Feedback & Reports

3 Trout

Due to the bright sunny weather, cold nights and falling water temperature, I started fishing at 2pm. Between 3pm and 6-30pm caught 4 barbel up to 6lb on pellets. Sadly, 2 of these fish had badly broken dorsal fin spines, and also missing upper parts of the tail fin. I have not seen serious damage like this in the 4 previous years of fishing this stretch. It looks like the result of fish being retained in keepnets, or use of crude, inadequate landing nets. Top of the list of suspects are the club fishing the opposite bank, which has resulted in a big increase in fishing pressure this year.

4 Barbel

Fished at top end of the beat, first swim down from Boys Rocks which is the only swim suitable for doubling up with two anglers. Lost several fish amongst the weed and the rocks finally landing our first barbel. Water was gin clear with bright blue skies in sunshine. Salmon were regularly topping and jumping which makes this stretch very picturesque.
Fished groundbait and pellet swim feeder switching to maggot feder later when bites had dried up on the close in rod. Barbel came to bunch of maggots fished on the edge of the eddies.

1 Barbel

The conditions were not ideal as it was a very bright day and river was low. Only fished for a couple of hours and caught a grayling on a hare's ear beaded nymph. A very nice stretch of river.

1 Grayling

There was a touch of frost on the grass as I made my way down to the start of the beat at 9.00am. The early morning mist was followed by bright sunshine and virtually no wind. Crystal clear water meant I could see the fish but they could see me too. Amazed to see a whole flotilla of small trout, side by side queuing up for passing food in the shallow section of the weir pool. Needless to say my fly line scattered them in all directions spooking everything in that part of the river.

Unsurprising then that six of my eight fish came from the upper more enclosed and shaded section of the beat. Nymphs cast upstream into undercuts and riffles accounted for all but two of the fish The exceptions were tempted by a Klinkhammer. Three fish were about 12”, the best of which was caught below a bush besdide the uppermost cattle drink approaching Hergest Bridge.

8 Trout

Fished the lower end of the beat and between us caught a disappointing 3 chub between the 2 of us. Tried a number of different swims with every bait imaginable but it was very quiet, especially as this beat has been successful for us the in past.
Water was very low but well coloured, the 3 Chubb were caught on Luncheon Meat.

3 Chub

1 Trout, 2 Grayling

Difficult day! Conditions not ideal; arrived before sunrise in pretty cold temperatures. As the day went on we had bright sunshine all day. From about 10.30 the day became a total write off due to canoe traffic, making it almost impossible to fish. On more than occasion, both myself and my colleague had our gear towed away by idiots with absolutely no regard for anglers; and even less water craft. All we got by way of apology was a mouthful of abuse. This was my second experience of the Wye, totally different to first. Won't let this stop my returning; but will definitely avoid any weekend slots, outside of the winter months.
At the end of the day, the only bite of the day brought one small barbel of about 3lbs.

1 Barbel

Great weekend.

1 Trout, 9 Grayling

Bright dry day with occasional hatches of blue winged olives. Fish caught on nymph and dry patterns, and all returned safely.

2 Trout, 6 Grayling