Feedback & Reports

This was a bit of a grueller to say the least! The river was very low and clear with blazing sunshine. Also a family swimming in the river and a group messing about in a dinghy didn't help. Actually I was pretty pleased to eke out 3 barbel and 3 chub by moving swims and changing methods. Caught a barbel 1st cast, then didn't get any more until 7pm, after which most of the fish were caught.

3 Barbel, 3 Chub, 1 Other

Overlooked by Goodrich Castle this is a very picturesque venue in the Wye valley. Conditions for us were very bright and hot, 27 degrees.
We walked the stretch to begin with and spotted some barbel in a shallow run so fished for them on pellets, 10mm, with just a few freebies catapulted over. Two barbel and a chub in the first hour, around midday and then a quieter spell possibly due to boat traffic through the swim. Baited up a deeper run above the croy with hemp and pellets and fished that for an hour in the early evening but that didn't produce anything. Returned to the shallow water and had four more barbel in the last hour, best one being seven pounds.
Met the farmer who is a very nice chap, he was cutting the grass along the access track which is fine to drive down in summer conditions, just one badly rutted area which could be tricky if it was very wet. Kingfishers active all day and a few buzzards around too.

6 Barbel, 1 Chub

A bit disappointed to find a tractor/trailer and mini digger in the river from the opposite bank extracting shingle but they left shortly after arrival. Took a couple of hours before the first bite but we managed 2 barbel each which we were well pleased with given the weather.

4 Barbel

Used spinner and caught nothing.

Having risen by a few inches last week, the river had dropped right back and was running crystal clear. Bright sun and a temperature of 27 degrees made roving a non-starter so spent a great day admiring the scenery.

3 Barbel, 9 Chub

The river was extremely low and clear with very little flow. We fished beat 5 with both ledger and float tactics with meat or pellet as hook bait. Only two of the four anglers caught chub of 4+ lbs each on the bomb. These were caught early in the day with evening fishing drawing a blank. What must be said is that the Bailiff (Terry Ward) could not be faulted in any way and definitely gets a 10 out of 10. We will return!

4 Chub

After having a good chat with the gentleman from the previous day and having seen some large chub taking bread off the surface and several barbel flashing, I arrived with great anticipation but I had to work really hard from dawn until dusk for 9 chub on day 1 and 3 chub on day 2, mostly caught trotting sweet corn or pellet through the fast water.
There was no sign of the surface feeding chub or the barbel even though I tried various methods from the available swims as I had the beat to myself. Luncheon meat only produced eels.
Blisteringly hot sunshine and clear sky probably didn't help, compared to the previous day when it was overcast with some light rain.
Still can't think of a better river to be on even when the fishing is tough, just looking forward to my next trip.

WUF note - Please adhere to the Rules and Regulations provided. Anglers are not permitted to visit the beat the day before fishing to recce swims or approach other anglers for information. WUF fishing beats are booked on an exclusivity basis. Please only attend the beat on the day which you are booked to fish.

12 Chub, 4 Other

A great day but very hot. Nothing during the day but 5 barbel to 8lb 4oz (a new PB for me) in the evening from the bottom of the beat in the fast deep water at the Island Pool.

5 Barbel

No fish showing and virtually no water in the river!

Low water levels at the moment but did not affect the fishing with some quality grayling (about a pound) and one good fish at 1.5lb. Had to change the fly several times but majority caught on ptn and grhe in fast oxygenated water or shallower glides - not much of a rise although left the water before evening set in.

2 Trout, 12 Grayling