Feedback & Reports

Arrived at 2pm to do an evening session. Unfortunately there were large rafts of Rununculus weed drifting down the river all afternoon and evening. It was a nightmare to get any kind of presentation as each and every cast would need to be bought back in within a minute of casting due to the weed wrapping round the line and dragging everything off course. I've never witnessed this happening other than in flood conditions. Don't know where it all came from. Hoped it would stop towards the evening but didn't.
Started by the steps then went down to the woods at about 7ish and winkled out a couple of Chub to save the blank.
A real shame. Great beat, just the wrong day to be there.
Will be back in September after the summer kayak chaos ends.

2 Chub

Great day again on this beat. However one of the most frustrating days on the Wye. Arriving at the swim early everything was perfect. Then the canoes started to come down. No problem with these, however the ranunculus started to drift down in rafts. It was impossible to keep a feeder out for more than 5 mins. The continual drag on the line moved the feeders until they snagged. Lost 10 feeders and very very frustrating and expensive. The canoes were just destroying the weed beds. Still managed some good barbel to 9lbs 10oz however very hard work and not pleasant fishing. Other anglers on the beat were also experiencing the exact problems and came for advice. The weed does hold back the flow and increase the height of the river. No wonder it's the lowest I've seen it. Ok rant over.

4 Barbel, 10 Chub, 3 Other

I opened the account with a 2-3lb chub. Then at 8:30, a big slack line from the same area I caught from the previous day pre baited area. The Barbel charged off downstream like a rocket, played it for a bit, then the 10lb hooklink snapped :(....caught a few more chub, then at 14:30, from the same area, landed a 9lb 3oz Barbel. Then the chub went nuts, several 2-4lb fish most casts (casting all over the swim!) for about 2 hours. I fished using a large feeder, hemp+hali mix, 2-3ft hooklink (braid is better for wear and tear), small hair-rigged single pellet hookbait with size 14 barbless hook :)

1 Barbel, 8 Chub

Having spent a couple of days on another WUF stretch I couldn't come all the way from home and not visit my favourite place. Fished from dawn to dusk and had the best day's barbel fishing anyone could hope for on this wonderful stretch. Started with four fish in the morning but the bright conditions put things on hold for a while. Heavy baiting late afternoon was rewarded almost as soon as I resumed fishing as the shadows from the trees took the sunlight off the river. The last three hours or so brought a further 13 barbel and two medium sized chub. At one point I had five consecutive bites within a minute of casting out, the last tugging at the rod before I'd had chance to put it on the rests! Crazy fishing. The barbel were all very slender after spawning but beautiful dark bronze and fighting fit. The largest barbel was 9lbs 12ozs but looked like a good double. Can't wait to be back here in September.

17 Barbel, 2 Chub

Fished the wood section with both of us on the Croys. Very slow day with few bites and lots of canoes. 1 barbel caught mid afternoon and 1 lost earlier in a snag. This river eats tackle so take plenty of spare feeders/leads. An eel anglers paradise as we managed 7 of them along with a few chublets. A disappointing end to our 4 day trip. Will be back next year to try some other beats, hopefully the river will be up a bit.

1 Barbel, 3 Chub, 7 Other

My first session on this beat. I opted to fish between boat pool and the 'No fishing' area. First cast straight in the tree...second cast...I lassoed an eel...:-S... Throughout the morning I had 4 Chub (and lost one) to 4lb 2oz. Then at 3pm fishing a 3ft clear area, I had a massive slack line, and connected to a Barbel! Played it for 10 mins, unwrapping it from various boulders, only for the hook to pull at the net :(. After the red mist had settled, at around 5:30pm I hooked another barbel. Good scrap, weighed 7lb :) ...I also fished on the Thursday...

1 Barbel, 4 Chub

Our third great trip to Courtfield in as many weeks. 12 barbel, biggest 8lb 13oz and 6 decent chub to pellet fished on running leads. Started at 4 pm and fished until dark as this seems to be when the Wye fish get stuck in to their dinner! Great beat, great fishing! Back at the end of the month.
WUF Note: Just a reminder that all fishing via the Passport is permitted from dawn until 1 hour after sunset. Please see [url=http://sunsettimes.co.uk/]here[/url] for sunset times in the UK.

12 Barbel, 6 Chub

Strong upstream wind most of the day meant bite detection difficult! Only two chub around the 4lbs mark plus an eel was all I had to show for my efforts, packed up at 6pm due to long drive back home so I missed the best time of the day. Last year fished the same swim and caught 7 barbel and 5 chub..work it out?

2 Chub

First time here, lovely stretch. Fished 2 sessions early morning (Legg) and evening(Wooded area). Fish difficult to catch today, barbel to 7 lb. Will return.

3 Barbel, 4 Chub, 3 Other

Lovely beat but fish were just not feeding. Very hard going so packed up early. Will be back next month to try again.

3 Chub