone but alive and growing fast.

Our second visit to Don's beautifully presented and sensitively managed traditional mixed fishery. We knew that early season barbel can be slow on the river. Very pleased to report 26 barbel to 9lb, 16 chub 2 over 5lb over 3 days. The canoe menace reached its peak on Sunday, whilst most were polite and having a good time some were drunken yobs who did not understand the meaning of private property and it quikly became tiresome asking them to pack up there picnics and depart so we could fish. Fortunately this menace is short lived and by 4pm the river returns to normality. The fishery is absolutely stunning and it is a joy to catch scale perfect fish in such quantity using traditional methods. Thank you Don for a truely memorable few days.

Three sea trout caught on a small silver stoat, largest about 18 inches, (2lbs ish). All released. Great fun.

Started fishing before daybreak and ceased fishing when the first of the canoes went through the pools as given the low conditions I felt any fish present would be put off. Despite no action I thoroughly enjoyed my few hours on this beautiful stretch.
One day soon I hope to catch this beat in good nick and put an end to my run of blank days.

Fly fished from 6.30 am to 10:00am. Result 1 fresh run grilse and 2 shad. Then canoes arrived and no chance. Endeavoured with some spinning on Courtfield which the owner kindly let me fish. 2 more Shad, one quite decent. However,amount of canoes put me off that as well.
The owner is very helpful and lovely to meet a man so keen on the river and salmon fishing. I was very happy to catch a fresh salmon on his section.
It's a lovely piece of fly fishing water but once the canoes arrive absolutely forget it.
Early morning is the time. But in holidays doubt that will get around the problem of the damn canoes.
The key to the fresh salmon grilse about 3 1/2 lbs was that downstream on the previous afternoon had reported fresh fish. The weather was ideal, light drizzle overnight which continued in showers whilst I was there.

River running fairly clear and lower than prevous days. Had a huge bulge under the fly very early in the morning but failed to generate any further interest. After this initial activity the river seemd to be dead and even the fly life seemed to be having a day off.
By 9.30am the canoe traffic made fishing virtually impossible and this persisted until after 6pm. Alowed the river to rest before recommecing fishing into the evening. Packed up when shad made an appearance.
This really is a lovely stretch of water for fly fishing but I would stress the importance of an early start and/or late finish at the weekends to avoid the canoe traffic.

I fished both this beat and Courtfield earlier in the day.
Fished this beat in the evening.
Easy enough to fly fish down the fast water towards the Old Wharf but I did not contact any salmon. No fish seen in Wyebank whilst I was there. Thanks to Rudi for giving me the low down on the 2 beats.