Feedback & Reports

No barbel but 5 decent if not unwanted size eels

5 Other

This was a really hot morning session. We landed 2 eels and a chub at the lower section wher you park.

3 Other, 1 Chub

All 3 of us fished in lower meadow and caught steady all day on feeder with 8mm pellets on hook.

12 Barbel, 8 Chub, 3 Other

Fished wooded area of cribes , fish caught on feeder with pellets (8mm spicy sausage), canoes a real problem never seen so many on the river , barbel to 7lb , chub to 5lb and 2 eels.

4 Barbel, 4 Chub, 2 Other

2 Barbel, 1 Chub

A very pleasant evening. 2 of us fished from 5pm to avoid the lowest form of intelligent life on the river ( and I include snails and leeches in that description ), still had our fair share of paddlers but they were mostly ok.
I managed two barbel, one of 6lbish ( unhooked and rested in the net ) and a lovely 9lb 1oz which was rested before and after weighing before swimming off strongly. Also lost one to a snag - gotta love the Wye. Although I got everything back after releasing a large bow of line, except the fish!
My compadré had one barbel of around 6lb ( again rested and unhooked in the water ) and a wriggler around the 2lb mark.
Given the conditions we were more than happy with the outcome. However, 2 things put a slight downer on the evening:

Firstly, we were the only anglers booked on yet there was a party of 2 or 3 fishing below the house. While they didn't bother us, or us them, they were very loud and alternated between fishing, having a barbecue and swimming. When we left at last knockings they were turning torches on.
Guests of the owner?
Secondly, 2 dead barbel floated past. I would implore everyone who is unsure how to deal with barbel in hot weather to simply not fish for them. 8lb line and 20 minute battles have no place on the Wye, neither does the resulting 10 minutes required to get a fish to go back.
Use sensible gear, rest them as soon as they're netted, if it's a fish that's worthy of weighing get everything ready first and do it quickly, and ask yourself if you really, really need a photograph. Rest them in the net again after weighing/photography, but not in 6 inches of tepid, slow, low oxygenated water.
All our fish were landed quickly, rested, one was weighed then rested, and all were kicking strongly upon release.
Neither of the above reflect on WUF. Poachers will always poach and the dead barbel were from upstream. It was, as always, a pleasure to fish a lovely stretch of water and get a few bites in these conditions.

3 Barbel, 1 Other

2 Barbel, 2 Chub

4 Barbel, 30 Chub

Very hard fishing due to low water level and flow, plus hot and bright. One decent eel, no siogn of the usual prolific chub and barbel.

1 Other

4 Barbel