Feedback & Reports

Arrived about lunchtime and decided against using car parks suggested as notices said they would close at 3pm and 8pm respectively. A local (very excited about the egret on the opposite bank) did say they stayed open. The entrance to the fishery is along the road a little way from the downstream car park and it looks as though a few cars could fit inside - why can't we park there?
The fishery is a beautiful short stretch in a deep valley where the flow is very pacy and enhanced by the croys. The path is very narrow and rocky in places but with such a short stretch does not matter.
The river was alive with barbel though some of them small. Best fish of our 20 or so was 7lb. Caught on 8mm halibut pellet mostly but had fish on pellets up to 20mm and meat. Fed 4mm pellet and hemp through a black cap feeder with no extra lead. Tried trotting for chub but no success.
Lots of canoes during the day with various dramas including capsizes but did not put off the barbel. I think it was a branch that was partly sunken that caused the problems and some welcome humour.

20 Barbel, 1 Chub, 4 Other

Fished fly down the beat twice. Couple of plucks but think it was chub. Nice fly water.

Spent a pleasant few hours trotting for chub. Managed about a dozen modest chub including one about four pounds.

12 Chub

Started off in the bottom pool at around 10:30 and had a chub on trotted pellet and a micro barbel on rolling meat. Tried all the other swims on the same tactics but no fish. Settled into the bottom pool and put some pellet feeders out around lunchtime which gave a steady stream of small to micro barbel for the afternoon, with only one bigger than 2lbs (est. 4lbs) and fish often taking it on the drop. Frequent canoes until about 3pm but the barbel happily fed underneath them and they didn't cause us a problem. River was 18 inches lower than usual according to the bailiff (very friendly and helpful chap) so he advised we stay in the bottom pool. Left at about 19.30 before the bigger fish came on the feed but oh well...

15 Barbel, 1 Chub

River was low and clear but the fishing was fantastic as usual. I went after the barbel with feeder tactics using pellets and river monster boilies from Nuts about Carp. Bob fished slightly bigger baits and subsequently caught less fish as the average size was only 1 to 3lbs. Another great day. The pathway along the swim is now becoming very treacherous in places and requires some work. Please be careful on a wet day as it would be very dangerous!

31 Barbel, 3 Chub, 2 Other

The bottom pool failed to produce so we moved to the top end of the beat. George quickly found barbel and ended the day with 6 up to 5lbs, I blanked but I had the privilege of a fast take from a salmon I was unprepared for and lost.

6 Barbel

Ollie and myself arrived down the stretch at around 6 am. We started off down the bottom pool and got action almost immediately on pellet feeders. Fishing was frustrating though as there was a lot of weed coming down making it impossible to keep a line in the water for longer that 2 minutes. We took 7 small barbel all under 2lbs before trying a few other swims without any bites. I then rolled meat for about an hour and caught a few chub before leaving at 1 pm for some lunch and a rest. I called Don who was really helpful and gave some good advice. We came back down around 5pm and done some wading and rolling meat which produced chub to about 4 and a half lbs. After this we took Don's advice and went back to the bottom pool on feeders and pellets. Bites came as our feeders hit the water and we started to catch barbel constantly between 1 and 3lbs. The weed had also seemed to have cleared up and we were able to keep our feeders out there. Bites slowed down as it started to get darker. I finished off with a chub around 4lbs and Ollie managed the best barbel of the day. A fish around 7lbs on sweetcorn right at last knockings. All in all a good day despite the tough conditions good catches are possible on this stretch.

20 Barbel, 12 Chub

Fished lower end of the beat with pellet and feeder tactics. Steady flow of fish through the day - mainly small Barbel (majority in the 2 to 3lb with a few even smaller-around 1lb!!). Finished with 12 Barbel one of which weighed 7lb 4oz and 2 chub around the 3lb mark. Rained all day, still quite heavy boat traffic with the vast majority very respectful but spoilt by two idiots in one boat who just appeared to be out to cause trouble.

12 Barbel, 2 Chub

Arrived late afternoon to avoid canoe traffic and it was literally fish a cast so set a target of 20 barbel or dusk Ended up back in pub/accommodation by 9PM, great way to start long weekend on the Wye.

20 Barbel, 1 Chub

Could not locate barbel so switched to trotting pellet to avoid blank and landed 5 chub to 3lb. Went back to feeder for the last couple of hours with no success. Canoes are a major problem due to them being run into your swim. Two rigs picked up and snapped.

5 Chub